Rage burns through me, especially when I know exactly who it is. Turning a withering look her way, I snarl. “This is your final warning, Laurie. I will put this metal through your skull myself if you don’t back off.”
She preens at the threat, paying no heed once again. “You’ll do well to remember who is in charge here,” she hisses, adding more pressure to my hand.
I know what she’s trying to do, I can see it in her eyes. She’s trying to get under my skin, and as much as it’s working, it’s not enough.
She wants to see me shift.
We both know I’m feral and unruly when I do, but I’m also more likely to follow her wolf’s lead.
My limbs burn as I fight against the desire to completely shift, but before I can make contact, her other boot joins the party, smashing me in the face.
“I’ll take you whether you like it or not. You should know that by now, Rion,” she sings, her voice too light and airy to match her brutal actions.
“You sure as fuck won’t.” The snarl comes from above, hovering behind Drayker, but I can’t see her face, only the blade swinging in before it plunges into Laurie’s neck.
Her eyes widen, disbelief flashing across her face as she takes a step back, releasing me from her grasp as her hands find the hilt protruding from her flesh.
“You bitch,” she whispers, spluttering on blood as she sways before unceremoniously falling to her knees, revealing her attacker.
Ocean.
Laurie’s lifeless body slumps to the ground among the carnage we’re already drowning in, but my gaze remains locked on Ocean’s as she offers me her hand.
“Why did you do that?” I breathe, making no move to take her olive branch, and she frowns.
“I don’t know where the blade came from. I found it and used it, but she wouldn’t shut up so I interjected. Was that not okay?”
I blink at her, my chest tight.
“Thank you,” I rasp, unable to describe the weight lifted from my shoulders.
“That’s what besties are for, big bag wolf. Now come on. I think I see a path clearing.”
23
KAEL
Despite my best efforts, pounding my fist against the door does nothing to make the steel miraculously open. The only thing it seems to achieve is the pain ricocheting down from my wrist to my elbow, but I push on to no avail.
Frustration burns deep in my veins, despair clawing at my insides as each second passes, making it clearer with every breath that I can't be there to protect Elodie.
Again.
With the next thud of my hand against the door, I pause, splaying my fingers across the metal as I hunch forward, trying to catch my breath. I can sense eyes on me from every direction, the flickering of their heartbeats ringing in my ears, butotherwise, the only noise comes from my heaving chest.
Sweat beads at my temples as I clench my eyes shut, willing a solution to reveal itself, all while the mark under my arm burns, fighting with me to make it right, to protect her at all costs, just like I promised, just like she vowed when she used the Veilstone to control me.
It all feels like it was for nothing now.
The sound of shuffling doesn't concern me at first, until it quickly morphs into steps drawing nearer, and my gut turns. Despite my delirium, I know exactly who it is coming from behind me.
“Not now,” I grunt, my words taut and blunt, but they do nothing to slow their approach. They don't stop until I can see the outline of their shoes in my peripheral vision, and I sigh, taking a deep breath before I find the strength to tilt my face toward them. Prying my eyes open, I find him standing with both hands raised with an air of surrender.
“I’m outside of fist range,” he murmurs, a gentle curl to the corner of his lips, and the guilt in my gut knots sharper than before.
“About that…” I start pushing up off the door as I turn to him, but he quickly shakes his head.
“No explanation necessary. Focus on telling me what I need to know instead.”
