Carter fell to the ground and groaned before his gaze met my teary one.
Chapter 41
Lola
Irushed to Arc’s cell without losing a heartbeat. “Someone get the keys!”
“Lola—”
“Shhh,” I said, forcing myself not to lean on the painful bars of his cell. His mismatched eyes looked dull and exhausted as Carter and Marcus ran toward us with a bunch of keys in hand. “I’m so sorry.”
Carter opened the door and I wobbled my way inside on all fours. Ignoring the pressure of the cuffs around his wrists, Arc closed his arms around me and breathed me in, burying his head in my neck.
Arc didn’t let go as Carter worked on freeing his hands, only holding me tighter and pulling me closer once the angel was done.
“Shit—What the fuck is on these shackles?” Marcus asked.
“Dragon Venom,” someone answered from the door.
I spun around, my movements a little restrained by Arc’s hold. I recognized that voice but his face didn’t look familiar.
Hazel eyes with golden flecks…
I blushed. Didn’t I have a dream recently, including him, all my other mates, and a shower? I mentally slapped myself. Now was not the time to think about that…I had maybeminutesleft.
“Where’s Dimitri?” Carter asked and I searched the now empty spot where he had collapsed near the door.
“He’s gone,” I whispered.
The atmosphere grew tense and Arc’s hand tightened on my hip, bringing my attention back to him.
“Are you okay?” he asked and more tears slipped out as I muffled a sob. “I’m sorry.”
“Don’t you dare,” I managed to say. “I’msorry. For what you’ve been through because of me. For—Fuck, I should be the one asking you if you’re okay!”
“I’m okay,” he whispered, giving me a soft smile. A smile that looked just like the ones he gave me shortly after we met. After he had rescued me and spent the night making sure I could recharge.
I couldn’t believe that I had been so mad at him.Resentedhim. All this because Dimitri altered his personality and played with his mind, making him his puppet.
“I don’t know where he went,” the newcomer said, coming closer and crouching at the open gate. “But the demons aren’t controlled anymore, and he’s out of my head.” He placed his hand on Arc’s shoulder and let out a sigh. “I’m—”
“If you apologize, I’m going to punch you in the face,” Arc said, and the man’s head fell in defeat. “It’s good to see you again being…you, Nomin.” Arc smiled, patting his hand affectionately.
“Hey, I was here…Enough to suffer with you. But yeah, it feels good to have my mind clear after centuries.”
My throat bobbed. “Centuries?” I asked, and he turned his magnificent eyes on me.
“It felt like a longer time, to be fair…I’m Nomin,” he whispered, extending his hand for me to shake.
I did, a wave of shivers rising the hair along my arm at the contact of his skin.Wow. Was he?Could he be?
“I don’t understand what happened,” Carter said, sitting next to us, exhaling a deep breath. “I’veseenyou. Andyouwere—”
“I tried reaching for you through Arc,” Nomin explained. “But somehow, Dimitri always noticed and altered his mind to change your perception with whatever he wanted.”
“He made me thinkArcwas actually the bad guy here.” Carter winced, looking at his old friend whose hold on me was stronger than ever. “I’m sorry for ever doubting you. For believing it, even if I kept thinking it made no sense.”
Arc’s lips pressed on my temple and I ignored the way my vision kept blurring. The way my heart seemed to slow to an almost stop as the seconds passed.
