Chapter 17 #3
“Warwick, no!” I belted out but was too late. Warwick’s hands clutched Zander’s collar as he lifted the horse-shifter and slammed him brutally against the wall, shaking the foundation. Zander’s head banged against the wood with a crack.
“You fuckin’ touch or threaten me again, I don’t care what side you are on .
. . I will kill you.” Warwick squeezed Zander’s neck more tightly, getting close to his face.
“Stop thinking you’re some hero, coming to save the damsel.
She could gut you and wash her hands in your blood before you could even blink, donkey. ”
Was it sick I found his threat to Zander hot? That he thought me capable of doing that? Fuck . . . what was wrong with me?
“Warwick, let him down,” Andris ordered.
Warwick didn’t respond, locked on his prey, fury flexing every muscle.
Not moving from my spot, I felt my ghost self near him, my hand brushing his back, gliding up his enormous arm with fingertips only he could feel. He tensed under my illusory touch, his gaze darting to where he felt my fingertips.
“Let him go,” I said calmly from my spot. I knew he could hear me whisper the same words into his ear.
He inhaled sharply, clenched his jaw, and dropped him. Zander slid down the wall, crashing to the ground, gasping and coughing.
“You’re lucky she has your back this time, pony boy. Next time you come at me, you better be ready. There won’t be anyone to stop me.” He stepped back; his eyes still lowered on the horse-shifter.
Zander got to his feet, straightening his clothes, his expression cut with fury and humiliation.
“We have enough enemies we’re fighting out there,” Andris barked, motioning beyond us. “We don’t need it in here too.” He inhaled and blew out a breath. “Zander, your report.”
Zander pushed back his shoulders, his cheeks red, his eyes blazing.
“Killian wants her back, is threatening action on HDF. A bounty is on Warwick’s head.
” Zander’s eyes darted to us, then back to Andris.
“He has been in a rage since her escape. Cleaned house of anyone he suspected of being involved or failing to stop them.”
“But he still doesn’t suspect you?”
“No.” His throat bobbed. “He doesn’t. And the one person who did . . . she’s in a healing coma. She can’t say anything.”
My spine straightened like a rod. “Nyx?” My mouth parted. “She’s still alive?”
Zander gave me a firm nod. “Yes, severely injured. The healer thinks she will be in a coma for at least two or three more weeks.”
Jamming a hand through my hair, I paced in a circle. If Nyx fully recovered, she would come after me. Nothing would stop her. Not even Killian. I took her lover, and Warwick almost took her life.
“The moment you feel you’ve been compromised . . .” Andris left off the rest.
“I know.” Zander dipped his head in gratitude. “I’m still of value to you and him if I stay.”
“What is he doing in pursuit of her?” Andris flicked his chin at me.
“He still thinks she is at HDF, but since the explosions last night, he’s even more frantic to find her. He’s connected the bombing at Halálház, the palace, and HDF as the same.”
“Szar!” Andris thumped his hands on the desk, leaning over. “Has he linked it to us then?”
“Not yet, but he’s starting to suspect. He didn’t think the Resistance was anything more than a few scattered hoodlums stirring up trouble, but now he’s starting to put a few spies out.
” Zander said. “He ordered a few soldiers to retrieve any bomb materials left from Halálház. He will see the high-grade quality, notice it’s the same from the bombing of the night she escaped.
He’ll know it’s more than some homemade bombs. ”
Andris stared off as if trying to figure out his next step.
“Okay. Thank you, Zander. You can go. We don’t need anyone to notice your absence as well right now.”
“Thank you, sir.” Zander bowed, stepping back, his attention shooting over to me, a smile curling his lips. “Brexley.”
“Zander.” I grinned back.
“Hope to see you again soon.”
“Same.”
Zander winked, turned, and marched out of the room.
A growl only I could hear bit at the back of my neck. I curved toward Warwick, lifting an eyebrow.
Blank of emotion, he stared back at me, challenging. I met his stare, folding my arms to match his. The connection between us tightened around my ribs, filling the room with hostility and intensity.
Hate.
Rage.
Dominance.
I could feel him move around me, hinting at my edges, but I shoved back, not wanting the intimacy, wishing the shivers that ran down my frame would go away.
A forced cough drew both of us to the figure staring at us, Andris, whose gaze darted between us as if he could see the webs between us, a frown pulling at his forehead.
“Do you want a tour of the base?” Andris motioned out the doors, speaking to me. “It might be better if you stay here with us now.”
“No.” Warwick’s response barely sounded like a word but was more like a bark.
“It would be safer for her, Farkas.” Andris walked toward me, putting himself between us. “It wasn’t so long ago you betrayed us, turned her over to Killian. I would rather have her here. Know she’s secure. Plus, Killian’s men and Markos are out hunting for her and you.”
Feral and dominant, Warwick’s entire body strained.
“Yes, I agree.” I grabbed my uncle’s arm, my attention locked on Warwick. “I think it would be best. I’d be much safer here. Plus, you are finally free of me.”
“Free of you.” He scoffed low like it was a joke, the vibration traveling straight between my legs.
“You don’t control me.” The version of me only Warwick could see strolled around him. “You might think you are some badass legend everyone bows down to, but not me.”
“Fuck, princess . . . You are going to be begging for me to control you . . . to do things with you no one could dream of.” His husky breath trailed down my neck, and despite myself, my lashes fluttered, my breath hitching.
I was overwhelmed at the sensation of his hands running up my thighs, his physique pressing into me from behind, curving my spine toward him.
Heat pounded through my veins, and I struggled to swallow.
“Not only will you bow, but I will have you on your knees pleading for more.” His fingers traced along the band of my pants, slipping under the fabric.
I felt like I’d taken the biggest hit of a drug. “Yeah. You like that, Kovacs?”
Fuck . . . I did . . . too much. A groan sat in my throat, my teeth sawing together. His hand pushed lower.
“Well, thank you, Farkas, for saving Brexley.” Andris’s voice sliced through the link, snapping me back to reality with a brutal drop. My body twitched at the sudden absence of him. “She means everything to me. I will always be grateful for what you did.”
I realized I could so easily slip into my little bubble with Farkas and disregard anything else. Forget reality. Forget he wasn’t actually touching me.
“I’m sure you know your way out. You know how to contact me in the future.”
“Yes,” Warwick responded to Andris, but his smug expression stayed on me, weighty and penetrating.
My uncle, my nagybacsi, nodded, patting my arm, pulling me toward the door.
Rotating my neck, I looked at him. “Goodbye.”
“Yeah. See you, princess.” He didn’t even hesitate, strolling past me and down the stairs, not even looking back once, as though I’d finally released him from a cage.
It was for the best. We needed to sever this link between us. Maybe time and distance could at least mute it. Neither of us wanted it, nor did we even like each other.
If it was for the best . . .
Why did I feel so empty?