Chapter 27
CHAPTER TWENTY-SEVEN
PARIS
It felt like I was wrapped in a blanket of frozen thorns, trapped in that damn darkness. Again. Like the first two times I’d died.
Let me out!
Let me out!
Let me out!
The darkness strangled me with icy barbs, each one biting, biting, biting. There were whispers everywhere, my soul screaming for mercy as the voices told me I was screwed. So done, doomed to an eternity of these screaming shadows.
To suffer.
To beg.
Alone. So alone, so cold, so—
I shot up on Silvanus’s bed, gasping for air. Alive, the cool breeze on my face, my entire body drenched with sweat.
The crystal dagger in my hand.
“Fuck…”
The door crashed open, the vampire king storming into the room.
His eyes found me, and mine found him. For a moment, we stared, locked onto each other, time holding its breath. Then he launched himself at me.
Screaming in my head, the dagger vanishing.
“Bollocks!” I roared.
But any further cursing died out when he pulled me into his arms, holding me against his chest.
Man, it felt so right to be held by him.
“Thank goodness,” he whispered. “Thank goodness.”
I held him back, grabbing handfuls of his jacket as I teared up. I was frustrated, sad, hating the rinse and repeat bullshit of this non-dying, of everything else.
Dagger mine…
Dust. Mermaid. Sinkhole. Dagger.
Oh, shit. My head whimpered with pain, tears burning down my cheeks. I pressed my face into him, tightening my hold, wishing I could climb inside him and find sanctuary in his strength. Away from here, in our own little world, safe from harm.
It’s like that, huh?
I snapped out of sobbing, lifting my head. “Aidan…”
He cupped my face, wiping my tears with the pads of his thumbs. His features were soft, packed with light and worry and raw masculine beauty.
“I’m sorry I wasn’t here,” he said, his voice a warm breeze against my lips.
“It’s…” I cleared my throat, shuffling back so his hand dropped away. “It’s okay. You didn’t know the prick would attack.”
I took deep breaths, building up the steel walls. I couldn’t let this shit get to me.
His nostrils flared. “Tell me what happened.” His eyes moved to my stomach, no longer wounded.
How am I surviving this stuff?
Yeah, the million-gold question, right?
Medusa told him instead, allowing me to get off the bed and put some distance between us. Not that I didn’t appreciate the hug, but because the room felt hot and close and I didn’t want to suffer a meltdown.
Those steel walls only went so high.
Fucking Aidan. Was this his attempt to sever the connection? Ha! Joke was on him.
I put this to the group, which consisted of the king, the snake shifter, and Lord Vaughn.
“How many lives do you have?” Vaughn asked me.
I shrugged, turning chilly.
I wasn’t a fan of this guy after the time he came onto me.
“He’s clearly testing us,” Silvanus said, his tone bordering on a growl.
Yeah, no shit.
I leaned against a bookcase, itching to hunt that fucker down and return the favor.
Tenfold.
We weren’t safe anywhere, at any time.
Game on, I guess.
Keeping my guard up, I said, “When are we leaving?”
Silvanus pinned me with his stare. “Are you ready to leave?”
I swallowed that lurking lump. “Yeah. No. I haven’t packed anything.”
“Ah, yes.”
Seconds later, a human thrall arrived with some rucksacks, aided by one of the guards.
The king thanked her, gesturing to the green backpack. “For you, packed with clothes and toiletries,” he said to me.
Man, this guy was really on top of shit, huh?
“Thanks.”
He opened the black pack, while Medusa vanished into the bathroom with her white one.
She returned a minute later wearing a green hoody and matching jeans. “What do you think?”
“Nice.”
Silvanus pulled a cap over his head and slipped on a pair of dark sunglasses.
Head-to-toe black for him.
He smiled, but said nothing. His smoldering expression set my teeth on edge.
In the good way.
Dammit.
He flung his rucksack over his shoulder. “I’m ready when you are, Medusa.”
“Okay, sugar,” she answered, scooping her bag off the floor. “Let’s do this.”
Whoa, this was really it.
Silvanus turned to speak with Vaughn. “Be safe, my friend. I’m only a portal away if you need me.” He patted his left jacket pocket. “Call me if you need anything.”
“Good luck, my king,” the other vamp answered, bowing.
Elio arrived moments later, dressed in black jeans, a white jumper, and a brown leather jacket similar to mine.
He stood there flanked by guards, his head bowed, his hands clasped before him, acting totally meek, keeping his mouth shut.
Man, the crackling unease in the air turned my stomach. Being in the same vicinity as him again really poked at my fury.
The elf had a right hook to the jaw on reserve. One false move, and I’d unleash it.
Silvanus didn’t greet him, barely offering his thrall a glance. If the fucker hadn’t shot at me, I might have felt sorry for him. He’d fallen out of favor, a right pariah at the moment.
Like me.
Whatever. The sooner we got this done, the sooner he could be out of my presence.
Medusa opened a portal.
Glimmer City, here we come.