“Hello, Beta Dydrian. I told my guards to take a break and get some food. Any word from Alpha Larson and the rest of the family?”
He offers me a soft smile. “No, not yet. I’m sure, wherever they are, they’re safe.” He clasps his hands behind his back and approaches the side of the bed.
I don’t know what my father told Beta Dydrian about Tyler’s condition. No one really knows where Tyler took his family or how to contact them. I don’t even know the full story of why he felt the need to relocate them. Whatever the story is, Beta Dydrian visits Tyler almost every day. “Speaking of breaks, have you gotten any rest?” he asks.
I return my attention back to Tyler and continue to wipe his face. Here we go again. Every time he visits, he wants to be alone with him. I don’t understand why. I can’t read him through my mind link, and Odyssey hasn’t discovered anything suspicious either. I wish Emily was here. Maybe she could compel him to stay in his Territory and focus on Alpha Larson and the rest of his family.
“I’m fine. I’ll rest when he wakes up.” I start to hum again, politely dismissing him by turning my back. I rinse the washcloth, and a tingling sensation ghosts up my scalp. I glance down at Tyler. He hasn’t moved, and there are no signs of him regaining consciousness.
Beta Dydrian stands closer to me—too close. The tingling on my scalp intensifies.Guys, I think I need you in Tyler’s room. Now!
“I’ve always wanted to ask how you got that scar on your pretty face.” He’s standing so close I can feel the heat of his body against my own.
“Hey, Je—” Alexis enters the room and freezes. He clears his throat and straightens his spine. “Uh, Princess, I just wanted to let you know that Odyssey and I are back from our break. Is there anything you need?”
My eyes shift to the side and back down at Tyler. I rinse out the washcloth in the basin. Peeking back up at Alexis through my lashes, I reply, “Actually, I could use your help to turn Tyler over. Maybe yell for Sodie to come in here, too.”
Alexis’s eyes dart around the room before landing on Beta Dydrian, then narrow. “Yeah. Sure. Not a problem.”
Beta Dydrian sidles closer to me. “No need to bother your guards. I can help you with that,” he says, feigning sincerity. His hand grazes the small of my back.
Tyler bolts upright in bed. The basin of water splashes Beta Dydrian, and he stumbles away from me. A deafening roar fills the room, and Tyler’s body crashes into mine, pinning me to the floor. His hands wrap around my neck, cutting off my air supply.
I grab both of his wrists, trying to loosen his grasp.
“I’m going to fucking kill you!” he screams.
I dig my nails into his skin, desperate to break his hold.
His grip tightens.
Black dots dance in my vision as pressure builds behind my eyes. With one last thread of hope, I whisper with my mind link,I love you.
“Stay out of my fucking head!”His grip around my neck tightens, and he thrashes me about violently.
I take one last look at the man I love. The color of his eyes flash between sapphire blue and obsidian black. Rage distorts his handsome face. This isn’t Tyler. It’s not Toby, either. This man who returned from death is no longer mine.
Chapter 77
Black Like My Soul
SHADOW-TYLER
Six Years Ago
My room overlooks the main entrance to the hospital. I press closer to the glass as the royal family’s car pulls up below. Xavier steps out of the driver’s side and pauses by the back passenger door. A nurse wheels Jessica out next, Skunk walking at her side, steady and watchful.
Her long hair hides underneath the hood of an oversized sweatshirt, hiding the bruises circling her throat. Oversized sunglasses veil her face, meant to conceal the blood-red stains spreading across the whites of her eyes—evidence of damage she can’t undo.
My chest tightens as I cling to one last glimpse of my mate—Tyler’s Princess—already slipping out of reach.
I replay that horrible nightmare in my head over and over while I watch her get into the car. Tyler could have killed her. He nearly crushed her windpipe and almost broke her neck.
He was like a madman on a rampage looking for blood, her blood. It took two recruits, Chris and Elias—visiting Andersdown the hall—and a few orderlies to tear him away from her. Three sedatives later, I was finally able to take over and stop his maddening obsession to kill her.
My gut churns, and pain stabs at my heart. It was impossible to stop him—an invisible wall rose between us, locking me out and leaving his mania untouched.
A scream claws its way up my throat, burning to be let loose as the car disappears down the road. I swallow it back, the words echoing in my head.I’m sorry! I’m so fucking sorry!
