Page 22 of The Crown of Nyx

I tried to suck in a breath, but my lungs seized. I waited for the familiar sensations that usually accompanied one of my panic attacks, but nothing else happened.

My eyes remained glued on Adrian and Orion; I dragged my eyes up to the Fae prince’s, only to find his eyes squeezed shut.

The panic wasn’t mine. It was his.

Adrian released his arm before I could say anything, and when Orion tore his arm from my mage’s grasp, I pressed my lips together. He didn’t look at anyone as he stalked towards Maeve.

Are you okay?I asked.

Orion’s jaw ticked, but he didn’t look at me as he and Maeve sorted their weapons with Hawk.I am fine, flower.

I shivered.You don’t seem fine, Orion.

Hesitation and something else filtered down the bond. For a long moment, he didn’t respond. It was like he was simply going through the motions. Sheathing daggers in his belt. Checking the different compartments for magical items. He and Maeve moved similarly in that way. They were focused, dedicated.

What had happened to him these past eight years? For so long, I’d buried the memories of him. Kept them hidden in a place where they could no longer hurt me.

Rowan and Adrian framed either side of me. The former wrapped an arm around my midsection, while the other grabbed my hand. I couldn’t tear my eyes off my Fae mate, so until I felt the tingle of magic against my skin, I wasn’t sure what was going on.

“Two hours, we’ll return,” Maeve said, turning from Orion and Hawk to face me, her blank mask carefully placed across her face. “In the meantime, you should find shelter. It’s too open out here.”

“There’re a few old, abandoned fisherman’s cabins down by the water,” Elias offered, crossing his arms. Even my wolf had assumed his role as soldier. He reminded me of the male I’d first met; the set of his brows and lips gave nothing away, neither did the way he widened his stance.

If it weren’t for the fact that we were being hunted, two of my mates were about to go out and risk their lives, and I was exhausted from the events of the last twenty-four-hours, I might have leapt at the fact my magic wanted me to jump Elias’s bones. But with the knowledge that everything could either go our way or go to utter shit, I tried to ignore the pressure in my lower belly.

Elias glanced at me from the corner of his eye, though when I prodded the blocks in my mind, I knew I was cleared of him catching on to my thoughts.

But that didn’t mean he couldn’tscentwhat was going through my mind.

Maybe one day I’d be able to hide that, too. For now, though, I turned away from him to take in Orion and Maeve. “Be safe. And please keep the bond open.”

Maeve’s eyes softened when they met mine, a small slip in her mask. “We will,a mhuirnín.”

I stepped away from Rowan and Adrian and stalked towards my mate. Throwing my arms around her shoulders, I held tightly to her for a moment. “Come back to me,” I whispered. I glanced over her shoulder at Orion, who watched me with dark, hooded eyes. “Both of you.”

His throat bobbed, but he bowed his head in acknowledgement. Maeve inhaled deeply before pulling away.I love you, she said, eyes finding mine.Trust that I will return to you.

I swallowed thickly and nodded.I love you, too.

Something flickered shined in her eyes when she finally stepped away from me. Maeve glanced at the rest of the team before nodding to Orion. “Let’s go.”

With that, she and Orion lifted masks to cover their faces. A small tingle of gratefulness hit me when they moved to the edge of the forest and let the shadows consume them. Their identities, I hoped, were protected, and the magic Orion held should hide them.

My heart raced, but there was nothing more I could do but wait until they either found our way out—or didn’t.

10

Orion

The sound of blood thrumming in my ears did little to drown out the hard pounding of my heart—or the vampire beside me. Ivy’s scent clung to her, intoxicating and cloying, and it fed the terrible beast born of jealousy in my chest. How badly I’d wanted my flower to take me in her arms and hold me tight.

Until I proved to be worthy again, I couldn’t expect anything from her. I’d hurt her too many times.

Now that I was in her orbit, a piece on her board, I would not leave her again.

That was the only thing I had in common with the female beside me. We were pieces on the board, and Ivy our Queen. It was our job to keephimat bay.

And if my flower wanted a vessel to take her to the Underworld, then that was what I would give her.

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