While cursing my own stupid choices and resenting my own everlasting stubbornness, we entered Caden’s Collective, hidden deep in the Scottish Highlands.
My eyes widened as they took in the sheer grandeur of the landscape before me. The rugged, untamed beauty of Crown stretched out endlessly, forcing me to confront its raw power. The Highlands were a stunning mosaic of deep green moors, rocky crags, and wild heather blooming in vibrant shades of purple and pink.
The air was cool and invigorating, carrying the fresh scent of pine and earth, with a hint of rain clinging to the hillsides. I drew in a deep breath, allowing it to fill my lungs and steady myracing heart. Each inhale was a soothing balm, easing my nerves, grounding me in this gorgeous new world.
In the distance, I spotted a series of imposing castles, each one perched atop a different hill or crag, as if risen directly from the earth. Some were crowned with spiraling towers reaching toward the sky, while others featured wide, sturdy battlements, clearly built for defense.
“Wow,” I whispered, momentarily forgetting who I was with.
“We convene with the others at Caerleon Manor,” Caden said, his tone clipped. Then nodded to his left, where one of the largest fortresses I’d ever seen, loomed on the hillside. Its dark stone walls and towering spires cut sharply against the gray clouds, giving it a solid and imposing presence. Although enclosed by a thick outer barrier, the greenery of the Highlands seemed to soften its edges. A light mist hung around it, adding an almost otherworldly aura to it.
“The others?”
“The rest of my team.”
I nodded, but my brain was doing backflips. Had I officially joined the "I've Lost It" club? Membership perks: willingly teaming up with the very people who had kidnapped me, treated my arm like a science project gone wrong, and who I’d almost sent packing in tiny, charred pieces back at Coastal. What a charming little reunion this was shaping up to be.
Sure, I could’ve gone back to Cyclos. That was an option. A smart option. But the mere thought of James made my heart drop like an elevator with cut cables—fast, brutal, and taking my sanity along for the ride. Caden’s entourage of professional killers seemed like the better company, which said a lot about my life choices of late.
Speaking of the latter, making my way to Caden’s manor was starting to feel more like a forced cardio session. I wasn’t sure if mister “Legs like Legolas on Steroids” realized my stride wasn’tbuilt for his pace or if he simply didn’t care. Either way, his long steps had me practically running to keep up. Maybe if I tripped and sprained an ankle, he’d notice my existence. Or maybe not—he looked pretty committed to his personal Olympic speed-walking event.
“Can you slow down a bit? I’m having trouble catching up,” I called out, as frustration crept into my voice.
He didn’t bother to look back. “Then maybe you shouldn’t have come.”
“Excuse me?” I snapped, feeling my patience wearing thin.
“You shouldn’t have come,” he repeated, every word laced with venom.
“Seems like a bit of an overreaction to my simply asking you to slow down,” I shot back, unable to mask my irritation.
Suddenly, Caden halted, turning to face me with a dark intensity in his eyes that made my breath catch. “Why the hell did you?”
I raised an eyebrow, trying to match his intensity. “Come here?”
He nodded only once.
“For your charming personality of course. Simply couldn’t get enough of it. Especially when you started beheading people on my account, being separated from you was no longer an option.” The sarcasm was clear, but if I thought it would throw him off, I was sadly mistaken.
Caden snorted, then a bitter smile played on his lips. “So, what, you trust me now?”
I let out a humorless breath. “Gods, no. But…” The words faltered, and for a moment, I wasn’t sure how honest I could afford to be. “Right now, you’re the lesser evil, and as long as you need me to procreate, I think I’m pretty safe with you.”
“Safe?” he echoed, then let out a short, dark laugh. In a flash, he spun around and grabbed me by the throat—his grip firm, threatening, and cold as stone.
“What makes you think I wouldn’t throw you in a dungeon and rape you over and over again until you’re with child?” he hissed, his face now inches from mine.
It goes to show how insane I was when I didn’t panic, nor shrunk down at those horrible words. Instead, I shrugged, and kept my voice dry as I retorted, “Considering the small size of your dick, I think it would hardly be an inconvenience.”
For a brief moment, surprise flickered across Caden’s features, but it quickly faded, replaced by his usual unbothered demeanor. He released my throat, curling his lip in disdain.
“Small, huh? We’ll see about that,” he grumbled. His tone was controlled, but the threat pulsed beneath every syllable.
I swallowed hard. Antagonizing this man was definitely not on the list of the most intelligent things to do.
We continued walking in silence, the grand house drawing nearer with every step. I was surprised we hadn’t encountered any Layers of Protection yet. Shouldn't I need clearance? I wasn’t about to show him James’s ring, and I knew people died if they crossed protections without it. Or maybe Caden was banking on me getting myself killed before we arrived.
“Do I have clearance?” I asked, trying to keep the nervous edge out of my question.
