Ahh, there it is.
Gabriel snorted and I grinned all the way to Midnight.
* * *
Even though it was ridiculous,because there was no way Zh’alek would get anywhere near me with Rys, Sasha, and Gabriel alongside me, a trickle of unease crept up my spine when we pulled into the car park.
It was full. Rys had parked in one of the reserved spaces, and I leant closer to the window, gaze darting between all the cars and the dark shadows they created. My pulse kicked up a notch, and I gripped the edge of the seat with a little too much force.
Maybe telling my story to Max and Gabriel had brought everything to the surface again, because except for the initial shock after Zh’alek first escaped prison, I hadn’t felt this level of panic.
And I hated it.
“Axel.” Sasha gripped my knee, fingers firm, and only then did I realise my leg was shaking.
Fuck’s sake, Axel, get a grip.
Rys turned in his seat, expression fierce. “You’re safe.Nothingwill happen to you here, I promise.”
I knew that. I was pack, and Rys would protect his pack with his life.
His expression softened. “But if you want me to take you home, we’ll turn around right now.”
I looked down, drawing in a shaky breath.
This was how I’d felt after Dathal and the fae guard saved me from Zh’alek the first time round. Why I’d had to leave my home and come here.Fuck himif he was going to make me feel like that again.
Channelling my inner Dathal, I straightened my shoulders and reached for Sasha’s hand. I gave her fingers a squeeze before moving them off my knee. “Thank you.” I glanced around the car, making sure they all knew I meant it. “But that’s not necessary. I know I’m safe.”
Rys nodded. “Ready to go inside?”
“Lead the way.”
No sooner had I opened the door than Dathal appeared next to the car, fingers twitching like he wanted to call for his daggers. “I saw you arrive on the cameras,” he said in lieu of a greeting. “You were taking too long.”
“I was…” I didn’t want to worry him, but I didn’t want to lie either. “Nervous.”
Frowning, Dathal grabbed me by the shoulders. “Nick has staff monitoring the cameras. Max has people stationed on all the doors.” He glanced over my shoulder at Rys. “It seems like half of Rys’s pack is inside. And you have me.” His violet eyes bore into mine, filled with the promise of violence should anyone dare come for me.
Finally, with Dathal’s words and his death grip on my shoulders, my heart rate settled to its usual rhythm. I felt enough like myself to quirk an eyebrow at him. “You want him to show himself, don’t you?”
Dathal grinned, all teeth. “More than anything.”
AXEL
Dathal hadn’t been exaggerating.I’d counted at least five members of Rys’s pack, and we’d only got as far as the downstairs bar.
Even as early as it was, the club was busy.
And hot.
Maybe I would’ve been better off in my shorts after all.
Nick and Kevin worked the bar, but they were still slammed. He only managed a quick smile at Dathal before someone grabbed his attention.
Any other night, I’d have offered to help.
I came to an abrupt stop, shaking my head. Nothing was stopping me from doing exactly that. Except for me.
