Chapter 52 Reunions
❀ Maeve ❀
‘…trace you there right now.’
The words echoed in my head. My heart thundered, a shimmering image of Mother’s face flashed before my eyes.
I grabbed his arm, scrambling to my feet.
“Let’s go!” I ordered. “Trace me, trace me… what are you waiting for?”
Excitement racked my body, and Nikolai only chuckled.
His chuckle distracted me for only a moment. I’d never heard him truly laugh.
I shook my head.
“Nikolai!” I snapped.
“Fine, fine, but you have to eat first.”
I stared at his stupidly handsome face. “What? You think I’m concerned about food right now?”
“Just some bloodmeal. You look worse for wear, moya. I’m afraid I drained you…” His brows pulled together in pain.
My claws sank into his arm, urging. “I don’t mind. I’m happy to help. Now let’s go!”
“I won’t go anywhere. You’ll need it, trust me.” He raised a hand to brush my cheek.
Shivering with anticipation, I fixed him with a mean stare.
“Don’t toy with me, Niko. I’ll race up there, chug some soup, and be back here like hail. You better be here when I come down.”
“Yes, my lady.” His lips curled at the edges.
He lightly turned me by my shoulders toward the door.
I locked eyes with him until I let the doors cut it off.
Then I ran.
He had no need to deceive me, he could’ve just traced away right in front of me. He did know Mother’s location.
A squeal escaped me as I burst into the kitchens. The kitchen hands and chefs startled and turned to me.
I didn’t even catch a breath. “My evening bloodmeal, now!”
Multiple people threw down what they were already doing and hastened to a pot in the corner. It was shiny and had its own fire pit.
Special tools for the princess consort.
My chin lifted, shoulders squaring.
Mother would be so proud. I’d left home to find any mate and secure a home. I’d bagged the Lycan Prince and secured us a fortress.
A tall woman approached with a shined wooden tray.
I grabbed the steaming bowl, ignoring the spoon by the side.
“Princess…” she started to say, but I’d tipped the bowl back.
I panted around hot mouthfuls to reduce the burn, and swallowed. Sounding like a hound, I repeated that until the bloodmeal had cooled enough to chug.
And chug I did.
I slammed the empty bowl down and wiped an arm over my mouth.
“Thank you,” I said, before turning to run to the private chambers.
Once inside, I changed into a simple but elegant dress that would communicate my station immediately Mother saw me. She’d know I’d done well.
On my way out of the room, something glinted. My dagger. I snatched it, sheathed it, and deposited it in the hidden pockets of my dress.
Down the wing, the door to Eiden’s chosen room opened.
“Princess! We really have to talk to you!” She looked panicked.
“What?”
She flinched at my tone. “Commander Leif has been asking around for Tammy. I told him I hadn’t seen her, that she’d be with you.”
My feet tapped at the delay. That old man was still sniffing around my lead?
“You did good, Eiden. I’ll be back soon. Don’t let Tammy out of your sight.”
I’d dashed away before hearing her response.
The stairs to the bottom couldn’t have been lengthier.
At the greenhouse door, I slid inside with my hands seeking.
“Nikolai…” He was right where I’d left him.
He caught me in his arms. “That dress becomes you,” he rumbled.
My face flushed, fingers clutching him like he would disappear.
I’d come too close to lose it now.
“I’m ready,” I whispered.
“Will you introduce me?”
“There’s no time. Let’s go, please… please…”
His face darkened, then he gave a brisk nod.
“Wait…” I muttered. “I like you, Nikolai. Very much. I’ll introduce you when the time is right.”
He didn’t respond. But the lines between his brows smoothed. And the air changed.
My steps stuttered, but his arms around my waist steadied me.
We were outdoors, District 1—I immediately recognized it. The fire lamps illuminated clean streets and sturdy buildings.
Tucked within the darkness of a bush, we faced a lit house. The windows were half-closed, the lawn trimmed. The scent of what was unmistakably Mother’s cooking billowed from inside.
My mouth watered, my chest constricting with different emotions.
She really was okay.
“It’s just her and the male I told you took her,” Nikolai informed me.
“Sorin.”
I swallowed.
A foreign feeling bloomed in my chest. Anger.
She’d abandoned me. How would she have known I’d been successful in finding a mate? What if Bastian had rejected me? I would’ve been homeless or enslaved right this moment.
I burned for her explanation, her excuse.
I put one foot forward.
“Wait…” Nikolai hissed.
I looked up at him. His eyes flitted over the house and the sides. His fangs protruded.
Scanning the environment, I didn’t see or smell anything strange.
“What is it?”
“The wolf.”
“Huh…”
I heard him before I saw him.
Opposite us, on the other side of the house, Bastian trudged out of the woods into the light.
I gasped.
He was bloody from head to toe, but I saw no major injuries. Blue eyes glowing on his dark frame, he strode past the lawn like he owned the place.
Nikolai and I watched.
Bastian knocked, heavy-handed knocks that rattled the door.
After a moment, the door opened. We couldn’t see the person inside, just Bastian and the house’s side view.
Nikolai stepped forward.
I grabbed his arm. “What are you doing?”
I gasped when he turned his gaze to me. They blazed crimson.
His smooth face was expressionless, but in his eyes was murder.