I saw another fun conversation in my future.
“Shall we?” Dathal asked, now standing beside Axel instead of in his space. Their shoulders brushed together and I didn’t miss the way Axel leant into him again. “I’m sure Lady Sarhin is eager to return through the gateway.”
She rolled her eyes but stood. “Careful, Dathal, anyone would think you were trying to get rid of me.”
His smile was quick and easy. “Not at all, I just know how valuable your time is.”
She huffed out a laugh but reached for Nathan’s hand. “As it happens, I do need to return shortly, so yes, we should proceed to the station. Detective Knowles will be waiting.”
We split into two cars to drive to the paranormal police station.
Sasha and I escorted Lady Sarhin and Nathan Calder to the car I’d driven here in.
Rys, Gabriel, and Dathal took Axel.
Watching them drive away was harder than I’d expected, than I wanted it to be, and only Sasha’s hand on my back kept me from letting out the low whine building in my chest.
“Ready?” she murmured, pressing against my side in a show of support.
Beta to beta.
I leant against her, much like Axel had with Dathal, and took the strength she offered. “Yeah, let’s go.”
AXEL
Max and Jakemet us in the car park outside the station.
For some reason, I’d expected us to be the only ones here, but the building itself was lit up from within showing plenty of signs of life.
I stood close to Dathal, not willing to let him move far when I felt so off-kilter. I needed his quiet strength, the comforting ebb and flow of his magic as it brushed up against mine.
But as Max led us to the entrance of the building, and despite my best efforts, my gaze slid to Talis.
Of course he had his gaze fixed firmly forwards, not looking my way once as we crossed the car park. A far cry from the closeness we’d shared back at Midnight before Rys interrupted us.
His arrival had been both a blessing and a curse.
In that moment, I’d wanted to tell Talis everything.
All about my history with Zh’alek, the reason why I could never be with him in the way he wanted. Could never be withanyonelike that. Not again.
He’d been moments away from kissing me, and I’d have let him.
Wanted it as much as he did, even knowing it would hurt so much more the second time around because nothing had changed.
Not for me.
I didn’t think it ever would.
Maybe Rys had done us a favour. Saved us the heartache of repeating a mistake I didn’t think we’d be able to come back from. I touched a finger to my lips where Talis’s had brushed mine for one fleeting, beautiful moment, then quickly dropped my hand.
I needed to push that from my mind because it absolutely couldn’t happen again.
Lady Sarhin’s arrival was a timely reminder.
Max ledus along the long corridors of the station to one of the meeting rooms we’d used before. When Jake disappeared to get refreshments for everyone, Lady Sarhin approached Max.
“Detective Knowles.”
