And just like that, the entire walking disaster of a welcome party floats off, leaving me and my brother standing in their wake, with Maeve lingering nearby like she wants to vanish into the floor.
I blow out a breath. "Well, that was a scene if I ever saw one."
"It's a complication," Asher mutters, eyes scanning the crowd like he's suddenly gained an ability to detect compromised humans. "We have less than twenty minutes before the attack."
"She could be bluffing," I say, though even as the words leave my mouth, I know it's bullshit. And judging by the twitch in Asher's jaw, so does he.
"Either way, we can't let her break the bond," I add, trying to sound casual, but glancing sideways at my brother. The ever-righteous soldier. I wouldn't put it past him to offer up our marriage like a lamb to slaughter if it meant saving a few strangers.
"If you want her back, I wouldn't do that," Maeve says, stepping beside us. "She's almost gone. Your bond is the only thread left."
We lock eyes. The air gets heavy.
We have to find a way.
Darius appears, weaving through the crowd like Moses parting the Red Sea. Must be nice walking around with that much smug assurance that the world bends around you. And yeah, people make way. They always do for power. Even if it's a monster in a tux.
"We need to change plans," he says without preamble. "Contain her. And the compromised humans."
"Oh good, another plan," I say, my tone venom-slick. "Do they all fall apart as fast as your engagement, or was that one special?"
"Kayden," Asher warns, but I don't care. Not tonight.
Darius turns those cold green eyes on me. "Do you really want to become my enemy again, vampire?"
I smile, bitter. "I don't see much of a difference. My life was a disaster before, and guess what? Still is. My wife's a feral nymph-vampire hybrid with murder eyes and a blood trail. Being on your side hasn't exactly been a glow-up."
Before he can shoot back, Donna rushes over, breathless. "Can you both shut it with the testosterone bullshit? Sage disappeared."
"What?" Asher and I ask in sync.
"She was here one second with her parents. And then… vanished into the back gardens, or maybe the building. I don't know." She motions wildly. "One moment I'm talking to my dad, next she's gone. Took the Quinns with her."
"Well… fuck," I mutter.
"We have to stop her," Darius says, voice low.
"Before she does something she can't forgive herself for," Asher adds, and yeah, that's the part that sticks.
Because if she kills her parents, no matter how scummy they are, there's no coming back from that. Not for her.
"You two go," Darius orders, already walking off. "I'll check in with Ru. He's monitoring everything."
My brother and I walk side by side, in step like soldiers, into the shadows at the back of the venue to prevent our wife from killing her estranged parents. Honestly, what fucked-up soap opera hell did we wake up in?
CHAPTER FORTY-THREE
Sage
Some surprises are too delicious to pass up. I came here for one purpose, but that high-society wannabe Lydia Bright handed me a bonus wrapped in childhood trauma. I'm about to make a huge psychological breakthrough without wasting a single minute in therapy. A shortcut, if you will.
As I guide my parents into one of the smaller rooms, I start considering the only question that matters: which one should I kill first?
Choices, choices.
"You were engaged to Darius Hawthorn? How did that happen?" Mother asks as I close the door behind us.
"And you married someone else instead? Two people? That was a joke, right?" Father adds.
