Page 5 of The Powers of Nyx

Maybe I’d get the answers I needed. Or maybe the Queen wouldn’t know at all. But either way, I was getting to Avalon, and I would finally find Ry.

~

The apartment safe house was larger than I’d expected. The night before, I hadn’t taken the opportunity to check it out, but now as I walked hand in hand with Adrian, I wanted to explore.

The bedrooms all sat on a separate floor, the doors lining a single hallway. There was a shared bathroom, as well as three additional bedrooms aside from my own, and a small laundry chute that went down to a washroom on the first floor.

A stairwell circled down to the main floor, which opened up to a foyer, with archways leading into a formal living room, a kitchen and breakfast nook looking over the city. A formal dining branched off there. There was also a closed door that Adrian said led to Maeve’s office.

Hawk was nowhere to be seen, which both comforted me, and made my stomach twist. I had a feeling Maeve was in her office, likely planning our escape. The other team leader could have been with her, or off somewhere else.

I don’t care about him, I thought, pushing thoughts of the male from my head as Adrian led me into the kitchen.He’s an asshole who’s more concerned with being the best. Nothing else.

“What do you feel like eating?” Adrian asked, guiding me to the island and pulling a stool out for me. Like the rest of the house, the kitchen had a more antique look to it, with dark wood, forest green walls, and gold accents.

I shrugged. “I don’t know, honestly.”

Adrian frowned, opening his mouth to respond, but another voice cut in first. “She needs protein after the near explosion yesterday. Carbs would also help.”

I rolled my eyes. Hawk was dressed in tactical gear, his shoulder-length dark brown hair tied back at the nape of his neck. He lifted a brow as I glared at him, smirking arrogantly as he entered the kitchen. “You know I’m right, Your Highness.”

Instead of responding, I turned away. Adrian watched Hawk from the corner of his eye, gripping the edges of the counter,knuckles turning white. “I think I might make myself a coffee,” I muttered, sliding off the stool.

“Not very balanced,” Hawk snarked, taking one of the other stools.

I tensed, heart thundering in my chest, stomach dropping. It was such a casual comment, and deep down, I knew he meant no harm. But all I wanted to do was collapse in on myself and disappear. His words echoed in my ears, but it wasn’t his voice saying them.

My eyes squeezed shut as Kerry’s vicious words ricocheted through my head.She’dalways said it as a cruel reminder of what I lacked in her eyes, that no matter what I did, I would never be good enough.

Even dead, she still haunted me.

Good,I thought, heart pounding,it’s my fault she’s gone.

My breaths came in short, sharp pants as my panic rose. Jumbled thoughts of happy moments spun around my brain, nothing strong enough for me to take hold of and cling to. Not with panic tightening in my chest , twisting around my lungs.

Warm hands cupped my cheeks. Tingles of electricity raced over my skin, forcing me to open my eyes and meet Adrian’s stare. “You’re okay,” he murmured, brushing his thumbs under my eyes. “You’re safe. You’re here.” And then he started whispering happy moments in my ears. He told me of the first time he saw me sitting behind the receptionist desk at theCamilla. It seemed like a lifetime ago, watching him and the rest of the team walk in.

Figures from my dreams come to life.

Who would have thought that moment would change everything?

Slowly, the panic released its grip on my heart and allowed my breaths to come easier. My entire body had locked up while mymind had gone elsewhere; my muscles finally uncoiled from the panic’s stone-like hold and released my limbs.

I breathed deeply, taking in his minty scent, and finally pulled away. “How did you know to do that?” I asked, staring up into his worry-filled eyes.

Adrian gave me a half-smile and tucked a strand of dark hair behind my ear. “It doesn’t matter,” he replied, leaning down to kiss the corner of my mouth. “As long as you’re okay now?”

I nodded slowly and cast a wary glance over my shoulder, but Hawk was gone. “Where—?”

“I may have told him to leave.” When I turned back, Adrian was rubbing the back of his neck. “Actually, I told him to fuck off.” He shrugged, and I couldn’t help but laugh.

Despite the easing panic, my chest still tightened at his quick departure. I wasn’t sure why, and I was too afraid to find out.

~

“Can we talk about it?” Adrian asked, tearing apart the comfortable silence we’d established while eating breakfast.

He’d gone against what Hawk suggested and instead made pancakes with a berry syrup and a side of fresh whipped cream. It’d been delicious and sweet, calming my otherwise frantic mind.

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