Chapter 1 #2
He nudged me gently. “You didn’t have to answer that.”
“Felt like I should.”
“I’m only stating the obvious.”
“And I’m agreeing.”
“Sweet.”
“What is?”
“You are, Orion.”
I smiled, the upward curving of my lips a temporary sliver of joy squaring up to my sadness.
Miko wrapped an arm around my waist. “If you’re cold, go back inside.”
“I like being out here with you.”
“You’re not tired?”
“I’m always tired.”
“Me too.”
The others were sleeping. Sleep sounded wonderful, but too much of a luxury at the moment. I was too wired, my nerves dancing a ballet, my neediness for Miko rife.
I had to be beside him at all times.
When did I become that person?
The bond made me that person.
“This is a pretty good spot for a night watch,” I said.
“It is.”
“So, where did Daria go?”
“Into the shadows.” His forehead creased. “Sorry, that sounded so dramatic.”
I shivered. Honestly, vampires made me nervous, even if they didn’t enjoy fae blood and were super helpful.
The unease of being watched prickled across my scalp.
I glanced behind me, wondering if Basil was twitching the blinds at the nearest window.
Maybe. But who cared? Let him spy and try to convince me to leave Earth with him.
I wasn’t going anywhere, regardless of my pining for home.
And the Faery gates would not be opening anytime soon, so he had to slay the dream of home like I had.
A heaviness crept into my limbs, trying to drag me into mourning Faery’s air, the kiss of her sunshine and moonlight on my face.
How wonderful it would be to wake up in the morning without the constant threat of Dawn and zombies. For the air to be free of the constant stench of decay, to taste a cold Vodka Flower again.
Maybe I’d see Faery again one day. But not without Miko. He had to be part of it now. No ifs, no buts. The pull of Miko rooted me to his side, his presence a constant balm against my homesickness.
But for how long? Any hopes or dreams were futile against Trev’s revelations.
No. There had to be a loophole to save Miko and save the world.
Stars, my poor mate’s mind must be a painful place to be. His father was part of Dawn. What a terrible, mysterious piece of information to be slapped with.
My job was to help get him through this. Be his rock. Be strong.
Keep him alive.
Miko pulled me closer, his grip around my waist tightening.
“I—”
He held up a hand, cutting me off. “Something’s out there.” A soft growl rumbled in his chest.
A ball of fear manifested in mine, my lips sealed.
I listened to the werewolf take a deep sniff, felt his body bristle with power as he watched the darkness for traces of movement.
A twig snapped, the wind rustled the trees.
We were being watched, the prickling sensation on my scalp confirmed. Only, it hadn’t been because of a possibly spying Basil.
Crap.
“Wait here.” Miko took off into the darkness with incredible speed, lighter on his feet than you’d expect considering his muscular build.
Yum.
I don’t think so! I protested internally, going after him.
Before I got two steps down to street level, I heard a strangled yelp and an oof from someone taking a punch to the stomach.
My intestines winced at the thought of a Miko knuckle-sandwich to the guts.
In the green space between our apartment block and the next, I found Miko pinning a man to a tree trunk, illuminated by a beam of moonlight. One big hand around the watcher’s neck, the other pinning his hands above his head.
Stars, the moon was super bright tonight.
Miko threw a furious glance over his shoulder at my approach. “Told you to wait.”
“As if I’d let you go into the dark alone.”
“I’ve done it loads of times.”
Really? He wanted to go there? “Now isn’t the time for this.”
He returned his attention to the red-faced guy squirming under his hold, a rivulet of blood trickling from a wound on the side of his head. “Werelynx. Spy.”
The man made another strangled sound.
“What are you doing here?” Miko demanded.
Before I could suggest releasing his grip to allow this shifter to speak, Miko did it anyway.
The man collapsed to his knees, grabbing at the red marks around his throat. He coughed, gulping for air. Miko’s head snapped every which way in quick jolts, his nostrils flaring.
I attuned my senses to the environment as best I could, listening for zombies, for friends of the shifter to attack.
Only the wind in the trees made a sound. Well, and the spluttering guy before me.
The shifter regained his ability to speak, wiping at the blood with the sleeve of his navy hoody. “Fuck you.”
Lovely.
Miko nodded, folding his arms across his chest. “Do you like your teeth?”
“What?”
“Do you like your teeth?” the alpha repeated slowly.
The man wrinkled his nose. “What are you talking about?”
“Answer the question.”
“Yeah. I like my teeth.”
“Good. Start talking or I’ll scatter your gnashers all over this grass.”
Ouch. I ran my tongue across my teeth, thankful mine weren’t under threat.
It seemed to work on the werelynx, his voice cracked with fear. “Please don’t.”
“Then start talking.”
I scanned the darkness again. Too much noise and too much blood were a bad combination in a zombie apocalypse—beacons for the dead.
“Lance sent me to find you,” the guy said, wincing as he touched his head wound.
“And you were about to scarper off and fill him in on our location?”
He rolled his shoulders, wincing some more. “Yeah.”
“What’s your name.”
“Ben.”
Miko crouched. “Anyone else lurking around here, Ben?”
He didn’t answer.
“Remember what I said about your teeth?”
He flinched, eyes darting to me for help. “I’m just following orders.”
I won’t be helping you. “That didn’t answer his question.” I jutted a thumb at Miko.
“Please…”
My turn for arm crossing and imposing energy. “Answer the alpha.”
I caught a flicker of a smirk on Miko’s lips from the corner of my eye.
Okay, so I wasn’t exactly the most terrifying of fae. But I could hold my own, thanks to the apocalypse shoving me through a gauntlet of hell. And I wanted to stand by my man. Back him up, exude threat.
Never judge a book by its cover. Because this tome possessed nasty teeth.
Ben’s eyes flickered between us, his shoulders sagging in defeat. “I’m alone. Others are scouting across the city, but I’m covering this area.”
“Did you come from Camden?” Miko asked.
After the drama in Camden, I never wanted to see the area again. Especially with it being the place where Miko’s fate had been revealed.
“Yeah,” Ben answered shakily.
“Where’s Lance now?” Miko’s voice was always pure steel. Unless he was being softer with me.
I liked him soft.
Well, depending on the situation.
Inappropriate!
“Somewhere in west London. I think.” Ben sniffed, rubbing at his throat. “I don’t know.”
“You don’t?” Miko asked, cracking his knuckles. “That’s a shame.”
Ben’s eyes widened with terror. “He gave us orders, then disappeared. I’m not part of his inner circle.”
“Are you sure?”
“I’m sure.”
Miko stood up, inspecting the area. “I think we’re done here.”
“What happens now?”
Miko didn’t answer.
How was this situation going to end? Ben posed too many risks to us.
“Please…” the lynx whispered. “I’m just following orders. I can…” He winced, clearing his throat, pale cheeks flaring a brighter crimson.
Miko snapped Ben’s neck with terrible speed. I stepped back, stunned.
“No choice,” Miko muttered. He scooped up Ben’s corpse, carrying him over to a huge bin outside the opposite apartment block, expertly lifted the heavy lid with one hand, then quietly dumped the werelynx inside.
He hurried back over to me.
My mouth hung open, hands shaking.
“We need to leave,” he said, taking my hands. “I’m sorry you had to see that.”
I shook my head, getting a grip on myself. “I’ve seen worse. Don’t worry. It was just so fast.”
He nodded. “Come on. We really need to leave.”
Pixie balls. Were we ready? Paige was almost healed after taking a gunshot to her kneecap.
I’d wanted to use my healing saliva on her, but the wolfsbane in her system made that impossible for my power to work.
Thankfully, her werewolf healing worked a treat on the damage, and on expelling the wretched substance.
But she needed until morning before she could be back on her feet completely. And James, the pack beta, was exhausted after coming to our aid in Camden.
Curse this world.
Curse Lance.
Curse all the bad things.
“Where will we go?” I asked.
This was all moving too fast. Soon we’d be on the road, heading toward Miko’s end. And that left the worst kind of sour taste in my mouth. Rotten limes on top of curdled milk.
I can’t do this…
“Shall I take you underground?”
I swallowed a squeak, spinning to see Daria lurking near the tree.
A smear of red sat below her bottom lip, bright against her pale-as-moonlight skin. She smiled, though it failed to reach her dim purple eyes.
“Apologies for the fright,” she said.
“No worries,” I replied, heart racing.
“Good idea,” Miko answered her question. “Let’s wake the others.”
No more delay.
Time to get out of here.