“What did he do?” I asked, fingers tightening around the gun. I felt Xerxes at my side, one of his giant hands touching the small of my back, but I stepped out of his grasp. “What did the mage do to Hawk?”
She stared at me with wide eyes, eyes that once used to be filled with kindness. That was gone now, replaced with anger—and fear.Good,I thought. She didn’t deserve to feel safe or comfort or anything. She should be scared.
She trapped me in a situation that could mean the destruction of everything. She ensured I’d get pregnant as agiftfor my enemy. Pregnant with a baby that could be used to stop my mates from fighting for our realms.
She single-handedly took away my choice. And she helped ensure I couldn’t make any further decisions about my own life.
Marion lifted her chin defiantly, despite the slight quiver of her lips. “Our king needed to ensure certain memories were locked away,” she spat, eyeing me with a venom that seemed sounlike her. But then again, I never really knew her. “Ivor was supposed to take them.”
I had a feeling I already knew what memories she was referring to, but it still surprised me when Hawk laughed. “It was a bullshit effort,” he said, voice slurred. “He could never take it all. Not from me. Not when it was about her.”
Hawk’s eyes found mine, a bloody smile pulling at his lips. “He can’t take the only thing I love away from me. He could never break that bond.”
My breath caught in my throat, and my heart thundered harshly in my ears as I stared at him in shock. If Marion said anything in response to that, I didn’t hear it over the ringing in my ears.
Hawk’s gaze never strayed from mine. The longer he stared, the more those words sank in.The only thing I love. He had no memories of me, but he was absolutely certain about that declaration. There wasn’t a hint of doubt in his eyes. Even though he didn’t remember me, somehow, he knewthat.
I swallowed hard past the lump forming in my throat. Ignoring Marion and whatever tirade she was on, I walked around the unconscious body of the mind mage and finally took Hawk in.
“How do I undo these?” I asked, looking up at Cato.
The Winter Fae moved to Hawk’s other side. Without a word, he hit something on the side of the chair, which unlocked the straps around Hawk’s ankles, wrists, and head.
I released a shaky breath and wrapped my arms around Hawk’s neck. The male grunted, but he wound his arms around my middle, all but pulling me onto his lap.
“Are you okay?” I asked quickly, squeezing my eyes shut against the burn of tears that threatened to escape.
Hawk chuckled, fingers digging into my side as he held me tighter. “I’m not sure. I don’t know your name.”
I stiffened, pulling back. “Do you recognise me?”
He cocked his head, eyes searching mine. Silently, he pulled one hand back and gently pushed my hair out of my face beforecupping my cheeks. “I remember your eyes,” he said. “And I think I remember your laugh. But nothing else.”
I shivered and pulled away completely. “Is there a way we can…we can fix that?” I asked, tearing my eyes from Hawk to look between Cato and Xerxes. “His memories can’t just be…gone, can they?”
Cato stepped back, uncertainty playing in his icy eyes. “I don’t know,” he replied honestly. “I’m sorry, my Queen.”
I blinked hard against the tears that wanted to fall. Giving him a single nod, I glanced back at Hawk, but his eyes were locked on the collar around my neck.
Clearing my throat, I grabbed him by the hands. “Do you think you can stand?” I asked.
He tore his eyes from the collar and nodded. “Yes.”
I was glad he didn’t ask about it, but my heart still twisted with the reminder.
I helped Hawk stand, one of his arms going around my shoulders. He didn’t use me as a leaning pole so much as tried to hold me to him. It was strange. Maybe a little disconcerting.
The Hawk with memories probably wouldn’t act like this. He’d have stripped the mage of his weapons by now, probably stolen his shoes, and assumed some kind of leadership position.
As if hearing those thoughts, the Hawkwithoutmemories did exactly that. I stepped away as he pushed the mage onto his back, the male on the ground making a sound as it happened. I watched, eyes wide, as Hawk stripped him of his weapons, taking the forgotten gun as well as a large hunting knife that’d been on his belt, and stole the boots right off his feet.
Creepy, I thought. My gaze flickered to Xerxes, who stood in the centre of the room, keeping an eye on Thor still in the doorway.
“What do you want done with the healer?” Cato asked. My gaze snapped to his. “I can create an ice prison, but it’ll melt eventually. Or…”
Or she could die.
From the corner of my eye, I watched Hawk stand. He still had no shirt, but the gun was holstered, as well as theknife. The boots looked a little too small for him, but he didn’t seem bothered by them as he took a step towards Marion.
