Page 135 of The Crown of Nyx

I took a step towards him and raised a hand to show him that I wasn’t going to hurt him. I tried to ignore the pain in my shoulder as I did. “We aren’t the ones who were holding you captive,” I told him. “But we also aren’t your enemy.”

Those blue eyes found mine. He had olive skin, and features that were sharp yet covered in years of beard. His dark hair was laced with silver, and it tumbled down his back in messy waves. There were even smaller scars on his face, ones that weren’t immediately noticeable.

The shifter shook his head. “No, your scent…” He closed his head and breathed in deeply. “We were told to find you, kill you.”

That didn’t surprise me. I tried not to react. “You don’t have to do that,” I murmured. “What’s your name?”

Adrian moved to stand at my back, his worry so heavy I could almost feel it. The others were careful not to startle the shifter. Thankfully, Ry had shifted back so that he was partially hidden.

“I don’t know,” the male whimpered. He brought a hand to his forehead, fingers closed in a fist and thumped it against his temple. “He keeps telling me to do it. To rip you apart. To feast on your blood.”

I tried not to flinch, but it was hard. Bile rose in my throat at his next words: “You must kill me,” he said. “I cannot—he will win. In my head. He will convince me, and it will mean your death.”

My eyes flickered from his to Elias’s. He still stood behind the shifter, prepared to tackle him if he moved. Maeve also wasn’t far.

It didn’t take a mind reader to tell he really believed what he was saying. I had to believe that Dante had worked his mind-powers on the male. On others like him.

Dante was using shifters like weapons. It made me sick.

“There might be another way for you to live, to stop him,” Elias said, voice steady. Calming. “Submit to a new Alpha. Join a pack.”

The shifter’s eyes popped open, wide with fear. “He won’t let anyone go,” he whispered, voice trembling. “He will kill us all.”

55

Ivy

The rain wouldn’t let up, so with some coaxing, we managed to get the shifter into one of the shallow caves hidden in the cliffs.

“You need to get looked at,” Rowan said, appearing beside me, voice strained. “He really tore into your shoulder.”

I tried rolling it back but winced. The flesh wasn’t entirely knitted together yet. I was pretty sure it had stopped bleeding, but I couldn’t tell what was rain and what was blood.

“I’m fine,” I replied, grimacing. “Really. It’ll heal.”

Eventually, was what I didn’t add. The slowness likely had something to do with my drained magic, and what was left needing to be…settled. It was one of those things that would be entirely inappropriate at a time like this.

And yet, it is something you need.Orion’s voice came through the bond, almost startling.When I looked towards him, he wasn’t watching me, but rather the shifter.You should take one of your mates and clean up, little flower. I think we can handle him.

My stomach twisted at the thought of leaving any of them with the shifter. He might not have been dangerous right now, but we didn’t know what Dante was capable of doing to him. How much influence he had over him, despite being so far away.

Go, a mhuirnín, Maeve said, her reddened eyes flickering to me.The longer we smell your blood, the more likely we are to harm him in retribution.

A shiver rolled down my spine as I looked between her and the male, now curled up on the ground of the cave. His eyes were wide and unseeing as he stared into the dark, rainy night. It made me wonder when the last time it was that he shifted.

Elias’s presence appeared in the back of my mind, soothing yet tense.He’s likely been the wolf for a long time. And I would rather you heal than deal with this.

I took a step back, rain hitting my back. I glanced at Rowan beside me, who bled tension, then over at Adrian.

But my prince shook his head.I want to see if I can build charms based on whatever Dante did to him.Green eyes the colour of shining emeralds flickered up to meet mine.As much as I would love some time with you, Sweetheart.

I couldn’t bring myself to feel even an ounce of disappointment at that.Be safe.

Always, he replied, a small smile curving his lips.

Tension radiated off of everyone as I entwined my fingers with Rowan’s. Even if I did want to go somewhere for…privacy, there really wasn’t a way out of this place without Damon.

The demon’s red eyes met mine. I expected some sort of wicked smile or comment, but when his eyesgrazed my body before landing on my shoulder, there was only rage.

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