Chapter 166 166
Dominique’s POV
It was only when Roland walked over to her and crouched beside her that Delphine finally began to calm. She reached for him instantly, clutching the front of his pyjama top like a lifeline, like he was the only thing anchoring her to the world.
I didn’t like it.
I didn’t like the way she leaned into him, the way her fear eased because of him. I didn’t like her depending on someone like that someone who wasn’t me.
Delphine’s POV
I didn’t want to open my eyes.
I wanted Mummy. I wanted Daddy. Where were they? Why were we alone in this horrible room without them? Why was there so much noise upstairs, and why was the house so dark?
Roland picked me up and placed me on one of the beds, sitting with me cradled in his arms. I refused to let go of him. I couldn’t explain it, but he was the only one I wanted near me.
It used to be Dominique.
But since he went missing, something changed. Roland became my comfort instead. He stayed up late with me, watching films long after we were supposed to be asleep, gently stroking my hair. Earlier, when I saw how upset he was, all I wanted was to hold him and give him the same safe, warm feeling he used to give me.
He kept saying it was his fault that Émilie fell down the stairs that he’d left a toy there and she tripped over it. I do that sometimes too, which is why Mummy always tells me to take my toys back to my room instead of leaving them on the stairs. I wouldn’t want Mummy to fall. Émilie would know it was an accident. Roland didn’t mean to hurt her.
As I curled deeper into Roland’s lap, I noticed Dominique watching me from the other bunk bed. There was something strange about him some kind of energy rolling off him. It felt the way Mummy does when she’s talking to her warriors.
Roland struggled to meet Dominique’s eyes when he was angry. But not me. I could hold Dominique’s gaze. He didn’t scare me.
Miss Lambert was pacing the room, back and forth, and it made me even more frightened. She was never like this. Was something wrong? Were Mummy and Daddy okay?
“They’re trying to get in,” Dominique said, his voice edged with a low growl.
He sounded like Alpha Damien when he growled.
“Dominique,” Miss Lambert scolded him quietly.
He was acting strange, but I could feel something strange too like someone was blowing cold air against the back of my neck.
“Roland…” I whispered, pulling him closer to me. Dominique was usually right about these things, and that scared me.
“It’s okay,” Roland murmured into my ear. “I’ll keep you safe.”
A low rumble came from Dominique’s chest.
“What?” Roland frowned at my brother, finally managing to hold his gaze.
“I’m the one who’ll keep her safe”
“You’ll both keep her safe,” Miss Lambert cut in softly. “Shh. What’s that?”
We all looked up at the ceiling as a loud banging echoed from above us.
“Are they trying to get through the shutters?” Roland asked, standing up and stepping away from me.
The moment he let go, I felt cold again. Empty.
“Impossible… surely…” Miss Lambert went pale, her eyes glazing over as she slipped into a mind-link.
“Dad said the shutters are strong,” Roland said, glancing at Dominique. “But they’d only last a couple of days.”
“Then what?” I asked.
It must have been a silly question, because Dominique rolled his eyes at me. I hated when he did that.
“Where’s Mummy?” I whispered, curling in on myself on the bed, hugging my arms tightly around my chest.
“She’ll be here when she can,” Roland said gently.
I didn’t like it down here. The air felt thick, like it was getting harder to breathe. I missed my bedroom. I missed having Mummy and Daddy close. I was missing something important.
“My bunny,” I suddenly said. “I left my bunny upstairs. I need to go get it.”
I’d never been without Bunny before.
I started toward the door, but Roland grabbed me and pulled me back into his arms, holding me tightly.
“You can’t,” he said softly. “It isn’t safe.”
“I want Bunny!” I cried, tears spilling down my cheeks. Bunny always made me feel better. I needed him right now.
“You just keep cuddling me for now,” Roland whispered, wrapping his arms around me. “And when Alpha Aurélie says it’s safe, we’ll go get your bunny. I promise.”