Akihiko’s arms are wrapped tightly around his mate, his posture protective, but his gaze keeps snapping back to Yua’s neck, still flushed red.
She’s trying to calm him, but whatever just happened is tearing him apart from the inside. His control is hanging by a thread.
Seiji steps forward, his face twisted with anger I’ve never seen on him, and it’s aimed at… me? The accusation hits before the words even come.
“If this is a prank, I swear to fates it’s not fucking funny. Jackson barely woke me up in time. I could’ve killed him, Hazel!” His voice shakes with fear.
I shake my head, stumbling back. I try to tell him it wasn’t me, but the words won’t come out. My throat locks, panic choking off every explanation.
But can I say it’s not my fault when Tiberius is only here because of me?
Dean steps in before Seiji can say another word.
“She didn’t do it.” His voice cuts clean through the chaos.
Akihiko’s gaze drops to the blood covering us, and his expression hardens. “Tiberius?”
Everyone turns to me, shock and anger carving into their faces as I nod.
“How’s that possible? We’d know within seconds if he crossed into the kingdom,”the Horseman of Famine says.
He doesn’t need to. He can cause just as much damage without coming here.
I step forward and take responsibility for the mess I’ve created. “He’s not actually here. If Tiberius had crossed the portal, he would’ve come for me.”
Dean grabs my hand, his firm grip grounding me. “He found a way to slip a piece of his essence past our protective walls. He’s dreamwalking… trying to hurt us without ever setting foot here.”
Dean growls, his anger rising with every word, before he drags in a deep breath, forcing himself to get back in control.
“Akihiko, Yua… take your Warriorhead and personally check every portal. I want every inch inspected.” Dean shifts into command mode. “Seiji, Jackson… run to the War Castle. It’s not a coincidence that only the three of us were attacked. He’s targeting Horsemen.”
He pulls me towards the door, speaking over his shoulder. “We’ll check on Nevaeh and Anxo.”
August…
He’s in the Horsemen castle, too. What if Tiberius did something—
I’m running before I even realize it. I can’t let that little boy get hurt because of me. I should’ve pushed harder to convince everyone to move back into the Horsemen castle until Tiberius was dealt with.
The guilt sinks its claws in deep and refuses to let go.
I knew the risk, but I was stupid enough to think we still had time. I should’ve been more careful. More alert. Now everyone I love is paying for it.
As much as I hate to admit it, Tiberius won tonight. He caught us off guard, and if he’d actually been here, he could’ve gotten to me.
Even then, just showing up wouldn’t have been enough to drag me out of this realm. Even if he’d trapped every single person here in a trance, I still would’ve slipped through his claws because I wouldn’t have been fighting him alone.
Tiberius doesn’t know it yet, but there’s someone here who wouldn’t fall for his tricks no matter how hard he tried. Someone he can’t twist. Can’t break.
Someone who’s survived enough manipulation to not just play his game… butwin.
30. Caught in the crossfire
Nevaeh
Ilook around, blinking in confusion. Why am I surrounded by trees?
I brace my hands on my knees, my lungs burn as I try to breathe like I’ve been running for miles.
