Page 167 of The Powers of Nyx

I wasn’t just hearing his thoughts.

I caught a glimpse of myself through his eyes.His memories. The moment he saw me entering the old cabin, wearing my ratty old flannel and skinny jeans; the day I walked into the dining hall at Oberon, like I was the only other person in the room with him; my broken body in Elias’s arms when I’d been pulled from the rubble after the explosion; and again, only an hour ago, when I’d been announced Daughter of Nyx.

A tear slid down my cheek as I snapped back to the moment. Elias glared at someone over my shoulder, his rage almost palpable. In the moments between feeling the bond snap back into place, someone had taken my other hand, gripping my fingers tightly.

Leather gloves.

I knew.

I knew the moment I first saw him again. And I knew, even after everything telling me it wasn’t possible, that it washim.

I turned to face the male behind me, taking him in with wide eyes. He truly was still as beautiful as the day I first saw him. The silver-white hair suited him better than the dark hair he’d glamoured himself with. But his eyes…they were still a piercing violet that took my breath away.

“Orion,” I whispered, sucking in a breath as his fingers tightened around mine.

Say the name you know,he replied, desperation filling his eyes.

It took all my control not to sob. “Ry.”

For the first time since reuniting, he genuinely smiles. “There it is, little flower.”

“Ivy,” Elias growled. “Is he—”

“He’s mystery mate,” I replied, unable to take my eyes off the Fae prince. Like if I did, he would disappear again. I couldn’t let that happen, not after everything we’d been through.

Elias grunted, but his hold on me relinquished. “Her other mate has disappeared. Can I trust you to protect her?”

Guilt hit me immediately, and I turned to face Elias, only to find him eyeing Ry. There was still anger through the bond; unimaginable anger at the male standing behind me, anger at our situation. Desperation hit too. Because we needed to find Rowan, and Elias knew he had to go out there and help search for him.

“Of course,” the Fae male replied. “Be aware. Your enemy is everywhere. They have been planning this for some time.”

My head shot back, and I glared at him. “You’ve known aboutthem—”

Orion pulled me into his chest without looking at me and nodded to Elias. “Go. She and I need to catch up.”

Elias only hesitated a moment before kissing my temple.We’ll find him,he said.

I shuddered, fear still coiling tight around my chest.Don’t close your bonds. As soon as you feel something wrong, reach out to me. I cannot lose any of you.

His lips left my flesh, and he left just as quickly. Bile rose in my throat as Orion offered me his other hand.

“Please,” he said, bowing his head. “We really do need to talk.”

A thousand things ran through my mind as I stared at his outstretched hand. And all of them had to do with finding Rowan. It felt like a betrayal, standing here with the mate who abandoned me, while the one who stayed loyal was missing.

Orion flinched, and his hand curled into a fist. “Before you judge, Ivy. Let me warn you.”

“I’ve already figured out enough,” I snapped. “He’shere and he has my mate. Close enough?”

For a moment, the male pressed his lips into a firm line. “Yes and no.”

Before I could respond, Orion grabbed my free hand. I should have known he wouldn’t let me get away. The asshole pulled me into a dance with the rest of the guests, swinging me into a waltz that matched the thundering music of the orchestra.

Little did the crowd know, I was dancing with my first mate. The one who started it all.

I so badly wanted to tear myself away from him, but Orion held firmly to me, sweeping me across the floor. A tingle of awareness ran down my spine, but as soon as it came, it disappeared. The other guests swirled around us, all bright colours and glitter, a blur of figures, each one so different to the last. I searched the crowd for any sign of my mates, but nothing.

Eyes burned into me. The eyes of dancers, of Greer, of Orion.

---