Thomas looked like he was on the cusp of saying something before he gave a shake of his head, dismissing whatever it was. Without sparing another glance at the rest of us, he stalked toward the office building.
A member of Daylight opened the door for him.
When I pulled my gaze back, it was to find Ahrun looming over me. He leaned down to speak into my ear. “A trial the likes of which you’ve never experienced is coming your way, my dear. There are many things you will have to learn to survive. I’m the only one who can teach them to you.”
“Who said I want your help?” I asked through gritted teeth.
“If you wish to survive, you have no choice.” Ahrun straightened, the faint smile teasing his lips falling away as his expression turned fierce. “And you will survive. For my sons’ sake if for no other reason.”
With that, he disappeared into the building after Thomas.
“You don’t have a problem with this?” I challenged Liam.
It was very hard not to feel betrayed right now. Liam, of all people, knew how much I disliked being backed into a corner.
Liam stepped into me, pulling my body against his. “If it means you have a better chance of living through what may come—no.”
My gaze dropped from his, my teeth aching with the force of how hard I was gritting them.
“As suspicious as his methods may seem, Ahrun knows what he is doing. There’s a reason Thomas and I became so powerful at such a young age. He can help.”
“He’s going to try to manipulate me.”
That was what I really feared. That his silver tongue would make everything seem so reasonable and convincing that before I knew it, I’d completely changed into someone else.
Ahrun had said it himself. He enjoyed tempting people. What if I didn’t recognize myself by the end?
“Yes.” Liam held my shoulders, one thumb sliding across my collarbone in a soft caress. “But you’re not going to let him. You didn’t bow under my pressure. You barely blinked when Thomas tried. Ahrun will be the same. Any decisions you make will be because you think they are right. My advice—take what he’soffering. Learn from him. Then discard everything that doesn’t suit your purposes.”
“Is that what you did?” I asked.
Liam’s gaze turned inward, almost nostalgic before he focused back on me. “My situation was different than yours. Death and the taking of life have never bothered me. It would be more accurate to say that Ahrun saved me from becoming more of a monster than I already was.”
I stared at Liam with a grudging expression, internally pouting. “I hate that you’re making sense right now.”
Liam’s expression lightened, a smile appearing. He brushed a butterfly light caress along my jaw, the look in his eyes tender. “Stay close to me and Nathan tonight.”
I moved my face away from him, unwilling to let go of all my anger quite yet. “I know.”
“You say that, but something tells me you don’t mean it.”
I pulled out of his grasp. “I guess we’ll find out, won’t we?”
Liam hovered a second longer before taking a step back to give me room. “Just don’t forget one thing. You’re of Ahrun’s line. He won’t intentionally let harm befall you.”
“Tell that to Connor.”
I’d have said being trapped in a stag’s body for centuries fell under the definition of harm.
“Ahrun has been warned what will happen if he crosses a line like that again.”
“I hope so,” I said, holding Liam’s gaze. “I really do.”
If I ended up an animal, I was going to be very upset.
Unless it was a feline. I wouldn’t mind being one of those.
I started to head for the building then paused. There was one last thing that was bothering me.
