He came closer still. I glanced at my phone, at the timer I’d started when I made the call. They’d be here soon.
“You didn’t come to see me once in prison,” he said, voice strained. “I never got the chance to explain.”
“Explain what? How you told Melhak and the others about my magic?”
“Ididn’t.”
I hadn’t known for sure that they’d been working together back then, but I did now. “Then why did he want you to get rid of me?”
“Because I told you our plan and you fucking refused to join us. That’s why.”
“You tied me up and held a knife to my throat.”
“Because if I didn’t, then he would’ve, and Axel, he would’ve killed you.”
“Youtried to. You sliced me open, I almost bled out.”
“But you didn’t. I saved you.”
“Saved me? You could’ve gone to the fae guard or the high court when you realised he wanted me dead.Thatwould’ve been saving me. Not stabbing me before Melhak could. If Dathal hadn’t got there when he did, I would’ve died.Hesaved me. Not you.”
I hadn’t realised how close he’d got until a huge silver-grey wolf skidded to a stop in front of me.
Talis.
He faced Zh’alek, growling and snarling, making him back up with his hands in the air again.
“Wait.” He’d gone deathly pale in the face of Talis’s furious wolf. “I just wanted to talk to him, to explain… It’s what I’ve been waiting for all this time.”
Talis roared, his back legs tensed, and I knew he was about to launch himself at Zh’alek.
“Talis,” I yelled, stopping him in his tracks. “Give me two minutes, then you can kill him if he makes a move towards me.” I needed answers and this might be the only chance I’d have to get them.
Four more wolves skidded around the side of my house. They circled behind Zh’alek.
“You’ve been watching me?” I said to Zh’alek. “From the woods.”
“Yes.” He grabbed his hair with his hands, gaze darting all around him at the growling wolves.
“Why?” I asked. “Why stay here when you could see how heavily I was protected?”
He hesitated, and I knew. Talking to me might’ve been part of the reason, but not all of it.
“Did Melhak tell you to kidnap me? When he helped you escape?”
He grimaced. “Yes, but I was never going to do it. I wouldn’t hurt you again, Axel. You have to believe me.”
“No. I don’t.” I had no idea if he was telling the truth or not. And did it really fucking matter? No. I didn’t owe him anything, and I didn’t have to stand here and listen to him. “I don’t care.” I said, realising with surprise that it was true. “Nothing you have to say matters to me.”
“I don’t want anything to do with Melhak or his plans. I just wanted to see you—”
“Stop.”
“Axel.” He took a step towards me, and Talis snarled, low and menacing, fangs bared as he made his intentions clear.
“I wouldn’t move if I were you.” I gestured to the wolves around him. “They’d love an excuse to tear you apart.”
I watched as his expression changed from pleading to calculating. He knew he was in trouble. He was going to run.
