I grind my teeth as my fingertips fidget at my side.What do they want then?
A male steps forward from the shadows. He’s tall, fair-skinned, with blonde hair. He doesn’t look at me; he looks at Nyx.
“I’m Stellan—the Crimson Lord. We’ve come to speak with the Nightfall Lord.”
“Speak then,” Nyx says.
“Privately,” Stellan says with a grin. He’s taunting him. Probably setting a trap.
Nyx doesn’t flinch. Doesn’t react to Stellan. He starts to take a step forward, and I instinctively grab his wrist, stopping him.
“It’s a trap.”
He raises his eyebrows at me, but starts to move again. Of course, he’s already thought about it being a trap.
“Take Talonis or Sylara with you,” I say.
“Already on it,” Talonis says, appearing next to Nyx.
I grind my teeth so hard together, not liking this one bit. Nyx just stares at me; he still hasn’t said a word to me. I suck in a deep breath and then let go of his wrist, hoping this isn’t the last time I see him.
I don’t trust vampires. Especially vampires that aren’t under Nyx’s jurisdiction. I think back to my worst encounter with vampires—ones that I haven’t seen since…I tremble slightly.
Ambrose squeezes my hand tighter as if in comfort. But it also feels like he’s holding my hand to keep me from running after Nyx. I can’t breathe as I watch Nyx disappear with Stellan, with Talonis trailing after him.
I glance over at Amora, and she looks white as a ghost. Like she’s equally afraid that she just watched the love of her life walk away from her for the last time without so much as a goodbye.
Fuck, I’m a terrible person.She’s probably his real mate, not me. I’m pinning after a man who is already taken.
“What do you think Stellan wants?” I ask out loud to no one in particular.
“He came here on behalf of the vampire king. There is no telling what he wants, but it can’t be good,” Amora says with true fear in her voice.
I was already terrified, but her words make me want to run into the woods after him.
“We should move you somewhere safer until Nyx returns. If the vampire king wants something from Nyx, then we are all in danger. And after Nyx tells us what the vampire king wants, he should return to living in the cave. He shouldn’t stay in the house. It’s not safe,”Ambrose says in my mind.
“I’m not going anywhere. I’m not the one in danger. Nyx is. I’m not leaving until I know he’s safe.”
“So stubborn, my queen. But fine.”Ambrose whistles, and his entire pack surrounds me instantly. Like he’s been preparing them for this exact moment. Beyond his pack, I see Nyx’s pack circling me. Sylara, Emeric, Kael, Brax, and Riven at the front. I can’t see Amora anymore or even the spot in the woods where Nyx disappeared to.
I sigh.“This is a little extreme, don’t you think?”
“I could always wrap you in a magical bubble if you’d prefer.”
I glare at him.“You wouldn’t dare. I thought we had made progress?”
“I won’t risk your life, not when it’s so clearly on the line.”
“Why would the vampire king want to hurt me? I’m breaking the curse for the vampires. He’s getting exactly what he wants,”I say.
“I don’t know, but I’m not taking any chances.”
“This is insane!”
Ambrose looks at me like he thinks I’m the one whose crazy.“I refuse to watch you die when I could do something to prevent it.”
I want to scream, but I don’t. There is no arguing with him. And apparently, both packs agree with him.