Asher and Kayden straighten, my words reassuring them, too.
"I never thought you'd crawl so low." Darlene hawks spit at the ground. "Disgusting."
Kayden barks a scornful laugh. "Judgmental tree hag. If she chose us, such disgusting creatures, what does that say about your oh-so-glorified boss?"
The wind surges harsher, branches creaking, the air thrumming like lightning waiting to strike.
"It is true," Darius finally says. "I see your bond even through this ward." His gaze rakes me. "You've shared blood with them."
Darlene curses under her breath. Johnny looks at me, then away, something twisting in his expression. Disgust? Conflict? I can't tell anymore.
Darlene turns to Darius. "You gave her enough chances. More than she deserves. Let's kill the vamps and take her—"
Her words cut short when his glowing glance snaps to her.
His focus returns to me. "You think this charade of a marriage shields you from your destiny?" His voice drops, dangerous and resonant, echoing as if the forest itself mouths the words. "You were meant to be mine. This changes nothing, only proves your weakness. You disappoint me, my love."
Asher's reply is calm, but sharp enough to draw blood. "Jealousy doesn't suit you, Darius. Especially for a man who pretends he's above it."
Darius inhales, slow and sharp. His eyes flare brighter, uncanny green, pulsing with something older than the bones of this forest. Nature around us turns hostile.
Leaves rattle. Branches groan. The wind bites colder.
I've never seen him like this. Not just powerful, but unraveled, something in him slipping past the careful control he always wears like hisArmanisuit.
The sheer force of it coils in my gut. It's primal and terrifying. And, damn it, a part of me thinks:he looks incredible like this.
Then shame slams into me like a slap. I'm married. Twice. Bonded and claimed. What the hell is wrong with me?
His gaze locks with mine. Then… he closes his eyes. Breathes out.
Everything stills. The wind drops. The trees stop groaning. It's like the forest released a breath with him.
When he opens his eyes again, the glow is gone. Only sharp, polished cold remains.
He lifts one hand and gestures. From behind one of the cars, a tall, lanky redhead steps out, carrying a laptop like it's a weapon. Ruaidhrí 'Ru' Tiernan. Púca shifter. Hacker. Trickster in every sense of the word, online and offline.
He grins wide when he spots me and throws a wink. Then his gaze flicks to Maeve.
"Chose the wrong side, druid. Wouldn't wanna be you right now," he says, his accent thick and teasing, every word laced with bite.
Maeve spits something in Gaelic under her breath. Ru laughs and keeps walking.
He leans in beside Darius, opens the laptop, and shows him something while whispering in a language I don't recognize. Not English nor Gaelic. Something older.
Darius nods a few times, then looks at Maeve.
Before he can speak, Kayden groans loudly. "Oh no. Are we doingPowerPointnow? This might be the most boring standoff I've been through. Can we skip to the fighting part?"
Astrid folds her arms, voice flat. "Seconded."
Darius doesn't acknowledge either of them. His gaze is on Maeve.
"Maeve O'Cairn. You've helped them. You've bound a nymph to two vampires in marriage under the laws of nature."
He says it like a judge passing sentence.
Maeve lifts her chin. "It's not against the laws. And you can't hurt me, Satyr. You know that."
