Page 45 of The Prince's Mate

Me: Well, the fact that we spent the morning in bed should answer your question ;)

Nox: Hell yeah! Harlan owes me a skydiving trip.

Me: You were betting on us?

I rolled my eyes as I sent the text, knowing the answer even before he replied. Of course they'd been betting on us. I would be surprised if they weren't.

Nox: Oh yeah. I knew it wouldn't take you long.

Me: I've been back for four years, Nox. I did take long.

Nox: Nah, that was just because Walker was being an idiot. He didn’t give you a chance to work your magic. Okay, now I have to ask you something. I probably shouldn’t, but I also really NEED to know.

Me: What?

I stared at the screen warily as I waited for his reply, because with Nox, you never knew where he would take you.

Nox: Who has a better thingamajig? Damien or Walker?

Me: NOX!

I groaned, dropping my phone and burying my face in my palms. Trust Nox to go right for the uncomfortable thing. I couldn't help the fact that I'd been with both Damien and Walker, and I wouldn't change it if I could.

Being with Damien...was the first time I'd ever been with someone on my terms. Damien had taught me to respect my own body, to understand its needsandlimitations. Things had never been romantic between us, but we had loved each other. I would die for Day, and I knew he would do the same for me.

While I didn't regret sleeping with Damien, I knew it would always be a sticking point for a lot of people. Nox was just teasing, but there might be people who really didn't like the fact that I'd had a relationship with both Damien and Walker. If there were, I was sure Damien would take care of them before they bothered me.

The doorbell ringing stopped me from sending Nox a reply, and I left the half-typed message, dropping my phone on the mattress and making my way to the door. Walker had a key, so he wouldn't need the doorbell.

I grabbed a knife from the kitchen before heading to the door and peering through the peephole. The sight of a bloody Walker had me wrenching the door open, and I dropped the knife andhurried across the hallway to him, kneeling before where he slumped against the wall.

The moment I touched him and got a good look at him, I realized that this wasn't Walker. Whoever it was had put on a perfect glamor, but I could see their soul, and it wasn't Walker's.

Before I could react, they grabbed my wrist and squeezed tight. Darkness filled my vision, and I couldn't be sure, but I heard them whisper, "I'm so sorry."

And then, everything went dark.

Ro'Shassz

I had a new mission. I needed to convince Walker to take Caelan back to Otherworld until this Andras character was caught. I knew they both wanted to stay, to fight this vampire, but until we found out more about him, it would be safer for them to stay in Otherworld.

It would be tough to convince Walker—he was the son of the three most headstrong men I knew, after all—but I had to, because I couldn't bear the thought of something happening to him. Or Caelan.

I'd known Caelan for as long as I'd existed, and it was only recently that I'd truly started to understand him. He'd earned my respect the day he left Otherworld, and I'd kill anyone who told him, but I actually really liked the man. I would rather not see him get hurt.

Step Twenty: Convince Walker and Caelan to return to Otherworld until Andras was caught.

Twenty-One

Walker

"Remind me to ask Da if he's getting anywhere with the whole giving-Otherworlders-the-ability-to-eat thing," I said through a mouthful of samosa, and Ro hissed his assent. "As for going back, I don't know, Ro. I think even if we leave, that man won't stop haunting Caelan until he's taken care of, and I'd rather stay and see it through."

I wanted to keep Caelan safe. But I could see how much knowing that vampire was out there affected him, and I didn't think that would change even if he went home.

The elevator pinged, and I stepped outside, balancing the paper bags in my arms as I walked down the hallway. The open door of our apartment made me freeze, and Ro peeked out of my pocket to check why I'd stopped.

"Shit! Let me go in first," he said, slithering out of my pocket and disappearing into the apartment before I could say anything.

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