Page 127 of A Dusk Of Stars

“Yes, Mister—” Colin answers.

“Have a team dispatched to the island ASAP,” I cut him off. “I’ll be arriving shortly.”

“Shortly?Howshortly, Mister Bane? There’s a lot to do, you haven’t been in ages—”

“Just be as quick as you can, Colin, for crying out loud. With focus on security,” I grit out. I pause before I remember to add. “And books. Make sure there’s a shit ton of books there.”

There’s a moment of silence before my fox says, in the most whimpering tone I’ve heard him use,Don’t do it. Please. Just don’t make her more mad at us than she already is.

But I’m already marching straight to Lycan Tower.

Chapter 36

I’m in the Main Hall, still waiting for Connor to come back. What was I thinking asking Alaric to set me up with someone for this? He’s only making me feel even more desperate for this whole night to end.

Not because of this unsettling feeling of being watched. Not because I’m dreading the very possibility of bumping into people I don’t want to see. Not even because I’m generally miserable.

It’s because of this thought that’s so unbearable to me, I can’t even make myself bring it to the surface. The thought that now that he’s gone, I’ll be spending the rest of my life walking around with a gaping hole in my chest.

It’s for all those reasons that it actually makes me smile, when I see Serra coming towards me.

The smile slides off when I see the serious look on her face. She’s holding out a piece of paper with a map of the Lycan Forest on it. “I just can’t believe it,” she tells me. “I think I know where to find the fourth piece.”

My mind threatens to explode. “Already?”

She gives me a nod and hands me the map. “Now we only need to find a way for you to finally shift.”

I finish inspecting the map and then look up at her again. My heart starting to race, I say, “Leave that to me.”

Her eyebrows shoot up, but I’ve made up my mind. I don’t care how much I need to push. I’m doing this, and I’m doing it tonight. “Give me ten minutes to change and I’ll meet you there.”

She doesn’t look entirely convinced, but she gives me a sharp nod.

I rush out of the Main Hall and head straight to the Lycan Tower, disbelief keeping my mind blank.

Could it really all be over so soon?

But when I find myself on the landing in front of my room, I find the door ajar and I hear these rummaging sounds coming from inside.

What the…

My eyebrows pulling down, I rush inside only to findhimmoving about the room, throwing stuff into the suitcase lying open on my bed. I stop in the doorway, throwing daggers at him even as pain rips into me at the very sight of him.

HeknowsI’m here, but he doesn’t even look up. He just keeps walking around, grabbing stuff and throwing it into the suitcase with this intense look on his face.

Mysuitcase,mybooks,myfucking underwear.

“What, no boyfriend?” he finally grits out, still not even throwing a glance in my direction.

I ignore this. “What the hell do you think you’re doing?” I demand as I march over to him.

“Getting you out of here,” he says without stopping, “what does it look like?”

“I thought I made it clear I didn’t want to see you again,” I grit out.

“I suggest you get used to it,” he snaps flatly, still not stopping, “because you’ll be spending a lot of time looking at me.”

For a second, I just stare at him, trying to summon the strength to deal with this.

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