Page 58 of Midnight Deception

My mates and newfound friends help me as much as they can. Madame Constance even comes to visit me in my rooms. Nicolai is allowed to stay in my rooms with me under the instruction that he can’t leave. This is fine with us, and as he helps me get around, our bond grows stronger with the more time we spend together. Atlas stays as much as he can, but the queen has been running him ragged with tasks.

Luna spends a lot of time with me. She says it’s because I need a female around to stop me from being driven mad by all the male hormones in the room. Really, I think she’s here because of her guilt about what happened to me, even though I’ve told her many times that it’s not her fault.

Currently, it’s just the two of us and Nicolai, my constant support, who’s positioned behind me, his legs on either side of mine so I can lean back against him. Luna sits in one of the large armchairs at the foot of the bed, her legs resting on the edge of the mattress as she examines her nails, talking animatedly as I lean back in Nicolai’s arms.

“—and then Nia said to Toby that she would only attend the next solstice ball if Jean and Roma are going.” The look she gives me is aghast and expectant as she waits for my reaction to the latest gossip she’s picked up for me. Her silver eyes gleam, and her gorgeous black hair is pulled back into a ponytail, swinging behind her as she shakes her head.

My responding laugh is light and full of confusion, my brows high as I gently shrug my shoulders. “I have no idea who any of these people are,” I respond, trying not to give away how much that movement hurt. My injured shoulder is still causing me issues. Nicolai makes an unhappy noise behind me, so I know I’ve not gotten away with it.

“Oh, come on, you know Nia,” Luna continues, her brows raised. “She’s Constance’s nephew’s ex-partner. Now,shethen went on to—”

My brain shuts down when Atlas strides into the room, his stern gaze skipping over everyone else and going straight to me. There’s a flicker of discontent when he sees me wrapped in Nicolai’s arms, but it’s quickly pushed aside, and he makes a beeline towards the bed. “I have good news.”

“Thank the goddess,” I mutter under my breath as he climbs up beside me, cupping my cheek with his hand in greeting, his gaze intense. While I’m pleased that he has something good to share with us, I’m more relieved that he saved me from Luna’s gossip. Not to mention we need some good news after the last few weeks.

Nicolai clears his throat as a reminder that he’s still here. “What’s the news?”

The look that Atlas shoots Nicolai for interrupting our moment is icy, and it takes me a moment to realise the temperature in the room has dropped, his magic filling the space with his ire. Without saying anything, I reach out and rest my hand on top of his, pulling his attention back to me.

“Tonight is the night.”

Mustering my strength, I sit forward and turn to face him, scanning his expression to make sure he’s telling the truth. I don’t want to get my hopes up if it’s not going to happen. I’ve not felt the light of the moon on my skin for so long, and I feel disconnected from my goddess.

“She’s letting me out?” My voice is breathy, and that has nothing to do with my exhaustion and everything to do with the hope pulsing in my chest.

Something flickers across Atlas’s face that almost looks like relief, but I don’t understand why my reaction would cause that. He briefly looks over at his cousin before he nods and turns back to me. “It’s a full moon, so you should be able to reach your goddess better and hopefully heal as a result.”

A full moon. That’s why I feel so restless. It’s unnatural for a werewolf to be indoors for so long. We were made to run under the moon and stars and feel the wind on our skin. Even the thought of being able to spend the night in the fresh air beneath the moon is making me feel stronger.

“There are rules.” He sounds reluctant to tell me this, not wanting to dampen my rising spirits.

I fully expected this though. There was no way the queen was just going to let me out, not when I could decide not to return. I’d never leave without Nicolai and Atlas, but it’s clear that the queen doesn’t understand the bond between mates.

“Of course there are.” I release a breath and prepare myself for the list of demands the queen has set. “Tell me.”

“You have to take me with you, and you’ll be blindfolded until we get there.”

Tilting my head to one side, I give him a confused look. I understand having an escort, I fully expected that, though the blindfold confuses me. The woods are literally just outside. I can see them from my window, so I’m not sure what the point of covering my eyes is. Unless they are trying to stop me from finding the door to the outside world? This doesn’t make sense, though, as it’s probably spelled to stop me from walking in and out. If escaping was as simple as stepping through a door, I would have done it a while ago.

Seeing my confusion and spiralling thoughts, he puts an end to my misery. “There’s a small spelled area of forest that’s protected by the same spells we have over Haven,” he explains, his brows furrowing slightly. “You won’t be able to tell where you are, and no one from the outside will see you in those spaces, but we have to pass through an unprotected area to get there.”

They don’t want me to be able to tell where Haven is. I doubt I’d be able to work it out from a forest alone. We could literally be anywhere. I don’t even know if we’re still in the same country from where I was taken.

“I agree.” It’s not a hard decision for me, and honestly, I expected the queen to demand more from me. That should make me nervous, but with the knowledge that I’ll be under the full moon and unrestricted tonight, fully able to access the goddess… I can’t wait.

I don’t know what time it is, but I can tell that the moon hasn’t yet risen. It’s waiting for its burning cousin to set so she can take centre stage and all of her subjects can celebrate as we do on the night of a full moon.

“When do we leave?” Nicolai asks, shifting behind me as if preparing to climb from the bed and get ready.

My heart pangs as I realise this will be his first full moon that he won’t be able to shift. He’s not mentioned missing his wolf, and I’ve not felt any sadness through the bond, just concern for me. Now, though, I feel his own restlessness and desire to leave, a hint of grief making his chest tight.

Sitting upright, Atlas faces my mate, his expression making it clear that he’s expecting a fight. “Only Laelia and I have been given permission to leave.”

There’s no pride or flaunting like I thought there would be as Atlas speaks, but he’s firm, and it’s clear he won’t be breaking any rules by allowing Nicolai to come with us.

Unsurprisingly, Nicolai doesn’t take this well. Climbing up off the bed, he walks around, clearly intending to go head-to-head with my witch mate.

“If you think I’m going to let you leave without me, then you’re sorely mistaken.” A low growl punctuates his statement, his teeth flashing. His behaviours are still like that of when he had his wolf, and it makes me wonder how much of it he’s retained.

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