It’s the same feeling from the purification ritual.
“Off grounds,” he replies. “Aoife and the lords have a specialmeeting place further away. We discussed what to do about Griffin.” He looks to me and the eyes flash again. My stomach clenches. “Move, Fee. I won’t ask again.”
“No,” she whispers, pulling her sword. “You’re not you, brother.”
Kaden laughs, the sound rich but unnatural. I know his laugh—cherish it, wish for it daily.This isn’t him.A bucket of cold water drops over my head, dousing me and chilling the sadness. I only feel numb—cool rage that wants to strike Aoife for changing him.
It’s as if he’s a puppet, being used against his will. Whoever controls the strings knows him, but not enough to mimic him fully.
“Then who am I?” He holds out his hand to me. “Come here, kitten. I’ve missed you.”
Against Fee’s glare, I step close, resting my hand in his open palm. He shifts us, hips align, and he rubs his nose against my jaw. Inhaling my scent, he smiles and says, “Much better.”
My opposite hand touches his chest and I close my eyes.
My fingers turn red and I swallow thickly. There, under everything, is his heart.
Something I couldn’t hear from my mate. But when his beast was in control, I could hear it plainly. Like now.
My Kaden isn’t here. Someone else is using him, controlling his body. Perhaps my Kaden is trapped inside, like before, butheisn’t here.
My lips tremble as I pull away. “What did she do?”
He tilts his head. Something my mate does frequently, but it isn’t right. It’s not angled correctly, not the same mannerism. Only someone who committed every tell to memory would see it.
“Who?”
“Aoife.”
There’s a tick, a fluttering of his eyes, a twitch of fingers. It’s happened before. He reacts to the name physically.
Kaden is still here. He’s still fighting. I know it—deep in my heart. And the name causes him discomfort. He knows she’s using him.
“Nothing.” He sighs, looking to the stars. “Now, she’s waiting on us. We’ve decided on a new tactic.”
“Such as?” Reid asks, stepping to my side. He doesn’t take his eyes off his brother.
Kaden winks. “Come inside and I’ll show you.”
He moves to grab my hand, but Reid pulls his dagger, tapping it against his wrist.
It’s quick—a flick, a flip of a blade, before Kaden’s sword is pulled and held to his younger brother’s neck.
Everyone freezes. Air halts. If I didn’t know what was happening before, I do now.
“Really?” Reid drawls, eyes narrowed. The Fae has more patience than me. “You’d raise a blade to your only brother?”
“You would stop me from touching my mate,” he says lightly. “I don’t take well to being kept away.”
Fee comes up behind him, holding her sword to his back. The point presses, and the tang of blood hits my nose. “Release him, Kaden.”
There’s a pause before the blade is dropped and he steps away, smiling wide. It’s unkind and deranged, and there, I see it. What I’ve tried to ignore.
Kaden’s nature. The ritual showed me this side, reminded me it was underneath all the loving embraces and hungry hands. That this part of him—who feeds off anarchy—lives within Kaden’s soul. I didn’t want to acknowledge it, claimed to understand it, but that was a lie.
It was a warning for what was to come and now, I’m facing the real possibility of Kaden’s darkness. Can I still love him after all this?
My heart rebels.Of course, I can. I just need to get him back and away from Aoife’s influence.
