Page 135 of Nocturne

He only encircles my waist again and pulls me closer until I brace my fall with my hands on his chest. His magnetic eyes pinme to the spot as he looks down at me, the scar on the side of his lip twitching along with the grit of his teeth.

“Two days,” he reminds again.

“I remember, big guy. Why are you behaving as if I’d run away?” I frown, putting on my best acting face.

“There’s no place far enough, no depth deep enough, to keep me from you.” He vows.

He lets me go when his phone rings again, looking behind me and nodding at Yuri, I suppose. All the while, I stand here, reeling from his words.

He didn’t mean them, did he?

Of course not.

I don’t mean anything to him to invest any of his resources to find me. At most, he would search the city before he realises his time is better invested in something useful. Not on a woman who doesn’t want to be found. A woman who is inconsequential in the grand scheme of things.

But the look he gives before he prowls away says something else entirely.

* * *

I stand at the gate, watching Yuri help my neighbour with her groceries. He insists I stay outside, as he always does until he checks inside. Every time, even with my own damn house. I’ve told him it’s ridiculous, that no one would attack me here, but my words slide off him like water off a duck’s back.

I dial Harley’s number, knowing I won’t get another chance without him knowing. Tomorrow, I’m gone. I haven’t told Ellieyet, but the plan’s set: I’ll be leaving with Cas. Lightly packed—nothing to weigh us down. I won’t look back.

Slovenia. It’s decided. Div found a village, Pohlin, tucked in the mountains with just 4000 people. Iyra will meet us at the Portmoor airport. From there, we’ll take a cruise. A ship’s the safest way to keep off the radar. No cameras, no eyes on us. Weeks on the water, but it's worth it to stay hidden.

When Harley’s voicemail picks up, I take a deep breath and begin.

“Hey, Harley. I haven’t told Ellie yet, but I called to let you know that I’m leaving. I can’t tell you where or why, but I wanted to thank you for being a good friend. You’re doing amazing with your healing, and I’m always going to root for you. Take care, Har.”

I hang up, releasing a shaky breath. Now, I just have to write my resignation, but I can’t send it yet. I have no idea who’s watching who. I’d rather have Div send it from somewhere untraceable than risk anything too soon. My biggest fear?

Zagan finding out and intercepting me before I even leave.

Cas is with Ivy, spending what little time he has left with her before we leave. We’re even sleeping over there tonight. But I need to pull myself together before I see him. He’s been asking what's wrong ever since he woke up. He doesn’t care that I told him we’re moving. He just wants to know why I look so sad.

I don’t deserve him. I don’t deserve his love. But I take it anyway. The least I can do is wear my best face for him. I can’t burden him with the truth, not now. He doesn’t need to know.

When Yuri finishes, he walks toward me, opens the gate, and steps inside.

I follow, but something’s off. The air is too still. A prickling sensation crawls down my spine. I can’t place it, can’t name it, but something is wrong. A weight in the air, a shift I can feel in my bones.

I don’t know what it is. I can’t explain it. But it’s wrong.

Danger.

Before I can warn Yuri, he pushes the door open. That’s when I hear it—a whoosh of air, the quick, sharp sound of something slicing through the space between us. Then—thwack.A sickening noise, followed by the quietest gasp, a breath caught in the air.

Thirty-Six

Ara

Everything happens fast. Too fast for me to even comprehend.

The door closed behind us as we entered, Yuri pulling me behind him while he pulled the knife embedded in his shoulder to lodge into the ear of the man who tried to jump me from where he locked the front door. Five men came out of the shadows wearing murderous expressions on their faces.

“Run,” Yuri says.

I turn to do the exact thing when a voice rings out.

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