I know I complain about the constant sunshine and rainbows in this realm, but for once, the gloomy weather doesn’t bring me the same peace it once did.
After a scalding hot shower helps loosen my muscles, I pull on Angel’s hoodie and a pair of my own sweatpants, leaving my messy hair for him to deal with.
The burns that covered me last night have healed, and the only scars left don’t bother me anymore.
I check the living room first, but it’s empty. And so is the kitchen. Now that I think about it, the entire floor is a little tooquiet. The Horsemen castle is never this calm.
The absence of my mate and family didn’t bother me at first, but the longer I don’t find them, the faster the ache in my stomach crawls up to my chest.
I rush upstairs, trying to find the conference room, and for once, it doesn’t take me four tries. But I don’t find it because of my excellent memory… but because of the sounds of screaming and smashing echoing in the corridor.
Something doesn’t feel right.
When I push the doors open, my arrival halts whatever argument was tearing the room apart. My steps falter when I sweep the wreckage around me. Splintered wood and shattered glass are scattered across the floor.
I’m not surprised the elders and elite warriors are holding an emergency council meeting after last night, but the way some of them avoid my eyes is unsettling. Their reactions only feed my already building anxiety.
Seiji and Grace rush over, wrapping me in a tight hug. I’m shocked when August suddenly pops out from behind me, crashing into the back of my legs.
What is he doing here? He knows better than to eavesdrop on these meetings.
The uncertainty and anger in the air make me stand taller and pull away from their embrace. I hate feeling on guard in my own home, but something in my gut is warning me to prepare for the worst.
When the tension in the room threatens to suffocate me, my eyes start searching for Angel, my calm in this chaos. I breathe out a sigh of relief when I find him standing in the far corner, his eyes already trained on me.
I smile so wide my cheeks hurt…but he doesn’t make a move to come to me. When he stays rooted to the spot, my smile falters. The vacant look in his eyes is… wrong.
Grace grips my hand tightly, glaring at Angel. Her scowl takes me by surprise, and I swallow my shock. She is not one to glare at anyone, least of all him.
Unease blooms in my chest. I pull away from Seiji and Grace, stroke August’s cheek, and head toward Angel. If he won’t come to me, I’ll happily bridge the gap between us. I just have to get to him. Every cell in my body aches for his arms.
My heart sinks when he raises his palm, stopping my approach.
“Are you feeling better?” His voice lacks his usual warmth, but he’s still worried about me. Whatever he’s angry about can’t be that bad… right?
I push past the hollowness in his expression. He’s just stressed. Last night must’ve doubled his workload and his fears.
“What’s wrong, Angel?” I finally ask.
The deafening silence in the room shatters when an elderly demon pushes his chair back. The ex-Warriorhead of Conquer has always irked me. And when his lips twitch like he’s hiding a smirk, it only spikes my irritation.
He nods at Angel, but my mate doesn’t return it. His eyes are staring right through me, fixed on the wall behind me.
“The votes were clear, son. You know what to do.”
“Don’t you dare, Anxo.” Seiji’s sudden growl makes me flinch.
I instinctively step back, almost tripping over August, who I didn’t realize was hiding behind me. Wrapping my arms around his shoulders, I’m about to pull him forward when my eyes fall on the two suitcases sitting by the door.
Angel clears his throat. “I see you’re feeling better.”
The start of my smile dies when Angel looks away, gesturing toward the council members sitting at the circular table.
“The council took a vote. Your presence in our realm has put our people at risk. We’ve decided it’s in our best interest that you leave. Without you here, the coven will have no reason to keep attacking the Tetrad Kingdom.”
I know last night was bad, but I tried to help. I fixed the mess. I made it right. So why would they—
‘Because you’re not worth the trouble. All you bring is chaos. Hurt. They’re happier without you. Safer without you. They don’t need you. They never did.’
