Page 128 of The Crown of Nyx

There was nothing in my studies that would confirm or deny it—only my nightmares.

“The only one who might know,” Adrian said from a chair not far from me, “is standing outside in a downpour.”

In unison, we all turned towards the door, like the ancient demon male might walk in.

“Then he’s our only chance for answers.” Orion pushed off the wall he’d been leaning against and crossed the room.

Hawk stopped him by stepping in his way, features hard. “Or he will put Ivy in danger.”

Orion’s hands formed fists as his side. The pair were almost the same height, with Orion standing at least an inch taller than Hawk. The half-Fae male held an air of authority, his years as a team leader for the Phoenix Compound showing through now. But Orion…his energy shifted, crackled, and shadows slithered their way up his arms, curling around him protectively.

I doubted they would hurt one another. Orion, despite his faults, wouldn’t willingly hurt another of my mates. Not when he had done so much to protect me and had so much trauma about his father’s mates.

Hawk, though, was someone I couldn’t trust—not fully. I didn’t really know what to do about him. I wasn’t sure what he was capable of.

I rose to my feet. This time, Elias didn’t stop me as I moved to stand between the pair. The one thing I could be sure of was that neither would hurt me. Even if I didn’t trust Hawk, that was something I knew deep in my bones.

“Stop it,” I said, looking between them. Hawk clenched his jaw, dark eyes flickering to me. “I want to meet him. I need answers.”

Hawk snorted, shaking his head. “Something doesn’t feel right about this.”

He didn’t elaborate further. I had a feeling he was hiding more than he let on. “Then we discuss that later,” I replied. “For now, though, I want to talk to him. I need to know if what I saw in my dream was real.”

The half-Fae male stepped aside without another word. His expression was almost unreadable, except for the briefest hint of anger and disappointment.

I didn’t want to read into it much, not when it was clear he was hiding something. Instead, I steeled myself for the conversation to come. Just thinking about meeting the first Queen’s mate made my heart race.

My hand went to the door handle. Magic swelled, awakened once more as I pulled the door open.

Rain continued to fall in sheets, but standing in the doorway was a male that now appeared oddly familiar. I realised it was because of the story Captain Vale had spun when we first crossed the rift between worlds. The male in the doorway alsofeltfamiliar. Like deep in my bones, I knew him.

He was tall, at least a head taller than me, with dark brown hair that curled just below his ears. He had tawny skin, and dark eyes that met mine, surprise filling them.

He wore a white tunic and brown leather pants, with boots that went to his shins. He looked like he’d stepped out of a period film; a hero from a Jane Austen novel, or a prince from a fantasy movie.

My magic sparked within me, though not in the same way it usually did around my own mates. It was like it recognised him as someone who had once been connected to it, but no longer was. It was a strange feeling. Although I didn’t feel it, my magic yearned for him in a way that felt…nostalgic.

I swallowed hard as the male crossed the threshold. His eyes scanned me for a minute, before meeting mine. “So, you are her.”

A shiver rolled down my spine. He had an accent, like Pandora did in my dream. “I’m Ivy,” I offered. Did I shake his hand? Or just…move aside. Oh, great, it was awkward.

Sadness filled his eyes, but he moved to the side so the door could click shut behind him. My magic reached for him without my consent, but I quickly reeled it back in before it could touch him. Or caress him, I realised.

Maybe it was more drained and delirious from the explosion than I thought.

Clearing my throat, I looked away from the demon. Still standing at the window, Damon stiffened. He had his hands behind his back, but dark hair fell over his forehead. I wondered how they knew each other.

“Asael,” Damon said, his voice rough. “It has been a long time.”

The other demon, Asael, bowed his head. “And a lot has changed.”

“How are you here?” I asked, crossing my arms. “You should be?—”

“Dead?” He raised a dark brow before looking around the cabin. Heat crept up my cheeks. We had completelyinfiltrated his space. It looked like this was a sort of living room, with the fire burning at one end, and a table with four chairs in the centre.

When I’d woken up, I hadn’t taken much time to actually look around. But now, I noticed the little details. Where Elias had held me were a plethora of pillows, large ones I imagined were designed for sitting.

There was a shelf above the fireplace that held a number of different nicknacks; a large conch shell in the centre, surrounded by a few crystals, a silver brush, and other things I couldn’t identify. I noticed another door leading into a space opposite the front door.

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