Total pages in book: 53
Estimated words: 51358 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 257(@200wpm)___ 205(@250wpm)___ 171(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 51358 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 257(@200wpm)___ 205(@250wpm)___ 171(@300wpm)
“She’s okay,” I say as I meet the crowd outside. Everyone is here—the assassins and their mates, the hunters and Aurora. It’s a beautiful collection of family.
Dagon reaches me first, immediately wrapping me in a supportive hug.
I breathe deeply, thankful for his strength when I feel like I might pass out any second.
“This is why I didn’t want to do this,” Alek says, looking down at Lyric. “There are too many risks.”
“We’ll take it as it comes,” Lyric says.
A bolt of shock hits me, and the rest of the group if their expressions are any indication.
“Wait, what?” Avi gasps. “You’re…I’m going to be an aunt?”
Lyric cringes apologetically. “Surprise?”
Avi jumps up and down, hugging Lyric while squealing. I smile at them both, but I’m still too stunned over almost losing my aunt to fully celebrate.
“Congratulations,” I say, knowing it truly is a blessing.
Dagon grips my hand. “You need to eat something,” he says, tugging me away without further explanation to the group.
We navigate the hallways to the residence, me absently following him wherever he leads me, which isn’t to the kitchens, but his rooms.
“I know things are weird between us,” he says, shutting the door behind him. “But…let me take care of you.”
I press my lips together to keep from crying. “She almost died.”
He wraps me in his arms, and I grip his shirt.
“I know,” he says.
I shake my head against his chest. “I never thought, in my immortal life, I’d think of it as short.”
He rests his head atop mine, gripping me tighter against him as he walks us back to the bed. He settles me in his lap, his warmth chasing away all the cold.
I melt into him, the tension slowly leaving my muscles as he holds me in the quiet.
There are a million things we’re not discussing—the mark on my back the main one—but I take solace in the silence, in his steady breathing, and the strength of his arms holding me together when I feel like falling apart.
“Thank you,” I whisper after I’ve collected myself enough to think clearly.
“For what?” he asks.
“For letting me just…be.”
He sighs. “You can always just be, with me.”
I swallow the knot in my throat, my heart tripping over the way he said always.
Because when it comes to him? Always may not be enough.
CHAPTER 13
Dagon
Icarefully watch Annika as she absently twirls the water in her glass at the dining room table, her plate of food only half-eaten before her. She’s somewhere else, not even realizing she’s fiddling with her power. It’s an accomplishment, the ease in which she’s using it now, but I can’t stop the pang of worry gnawing at my gut.
It’s been a week since Olivia had her and Ransom’s baby, a little girl they named Selene. And while Annika has come to appreciate her aunt’s life and presence more than ever, there’s still so much she’s grappling with.
Me.
Mainly me.
And all the things we’re not saying to each other.
My mark on her back. The way neither of us has expressed a desire to accept the bond fate placed on us. Why would she choose a life of constantly being a target as a hunter’s mate? Why would she ever choose something as dangerous, especially when she saw how truly precious our lives are when she almost lost Olivia?
Pain eats at me every night we don’t discuss it. Every minute we ignore it.
I hate the visions blazing in my mind—our life stretching ahead of us in a beautiful display of passion and love and never-ending adventures. But that’s a fairy tale. Despite what my hunter brothers may think, I’ve seen firsthand how our enemies go after what means the most to us, and a mate?
Nothing is more valuable than a mate.
And Annika is mine.
She is. I know it. Feel it. In the depths of my soul, she’s there, making me better than I ever knew possible. But, for her sake, I can’t express that.
“Dagon,” Saint says my name in a severe tone as he bursts through the dining room doors.
I’m on my feet in seconds. “Where?”
I don’t need to ask what he wants. I can see it in his eyes. He’s had a vision. A rarity for him, but enough that I know exactly what he looks like when he’s had one.
“He’s in demon territory.”
Alek is on his feet too, his dinner before him forgotten. “Shit.”
“What?” Saint practically growls.
“Xavier is known for taking his time when I request a meeting.” Alek rakes his fingers through his hair.
“We don’t have time,” Saint says. “I’m going.” He turns toward the door. I stop him.
“The demon king will have grounds to slaughter you all if you cross into his territory without permission,” Alek warns. “Give me time to negotiate your passage—”
“We don’t have time,” Saint snaps again. Power lashes from him, I can feel the signature of it and brace myself for whatever illusion he’s about to spin for the king. An act of treason, and a fool’s notion, but one he can’t seem to stop. He’ll do anything to stop Samuel, even at the expense of his own life.