Page 44 of Midnight Deception

My comment seems to delight her, showing once and for all just how much she doesn’t give a shit about the life of one werewolf. “You’ll be pleased to know that we fixed him for you.” She pauses, tapping her finger on her lip in an exaggerated gesture as if she’s thinking. “However, if I feel like you’re not doing everything to keep me happy while you’re here, then I can’t guarantee that he’ll stay healthy.”

Her threat is loud and clear—comply or Nicolai’s life is forfeit. I barely breathe, not wanting to do something that might ruin this moment and make her change her mind. Her words echo through my head, one particular part far louder than the rest.We’ve fixed him for you. What does that mean? Is she saying that they managed to heal Nicolai and that he’s going to be okay?

“Do you understand?” the queen asks with a tilt of her head, sensing that my attention had wandered from her. Even when I’m standing right in front of her and she’s got all she needs to keep me under her thumb, she can’t stand it when my focus isn’t wholly on her.

Not that I’m going to complain. Oh no, I’m not going to place a foot wrong until I know what’s going on with Nicolai and I can figure out how to get him out of here. Dipping my head in a show of respect, I utter, “Yes, Your Majesty.”

From the corner of my eye, I see Kano frowning, not liking the power play going on with his newfound half-sister. He won’t say anything though, he’s too loyal to the queen, and Luna’s treatment could be negatively impacted if he were to say anything. Releasing a long breath, I stand straight and level my gaze on the queen, my expression neutral. For once, I’m not struggling to hold my expression, not when I know Nicolai might be healed andhere.

She senses this, and a wave of smugness comes off her, her wide smile showing off her teeth. “Good,” she purrs. “Now that that’s over with, you can go with Ivar, and he’ll take you to see your friend.” The way she saysfriendis full of derision, and that would usually bother me, but I’m too busy trying to work out who Ivar is.

Atlas frowns but says nothing, his lips thinning as he presses them together tightly. Kano also seems to react to this news, stepping forward to present his case. Their reactions are making me nervous, and my eyes flit anxiously between the three of them.

“Your Majesty, I’m happy to take—”

Kano is cut off with a sharp gesture from the queen, her face stern, but I’m able to see her pleasure in his distress. This is why she chose Ivar to take me to see Nicolai, not because he’d do a better job for any reason other than she knew it would cause a reaction from the males in the room.

“No, I have matters to discuss with you here. Ivar will look after her, won’t you, Ivar?” Locking her eyes on me, she smiles as she speaks to the other male, not once looking away. It’s then that I realise who Ivar is.

Standing up from his corner, the queen’s silent witch steps forward, stopping at her side. He gives me the smallest smile, and it’s one of the scariest things I’ve ever seen, his black eyes devoid of emotion. “Of course, Your Majesty.” His voice is whisper quiet, yet somehow, I hear him perfectly.

There’s a pause, and the queen turns around and glances up at Atlas. “What? No pleading for me to send you with your mate?” Her brow is raised as she tries to bait him into stepping out of line.

We both know that she’s not going to change her mind, and that if he said anything of the sort, it would just be playing into her hand once more.

“No. The wolf will be fine. I’ll go where you need me, Your Majesty.”

His callous, clipped words are like a knife to my heart, the sense of betrayal so strong that I almost miss the change in his face. The queen turns back to me, joyous as she takes in my pained expression. I’m not sure what makes me look back up at him, perhaps my bond was trying to tell me something or I wanted him to see what effect his words had on me. However, when I do, Atlas is already looking at me, his eyes locking on mine. That doesn’t look like the face of someone who doesn’t care. In fact, his intense stare is saying the opposite. Working on settling my breathing, I tentatively reach for our bond, half expecting rejection to flood it, only to find that he’s sending me comforting waves through our connection.

He’s trying to tell me he doesn’t mean it, that this is a front. That sobers me up pretty quickly. He’s lying to the queen. He must have seen her expression last night, and then her display of jealousy only minutes ago, so he’s trying to take some of the heat from me by pretending nothing has changed. At least, that’s what I’m reading from the tiny sense of comfort he sends me and his intense stare.

“Hmm,” the queen hums, completely missing our moment. “One of you can be trained after all.” I know this is aimed at Kano, and I feel him stiffen beside me. I’ve still not figured out their relationship, and I don’t know if I should be worried about him or not. The tension in the air is thick, and Atlas coughs, thankfully breaking it.

The queen looks annoyed but doesn’t address it. She glances over and nods at Ivar, waving me away without another word. I might have been offended by the way she’s so obviously disrespecting me, but she’s working so hard that it’s almost laughable. Besides, leaving means I get to see Nicolai sooner, and honestly, I don’t want to be in her toxic presence any longer. My patience is really tested around her, and I know she’s a queen, but she takes having a superiority complex to a whole new level.

I’m not looking forward to my little walk through Haven with her witch, who is undoubtedly a spy for her. It’s a means to an end though, and Nicolai is at the end of it, so it’s worth an uncomfortable trip.

The dark-eyed witch drifts to my side and offers me another terrifying smile. “Follow me, Miss Laelia.”

Not wanting to draw any extra attention to anyone while the queen is clearly in a volatile mood, I don’t look at the others in the room as I turn to leave. A silent warning to be careful trickles through the bond, one that Atlas didn’t have to tell me. Everything about this situation feels off, wrong somehow. Just as I step over the threshold of the door, a feminine cough makes me pause.

“Have fun with your friend,” the queen calls. Glancing over my shoulder, I see her smug expression, and she gives me a sarcastic wave. “Remember what I said,” she warns, her eyes narrowing as the doors shut firmly between us, cutting off my view of Kano and Atlas.

Ivar wordlessly gestures for me to follow him and strides down the corridor. I can’t help but notice that even the guards seem uneasy around him, and I wait for him to get a few steps in front of me before following. From a safe distance behind him, I examine the male, trying to pick up exactly what it is about him that makes me so wary. Everyone around here treats him like a threat, so it’s not just me being hypersensitive. Is that because of his obvious position of power beside the queen, or because he’s different? His black eyes and the fact that he seems to disappear into shadows don’t help. Something triggers in my mind, reminding me of Syn and his strange ability to blend with shadows that no one else appears to notice.

I’m still contemplating all of this when he slows down, allowing me to catch up with him. Despite everything in me telling me to turn and run in the other direction, I reluctantly force myself to close the distance between us, giving him a tight smile as I reach his side.

He smiles in that eerie way of his, and we start to walk down the corridor again. What was the point of that? A power play perhaps, knowing that I’m uncomfortable around him?

“You’re a very interesting witch.”

His comment takes me by surprise, so much so that I miss a step. Catching myself before I fall onto my face, I glance over at him. It’s not necessarily the subject that’s caught me off-guard, but the fact that he’s speaking to me at all. From the few times I’ve seen him, he’s not spoken to anyone other than the queen, and even that’s been limited. I’d never even heard his voice until just a few minutes ago.

My throat feels tight, and I have to swallow a few times before I’m able to speak. “Because of my wolf blood?” I ask, but it’s not really a question. What else would he be talking about?

“Partially, but that’s not the only reason,” he says lightly. “I’m talking about the darkness within you.”

This time when I stumble, I don’t attempt to hide it. Freezing in place, I fight the panic that’s rising inside me. The presence is alert, watching and curious, but ready to take over should she feel the need. No one knows about the presence other than my father. A few people have guessed, and I’m pretty sure Madame Constance worked it out when her magic brushed against it the other day. However, hearing him talk about it out loud goes against every warning that I’ve ever been given.

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