Shay lowered her head, ears back, a low growl rippling though her throat in warning.
Erik ignored the wolf completely, and instead took a step towards me, crowding me against the table. “I. Will. Not. Leave. You.” He spoke slowly, his words a threatening caress, an oath.
“Fine.” I hoped that if I ended up in a position where I could not get away, that perhaps Iver would be strong enough to stop Erik from killing himself to get to me. “But I am going alone in the morning and you are staying far away from Clause.”
Heat swelled through the room, stemming from the Lysian King. Claws elongated from his finger tips for the briefest of moments before receding. “Fine.” He stepped back.
I had expected more of a fight for he clearly hated this. But for some reason he agreed, choosing to follow my lead. Except when it came to possibly leaving without me.
“I’ll help as many people here fight or flee as I can.” He ran a hand through his dark hair. “But I am not leaving this city without you.” Midnight blue eyes met with mine and I saw the fear within them.
“I have put you through so much,” I whispered the words, saddened by them. No matter how much weight pressed downon him, he remained strong and true, sheltering me the best he could. But there was no shelter powerful enough to withstand the darkness that loomed. Darkness slowly wrapped itself around me, sliding over my skin before seeping into my bones.
“Youhave gone through so much.” He took my hand in his, tugging me into him. Gone was his anger, as if burned away in a flash. Leaving something more desperate. His hand grazed the small of my back, before slowly following the curve of my spine up to my neck.
I leaned into him, not wanting to let go. I just wanted to hear him say ‘let’s go home’ and for us to walk away hand in hand. But that was nothing more than a fantasy, and reality left little room for that.
“I probably won’t return before everything starts,” I said. My arms circled his waist as I pressed my cheek into him.
He nodded, chin moving against my head. “Be careful.”
“You too.” We released one another, yet did not step away.
Erik’s knuckle grazed my cheek, as if craving to feel my skin once more. I leaned into the touch, wanting to take it with me. To takehimwith me. My eyes closed, remaining in that tender moment. Firm lips pressed into mine, surprising me with an eager passion that ended too quickly.
When we finally parted, I pivoted and opened the door, needing to get away lest I fell back into those arms and remain there for eternity.
I walked into the room and paused. The bodies were removed, leaving behind a dark and heavy cloud that expanded through the space, sifting into every crevice. My gaze met with Timothy, who sat on his bed. His pained and swollen eyes met with mine, void of the light he always carried.
“I am sorry,” I said to those in the room. My attentionsnagged on the empty bed where the girl had been. “Where is she?”
“One of the guys took her to get food.”
I turned to the male who had warned me against finding Iona. “She is awake?”
“A healer came by, barely touched the girl before rushing away. She still looks like shit but certainly was more lively than before. I guess the King promised a life for a life. It wouldn’t do him any good if the girl didn’t even survive the night.”
I swallowed.
And then left them to remain in the pain that I brought to them.
Shay followed me with nearly soundless steps as we moved towards the castle, and then through it. When we got to my room I did not enter, instead going to stand before the Dune Clan’s leader stationed outside my door. His lips pressed into a firm line when I approached him. Dark eyes filled with unspoken words. Whatever mask he normally wore had cracked, allowing the turmoil within him to peek through those solemn eyes.
I wondered where he would stand come tomorrow.
“I need you to take me to where Edda is kept,” I said to Soren.
His jaw clenched, and he nodded, though did not offer a verbal response. When he began moving, Shay and I followed. Eventually the halls Soren took us down became less ornate and bare stone surrounded us. He stopped at a door on one of those dark halls.
“I will wait out here,” he informed. “She is in there.”
I nodded, glancing at the wolf at my side. “Wait here.”
Shay grunted and sat down beside Soren.
Following a deep inhale, I entered a dingy space. The scentof wet rock permeated the space. A single torch lit an area that had three cells, however, only one was being used.
My jaw clenched when I viewed the woman I thought I knew better than anyone else in my life. Though I no longer recognized her physical appearance, nor the soul within the body, I felt a sense of relief at seeing her unharmed.
