But the eyes were the same.
I’d seen him countless times in the ring, facing off against feral opponents. Fighting for his life.
My hand flew up to cover my mouth. I’d been so, so wrong. There was only one reason he’d come back, and that was to claim revenge.
Kaos slammed me back into the wall, jolting my shoulder painfully. “Youdon’tcall me that,” he growled, his hands squeezing my arms tight enough to leave bruises. “Ever.”
“I’m sorry,” I said, my skin burning where he touched it. “I just—I thought you were dead.”
He let go, stepping back and folding his arms. “Sorry to disappoint you.”
I shook my head, brows creasing. “No, I’m glad you’re out. I?—”
I cut myself off, my mind spinning.
He was a former fighter. This changed everything.
“Ocean was infiltrating, wasn’t he?” I asked, searching his face. “That’s what you’re doing here. You’re trying to stop my father.”
“Clever little duckie,” Kaos sneered. “And now you’re helping us, whether you want to or not.”
Relief hit me so hard, my knees almost buckled. Ocean wasn’t a criminal. This pack wasn’t out to claim me because I was the Crimson Duchess—they were trying to bring my father to justice.
To finally stop him. And I was being forced to dosomething I’d always been too afraid to try—to actually bring him down.
I sank to my knees, feeling a burn in my nose.
My chest was tight, and I squeezed my eyes shut. What kind of fucked-up revelation was this?
My scent matches were here, and they were everything I’d ever dreamed of. They were here to destroy this life I hated.
Perhaps, if things had been different… if I’d gotten to know and trust Ocean… we could have been allies, not enemies. I would have done this without being forced to, if I’d known they were there to support me. My heroic knights, coming to my rescue.
Perhaps it wasn’t too late?
I peered up at Kaos, to where he was still looking down at me in disdain. I could tell him that I’d actually saved Ocean, and maybe we could start over?
But guilt stayed my tongue. After all, it had been my fault Ocean was taken. If I had warned him to stay away earlier, if I hadn’t reacted to Madison that night, he’d be free now.
Kaos had pulled out my phone and dialled Finch, who answered on the second ring.
“You have a report?” he said.
Kaos snorted. “She recognized me.”
There was a pause.
“So?”
“So, she knows we hate her father.”
“Do you have a point, Kaos?” Finch asked.
“She can properly ask Ocean now.” His black eyes fixed on my face. “But I need your promise, Finch. I need you to promise that if Ocean wants out, we’ll break him out. Tonight or tomorrow.”
There was a long pause. Kaos’s face darkened, and angerpulsed out of him through the bond. For a second, I was sure he was going to smash the phone.
“All right,” Finch finally said. “Laurel, next time you see Ocean, tell him he has a choice. We could break him out tomorrow and give up on our mission. Or we can go through with my plan to try to free him and get revenge.”
