I’m not safe.
None of us are.
Because the creature knows where I am now.It knows it can reach me through the mark.And next time, Prophet might not be fast enough to stop it.
“I’m sorry,” I whisper against Vex’s chest.“I’m so sorry.”
“Don’t.”His arms tighten around me.“You woke everyone up.You warned us.You probably saved lives tonight.”
“Hollywood—”
“Will heal,” Blade says, his voice back to normal now that he’s shifted back to human.He’s pulling on pants, apparently unconcerned about modesty.“Frost burns suck, but he’s had worse.”
I don’t believe him, but I don’t have the energy to argue.
Vex carries me back into his room, since mine is frosted over and uninhabitable, and sets me down on his bed with a gentleness that shouldn’t be possible for someone with his strength.The bed smells like him, like cold nights and leather and something uniquely Vex, and despite everything, I feel safer here than I have anywhere else.
He crouches in front of me, his eyes scanning my face like he’s checking for injuries.“Are you hurt?Besides the mark?”
“I don’t think so.”My voice comes out hoarse from all the screaming.“Is everyone else okay?”
“They will be.”His jaw tightens.“Prophet’s theory was right.The creature can’t cross the wards, but it can project through your connection.Use you as a conduit.”
“So, I’m a weapon it can use against you.”The words taste like ash.“I should leave.Right now.Before it tries again.”
“No.”
“Vex—”
“No,” he repeats, and there’s steel in his voice now.“You leave, you’re alone.And alone, you’re dead.At least here, we can protect you.”
“But I’m putting everyone at risk!”
“That’s the job.”Prophet appears in the doorway, looking tired but unharmed.“We’re the Kings of Anarchy.Nobody fucks with the Kings.That includes ancient ice demons trying to use our people as puppets.”
The way he says ‘our people’ makes something in my chest tighten.
“What did you do?”I ask him.“To the mark?”
“Temporarily weakened the connection.”He leans against the doorframe, arms crossed.“It won’t hold forever.Maybe a day or two before it’s strong enough to try this again.But it gives us time to figure out a more permanent solution.”
“What kind of solution?”
Prophet and Vex exchange a look I don’t like.
“We’ll figure it out,” Vex says finally.“Right now, you need to rest.”
“I’m not tired.”
“You’re exhausted.”He stands, towering over me.“And you’re in shock, even if you don’t feel it yet.Sleep, Tessa.I’ll be right here.”
I want to argue, but the adrenaline is finally crashing, leaving me hollow and shaking.My shoulder throbs, my head pounds, and every muscle in my body feels like it’s been wrung out and left to dry.
“You’ll stay?”The words come out smaller than I intend.
Something softens in Vex’s expression.“I’m not going anywhere.”
Prophet quietly excuses himself, pulling the broken door as closed as it will go, and then it’s just us.Vex and me in his room, with the night pressing in around us and the memory of that shadow still fresh in my mind.
