“Get past your patrols?” Nico said, contempt in every word. “Show some respect.”
Tristan sagged with relief. He’d got past them, not gone through them. But that made him no less of a threat. For the first time, Tristan understood how dangerous Nico was. For him to be good enough to get past Karl and Matt and Bryce…
Nico’s eyes settled on Tristan, and the curve of his smile sharpened. “So you’re the reason he forgot who he is.”
He took a slow step closer, gaze flicking from one to the other, calculating.
Colby was shaking, but he stepped between Nico and Tristan, his shoulders squared, as if trying to block Tristan from Nico’s sight. He still hadn’t said a word or made a sound, not after that first desperate breath, and he was braced like a train was barreling down the track at him.
Nico raised a lazy eyebrow at Colby. “Look at you. So eager to play protector. You really think you can keep him safe?”
Colby flinched as Nico took a single step to the side, just enough to see Tristan. His eyes drifted over Tristan, cold and slow.
“Sweet thing, all pretty and soft. What do you think he’d look like if I peeled back that shine?”
Tristan’s stomach lurched, and the sunlight turned briefly dark around him.
“Don’t,” Colby said, his voice hoarse. “Don’t talk about him. Don’t even look at him.”
Nico’s smile twisted. “Did I say you could speak? You really have forgotten what I taught you, haven’t you?”
He tilted his head as his gaze ran over Colby. “Didn’t think I’d find you with some pup’s tongue halfway down your throat. As if you didn’t even miss me.” Betrayal bled through his voice.
Tristan sucked in a breath, shock rocketing through him. He’d thought Nico was a tormentor, a jailor, amonster. He still did. But the real horror—the one that turned his stomach—was realizing NicolovedColby.
“You ran from me,” Nico said, like it hurt him. Like he’d never expected Colby to leave and not come back. “I gave you everything, and that’s how you repay me?”
“You gave me nothing,” Colby said. His voice was low and raw, his fear visible in the way his fists were clenched so tight his knuckles were bone-white. But Tristan felt something else was building in him. Pressure gathering, coiling, and he wasn’t sure what it was.
Nico curled his lip as he flicked his gaze to Tristan. “Trying to impress the pup? Cute. But don’t forget—I know you, Colby, therealyou. The way no one else ever will.”
Colby flinched, and Tristan snapped. He wasn’t going to let Nico do this to him again.
“You don’t know a damn thing about him,” he snarled, voice shaking with fury and loathing.
“Believe me, I know more than you,” Nico said, his eyes raking slowly over Tristan. “Takes a special kind of stupid to get snatched in your own backyard, baby boy.”
Something in that look made Tristan feeldirty.Violated, without even being touched.
A growl tore from Colby’s throat, low, guttural, and not quite human. He launched at Nico, letting loose with his fists, raw, fast, andfurious. Not deadly like Karl, not vicious like Christian—justdesperate.
Tristan flinched as Nico was pushed backward, then went for Colby, his brutal punch catching Colby in the side. Colby gasped and stumbled, but he didn’t retreat.
He threw another punch, but Nico ducked and rammed his shoulder into Colby’s gut. Colby grunted in pain and collapsed to his knees, gasping for breath that wouldn’t come.
Tristan cried out and ran forward, frantic to get to Colby. But Nico was faster—he spun, fluid and lethal, planting himself in Tristan’s path. Tristan stopped dead.
Nico’s eyes burned with fury. “You really don’t learn, do you, whelp?” he said, voice low, teeth bared. “Keep pushing, and I’ll make sure he hears every scream.”
He wasn’t bluffing. That stillness in his body—Tristan recognized it. The kind of poise he’d seen in Karl, just before the kill.
Nico was already turning away from him, as if he posed no threat. His eyes locked on Colby. “You know how this works. Bring me the silver wolf, and I won’t make you watch what I do to your little pet.”
Colby shoved himself upright, staggering a little as he planted himself between Nico and Tristan.
“No. You don’t touch him.” His voice came out low and cracked, but it didn’t waver.
Before Nico had time to strike, another voice rang through the clearing.
