Chapter 32
Chapter
Thirty-Two
Torin and I climbed the library staircase, our footsteps echoing faintly in the hushed space. As we entered the lobby, the scent of aged parchment and leather-bound tomes filled my nostrils, offering a sense of comfort despite the urgent task at hand.
We reached the exit, the dim light from outside filtering through the large glass doors. As the sun descended behind buildings, we emerged into the chilly evening air.
We hurried along, and the bustling noise of the city enveloped us. People rushed by in a blur, none aware of the danger lurking just beneath the surface of the mundane world.
I turned my head in every direction as I almost expected Hayden to jump out from behind a corner and intercept us.
Clutching the book against my chest, my heart raced as we passed by a dark alley between two old brick buildings, the hair on the back of my neck standing on end.
I felt a familiar presence, one that sent chills down my spine.
My steps faltered.
No.
"Torin," I whispered, grabbing his arm.
He immediately halted and looked at me, but his head snapped to the alley where a faint sound of footsteps came from.
“Come to me, sweetheart,” a familiar voice said, and my stomach twisted. “You may want to see this for yourself.”
Hayden’s voice echoed from the darkness of the alley.
Torin’s eyes widened, and without hesitation, we stepped into the darkness of the alley, our senses on high alert. It was a trap, of course, but I knew Hayden would lure me in instead of attacking only if he had something I valued—or someone.
An unsettling, tight sensation formed in my gut. As we stepped deeper into the darkness, the thought of Hayden’s grasp on my parents or friends horrified me.
The stench of rotting garbage and stale urine assaulted my senses, but I forced myself to focus. My insides churned with unease.
When we were almost at the end of the alley, I detected a stronger supernatural presence. Although only Hayden spoke to me, he wasn’t alone. The shadows moved and shifted, and my instincts told me the wicked King must have brought several of his warriors with him.
And there he was, stepping out from the deeper shadows, his twisted grin sending a shiver down my spine. He used his power of illusion to hide his pointy ears and long blond hair.
Hayden held a dagger to Tammy's neck, the cold steel pressed against her vulnerable flesh. Although my best friend’s body trembled, her eyes sparked with angry tears.
The skin on my arms tingled with discomfort. On autopilot, my hand reached for the golden bracelet, but at the same time, a dozen men stepped out of the darkness. Their eyes narrowed with burning intensity on Torin and me, following our every move.
Hayden’s men were in human form, and I wondered if Hayden had cast a powerful illusion to change their appearance to blend in with the humans. Their attention was laser-sharp, so I withdrew my hand from my weapon.
"Let her go, Hayden," I demanded, clenching my fists.
Hayden must have gotten to Tammy before Robert could alert our allies of the threat.
"Ah, sweetheart…” His nostrils flared. His darkened gaze darted between Torin and me while Hayden took shallow breaths.
I was bathed in Torin’s scent, and Hayden must have realized what had just transpired between us.
His blue eyes turned stormy, and his pupils constricted to piercing points. For a moment, a scowl of shock and hurt flashed over his face but disappeared as fast as his cold mask replaced it.
“I’ll deal with you later, my Queen," he said in a low, deep voice, causing my stomach to churn. "You’re in no position to make demands, but you know what I want right now."
Stabbing pain hit my chest as I gazed into Tammy's frightened, wide-open eyes.
"An exchange, dear mate," Hayden said, his voice smooth and calculating. "Tammy for the book."
My heart raced as I weighed the impossible choice before me. If I gave Hayden the book, he would possess the power to destroy everything and enslave the human realm. The curse of the book was now broken, and I’d guess anyone could read its secrets.
But if I refused, Tammy's life would be forfeited. Her tear-filled eyes met mine, a mixture of fear and determination shining within them.
I couldn’t let Hayden have the book, but the thought of losing Tammy was unbearable. The air around us hung heavy with tension, and distant footsteps of people echoed through the alley. Time was running out.
"Okay," I said, hating the way my voice trembled. "Take the book, but let her go first."
I was afraid that Hayden would decide to take his revenge on Tammy. His grin widened, and for a moment, I feared he wouldn't keep his end of the bargain, since I could tell by his tense shoulders that my scent mixed with Torin’s affected him.
But then he released Tammy, shoving her towards us. She stumbled into Torin's arms, gasping for breath.
"Give it to me," Hayden demanded, extending a hand expectantly.
Oh, how I wanted to withdraw my arm holding the book and keep it away from this evil man, but his warriors stepped forward. With a feeling of dread settling over my chest, I handed him the ancient tome, its pages filled with secrets that could bring ruin to all we held dear.
His fingers curled around the book's spine. He stepped back, melting into the shadows again, but not before adding, "I’ll be seeing you very soon, my Queen."
He and his men must have climbed or jumped over the tall cement wall that separated this alley to the one behind it.
As he disappeared, I couldn't shake the sinking feeling that I'd doomed us all. But what choice did I have? Tammy was safe, and for now, that was all that mattered.
"Bree," she sobbed, clinging to me. "Thank you."
"I couldn't let him hurt you.” My hold on her tightened, and I let out a heavy sigh.
Tammy's eyes brimmed with tears as she looked up at me. "I'm sorry," she choked out. "I was just walking to a cafe when Hayden captured me. I never meant to put you in this position."
"Did you see Robert?" I asked.
She shook her head. "No, but Adrian texted me to go home as soon as possible. He told me Hayden was a threat. I was rushing back home when Hayden grabbed me."
"Where were your guards?" Torin asked, his brow furrowed.
It was a good question. No way Adrian would let his woman be unprotected.
"Adrian always has two hunters with me for protection," Tammy said, her voice trembling. "But Hayden and his men killed them right in front of everyone, in broad daylight. He didn't seem to care who saw. But to avoid confrontation with the human authorities, Hayden lured us in here.”
A car screeched to a halt at the alley's entrance, and the driver’s door flew open.
Adrian leaped out, his fierce face a mixture of fury and concern.
The moment his gaze landed on Tammy, his anger seemed to melt away, replaced by overwhelming relief.
He rushed towards us and pulled her into a tight embrace.
"Tammy, thank goodness you're all right," he murmured, pressing a fervent kiss to her forehead.
"Bree saved me," she whispered, clutching him like a lifeline.
Adrian looked up at me. "Thank you, Breanna. I don't know what I would have done if anything had happened to her."
I nodded, trying to ignore the sick feeling in my stomach. Saving Tammy was my only choice, but I knew we had to act quickly now that Hayden had the book.
"We need your help, Adrian," I said.
"Anything," he vowed, his expression resolute, still holding Tammy.
"We must find a way to stop Hayden before he becomes too powerful," I said, and then I told him everything that had happened in the fairy realm.
He didn’t interrupt me and only nodded knowingly.
When I got to the part about Hayden’s plan to gain powers and immortality from the ancient book, Adrian’s eyes darkened and narrowed in a scowl. He did not aim his gaze at me, but he looked terrifying.
"Consider me in," Adrian declared, his voice filled with determination. "Robert told me about the fairy realm, and I immediately texted Tammy to hurry back home. Hayden had the worst timing."
The four of us piled into the car, Tammy and Adrian in the front seats while Torin and I settled in the back.
“How’d you find me, baby?” Tammy asked.
The quivering of her body seemed to have stopped.
Adrian placed his hand over hers and squeezed. “Your cell phone,” he said, placing both hands on the steering wheel. “You didn’t show up at home immediately after I texted you, so I went to find you.”
“Oh, good. I’m glad we linked up our phones.”
She sighed and smiled at Adrian. And I smiled at her, seeing the trust they’d developed between each other. The Tammy I knew from London would have never allowed her boyfriend to track her phone or vice versa. She just never cared enough about any of them.
A disturbing thought crossed my mind for a moment, and a bitter taste flooded my mouth. If something happened to me, Tammy had Adrian, and she wouldn’t be alone at least. I swallowed hard and pushed the thought away.
No. I glanced at Torin, and he looked at me with a frown, as if he could feel the sorrow and worry that plagued my heart. But it was a possibility—Hayden had gone mad, and I didn’t want to think about what he would attempt to do to me.
But I would fight him with everything I had. For me. For Torin. For the people who loved me and relied on me.
As the vehicle sped through the winding roads toward the werewolf kingdom, I stared out the window, watching the landscape blur past me. Hayden and the destruction he could unleash upon the realms consumed my thoughts.
"We're going to need all the allies we can get to stand a chance against him."
"Then that's what we'll do," Tammy declared from the passenger seat, her voice filled with resolve. "We'll gather them all, and we'll end this."