I caught her correction. Quentin Scott had too much pride to bend first, and that was fine. I would grovel at her feet the moment we were done with the minor inconvenience that was my older brother.
“But it is not the place that holds good memories for you,” I clarified as I set the flower down again. “It is not the place you grew up in or the place that holds all those who are dear to you. For example, you have never had to question Cass’s loyalty, but Erik’s…”
“I trust Erik, but we’re all wired to look after ourselves first up here.”
“It is a trait that serves us well in our environment. You would call it some sort of behavioural advantage.”
She huffed a quiet laugh. “Yeah, something like that.”
“Well, you don’t have to worry about acclimatising to Elysia.”
“What do you mean?”
“When I asked Cassidy for your hand, I told him I would move to Earth to be with you.”
Quentin lifted her head, locking her eyes with mine. “You’d leave Elysia? What about if you become leader?”
I shrugged. “I will figure it out. Your comfort is more important. I know Cass means a lot to you, which is why I told him I would move.”
In the silence that followed, I noted how her anxiety subsided, no longer calling to my responsibilities. Her eyes filled with tears before she blinked them away.
“You have nothing to worry about, Quentin,” I assured her.
“Thank you.” The words came out as a whisper. “I think I might go up to bed.” Stubbornness was often beaten by awkwardness. She pushed her chair back and rose, golden tendrils lazily drifting in the air around her. “Will you be coming up soon?”
“In a little bit,” I answered her honestly. “I’ll finish this and then I might go for a walk on the grounds.”
“I don’t want you out there, Gray.” The worry laced her words. “It’s not safe.”
“It’s still our property. Nothing will happen to me.”
“Okay.”
She lingered, as if wanting to say something more, but quietly left me to my fatal creation.
By the timeI had finished soaking the blade in as much of the oleander as possible and taken my walk around the grounds, it had crept into a new day. Sleep evaded me and instead I paced the house, but the urge to find Quentin grew stronger as thehours passed. Eventually, I gave in to my desires and climbed the stairs, heading directly to our bedroom.
Quentin laid in bed, her eyes closed and the covers tangled around her frame. There was a crease between her eyebrows. Always thinking, even when she should be at peace. I was meant to bring her peace in the way she brought it to me.
Carefully, I sat on the edge of the bed, unable to take my eyes off her. The golden glow was as strong as it had been when she first appeared in the hallway with Andreas. Whatever she had done or said, the mortals had clearly listened. They believed in her and were putting their all into praying to her.
“You are a force to be reckoned with, Quentin Scott,” I whispered, pushing some hair away from her face.
My fingers skimmed her cheek gently as I wondered if there would ever be a point in time where I was not in awe of this woman. Regardless of what came her way, she maintained enough composure to plan and carry out the steps that were needed for survival.
I pulled my fingers away as the burning heat of shame consumed me. I was her bound. I was meant to protect her and bring her peace. And yet, I had been a cause of her pain.
Chaos. Destruction. Vengeance.
Everything I touched was tinged with my responsibilities. Even when I had the best intentions, I still managed to douse my actions in the darkness that was inside of me. It had never bothered me as much as it had since Quentin walked into my life. Her love and acceptance were like a drug. I craved it.
Dropping my head into my hands, I pulled at my hair. She should have been safe in her bed at home. She should have been planning dinners with her brother and bickering with James in the lab. Instead, she was preparing to face off against my brother.
I lifted my head and looked at her again.
I wouldn’t allow it.
Quentin would not stand across from Hunter in a few hours’ time.
