“Just a rumor,” Bael murmured, but the lack of his normal blatant confidence told her there could be truth to the rumor.
Nix remembered all too well how her future captor—the man who dressed in a white lab coat like he was a healer and nota torturer—plucked feathers from her back after weakening her with elixirs so she could not move. That was why he did it.
Had he ever used her feathers for time travel? Or had his goal been to pluck enough to be granted a wish from the gods?
She was pretty sure that Mr. Oadess had “sold” Nix to her captor at graduation. If anything, the tie between her captor and the Oadess family using Evernell poison was enough for her to draw the connection.
They are the reason I spent four years undergoing torture. They are the reason my heart finally gave out, and I died.
They are the reason I watched my mate, Persius, die in front of me.
“I would like to kill them,” Nix said aloud, meaning to keep that thought to herself.
“Murdering another shifter is punishable by death, and Kellan Oadess ‘disappearing’ would not go unnoticed. He is president of the shifter council,” Thierry told her. “You do not want the attention of the council, given what you are.”
Nix blew out an aggravated breath. “What I am is pissed.”
Did Elle know the torture Nix went through? Had Elle always known the nefarious plot to hand Nix over to someone for experiments?Was she ever really my friend?
Ten years of my life were a lie, and the ten years before that were a blur.
“Ready to go?” Ryker asked, wheeling the three suitcases to the door. He still thought they were fleeing into hiding.Nope.
If Nix was the most powerful kind of shifter, why the hell shouldshebe the one to run? Her revenge was ripe for the taking.
“She should probably get dressed before we embark on a long road trip,” Thierry remarked.
“You ruin everything, don’t you?” Bael asked him.
Noise coming from upstairs confused her. Nix looked up, to the ceiling, and frowned. “Is your shower running?” Why wouldn’t Ryker have turned it off?
“Roommate,” Ryker said.Roommate?
“Pers!” Bael yelled out.
Nix froze.Persas in Persius?
“I need you down here,” Bael announced. “Now.”
The shower shut off.
Oh. No.Persiuslivedwith them? How had she not—oh yeah, because Persius spent the night in Elle’s room when Nix spent the night at the off-campus house.
All Bael had to do was ask Persius if he ever told Nix what he was, then Bael would catch her in the lie. And the blade-wielding incubus would most likely assume the worst.
Nix’s breath caught at the sound of the slaps of wet footsteps running down the stairs.
“Fuck, Pers, you just ran down here naked?” Bael asked, slightly amused. “Why didn’t you grab a towel?”
“Because you made it sound urgent,” his warm, heavenly voice floated into the living room as a naked and damp Persius stepped into the room.
Nix gasped, sharply sucking in air after holding her breath for his entire descent down the stairs. A naked Persius was…magnificent.
His long, icy blond locks were wet and slicked back, revealing an unobstructed view of his stunning, deep-set, electric azure-blue eyes.
He had the features of a chiseled Greek sculpture. Lips perfectly full yet thin. High and regal cheekbones with a strong jawline and robust cleft chin. Even his prominent, Roman nose reminded her of painted depictions of Hercules or the Greek Gods.
In the dim lighting of the living room, she swore he was lit with a walking golden halo.
