The delirium that had filled me was washed away as he carefully undid the chain. The single cuff sat like an ugly bracelet around my wrist, weighing just as heavily as it always had.
“You can come through to the council chambers with Erik when you are ready. Just the two of you. No one else. I mean it,” Hunter instructed before leaving me alone.
I barely had a chance to breathe before Erik entered the room again. He must have been nearby, having sensed Hunter arrive at his home. I missed being able to tell what was going on around me. Losing my aura was a loss of one of my senses.
“You should really change the permission of who is allowed to enter your home,” I muttered, looking at him.
Gray had changed the permissions for our home to ensure that no one could just stop in anymore. They would have to knock on the door. Erik was a lot more trusting than most, but this was not the time to offer goodwill and the benefit of the doubt. It was a time for caution.
“I’ll sort it,” he replied, his eyes dropping to the raw skin that was now visible on my exposed wrist. “He’s freed you from one of your cuffs.”
“I think he’s trying to get me on his side. Convince me to go along with his plan. Did you hear anything he said?”
“No. I didn’t want to risk tipping the scales against Gray.” He must have read something on my face, because he hastily added, “I would have stepped in if I felt anything amiss.”
“He said we can visit Gray,” I whispered, unsure if I wanted Erik to come with me. As selfish as it was, I wanted all of Gray’s time. But I pushed that away after seeing my hope reflected on Erik’s face. His love for his brother ran as deep as mine did for Cass. My initial anger at his reaction subsided as I realised we were all trying to navigate the game Hunter set before us.
At least a visit would allow us the chance to see Gray with our own eyes and try to collectively come up with a plan.
“Let’s go,” Erik said, extending his hand towards me.
I took it, squeezing tight, and watched as he unleashed his aura, wrapping us in red and transporting us from his home.
When we made it to the council chambers, Hunter was already there. He knew the draw of seeing Gray would not be oneI hesitated on. It was an open vulnerability, and he manipulated it.
“Quentin. Erik.” The greeting was curt. All business.
Erik tensed beside me. “Hunter. You should really reconsider all of this. I’ll beg you.”
“I don’t want you to beg me, Erik.”
I squeezed Erik’s hand again, in a silent request for him to stand down. I didn’t want a fight or anything that would jeopardise the visit.
My heart thudded violently in my chest. Gray and I hadn’t spent this long apart in a while. We’d become inseparable. A unit. Gray, for all intents and purposes, was my weakness. My world. My soulbound.
“You said we can see him,” I prompted.
“And I’m a God of my word, Quentin. Erik knows where to go.”
Erik’s fair brows drew together. “You won’t be joining us?”
“Not this morning. I have other matters to attend to. I trust you won’t attempt anything stupid, Erik. You have two brothers. You wouldn’t want to be accused of favouring one over the other, would you? Or worse, treason.” It was a warning with no room for misinterpretation. “Plus, my presence apparently only serves to aggravate Grayson.”
He was right. Gray never stayed calm where Hunter was concerned. He would be livid when I revealed the proposition. Gray would rather we both be dead than have me agree to that.
Maybe that was the only solution…
Existence for eternity without Grayson was an impossibility. I’d always managed on my own, but there was a deep comfort in having a person who would love you no matter what. There was no weakness in relying on them or sharing your burdens. Grayson had taken everything of mine and I took everything of his and we made it work.
“Gray?” His name echoed around the stone stairwell as Erik led the way.
The holding cells beneath the council chambers were dark and cold. Erik kept a hold of my hand as we walked through the halls. I scanned the empty cells before noticing him at the far end of the room.
With a sudden burst of energy, I ripped my hand from Erik’s and ran towards him. “Gray!”
Gods. My heart felt lighter just seeing him. Knowing that he was still alive and in front of me.
He sat on the floor, back to the wall, legs stretched out in front of him and head hung. His dark hair fell out of place instead of its usual controlled style and my fingers ached to tidy it for him. To touch him.
