“We’re being as careful as possible,” Rodrigo adds. “We have a very specific timeline you’ll all follow.”
“We cannot do this.”
We all swivel toward the voice.
Laurant.
The fuck?
“You all need to find another pack. We aren’t ready for this.”
A dangerous, low growl rises in the room, and Rodrigo places both his hands on the edge of the table. His anger level rises to a point I’m sure he’s going to break the table in his grasp. “This needs to be done, for the good of the world, Laurant. You already knew this.”
Already knew?
I feel Nyx and Erich’s energies change the moment Rodrigo utters this. Mine does, too.
Laurant knew and didn’t tell us.
“We’ll be ready to go when you need us.” This from Erich, standing tall and proud. And I want to hug him.
So that’s exactly what I do, taking in his cinnamon and clove scent, placing a kiss on the black ink that licks up the side of his neck from beneath his tee.
And that’s when Laurant storms from the room.
Erich
“What the fuck was that?”
My voice is calm despite the angry words. I stare at the back of Laurant’s head as he stares out a window in one of alcoves with a little table and two chairs.
He doesn’t respond, doesn’t even acknowledge my presence as I approach and take the seat opposite him. He just keeps staring outside.
“Look. You should have told us they wanted to send us on a mission, there’s no doubt of that. But I’m more interested in why you didn’t, and why you don’t want to help our people.”
I level my gaze at his profile, that infuriatingly handsome and clean-cut face of his. Since mating with Nyx, he’d started taking care of himself again after going scruffier than I thoughtpossible while avoiding us all like a plague. Now, his brown hair is perfectly styled, and he’s cleaned the stubble on his face to look like one of those catalog models who wants you to think he’s rugged, but is really just that. A model.
A bitter laugh huffs from Laurant’s form, his evergreen eyes swivel toward me. “You think I’m pretty?”
I blink, aghast for a brief second, before my suspicion rises. “You can read my mind.” It isn’t a question.
He turns toward me in his seat. “Not all the time. When you’re in close proximity. But it only works with our pack.”
Huh.
“At least, right now it does.”
“Tell me what’s going on. Aside from this new ability.”
He levels me with a steady look for a breath before sighing. “New abilities are part of the issue.”
My head tilts as I furrow my brow.
He blinks at me. “Did you know you can draw magma from the earth now?”
Raucous laughter fills our little alcove, bouncing off the walls as I grip my chest, wipe away a fake tear. Only my laughter dies when I see the serious look on his face.
“What are you talking about?”
