Chapter 53 Cold-blooded
❀ Maeve ❀
Nikolai’s lips parted around a fangy smile.
“I’m going to talk to him. Wait here, Moya, no matter what happens.”
He was going to confront and fight Bastian.
“No. You’ll put my mother at risk.”
“You’ve found your mother. It’s time to end this, so you can focus on your true mate.”
His voice was ice. My fingers trembled.
“And who is my true mate?”
“The one who survives.” He moved again.
“Nikolai, stop!” I snapped under my breath. “Stop, dammit. I won’t let you do this.”
Up ahead, Bastian had frozen, flitting his eyes around the woods.
“Then choose.” Nikolai drawled, but I heard a slight tremble.
“I—I can’t. Just take me back.”
“What?”
“Trace me back. Right now.” I glanced at Bastian.
He was turning in our direction. With that Lycan gaze and sense of smell, I’d be doomed if the wind blew downwind.
“P-please…” I clutched Nikolai’s cloak.
The air wrapped. We were back in the greenhouse.
My chest caved, my claws dug into him. He stood stiff, unmoving, until ugly sobs burst out of me.
Trembling, I clutched him around the waist. His arms immediately enveloped me, chin on my head.
So close. Just a glimpse, one hug, a word.
I missed her dearly, yet every time I fought to reach her, I failed. Not knowing the reason for her actions was killing me. I wanted her safe, but how could she be? She’d left of her own accord. No warning, no second thoughts.
Nikolai’s throat worked. “We can go back after the wolf leaves.”
I shuddered.
The way Nikolai had looked at Bastian. The way I knew Bastian would respond. They’d kill each other.
Heat bloomed in my chest. I’d grown up always having to forfeit small pleasures. Fine dresses, the respect of my peers, nutritious food. Warmth. Safety.
The moon goddess gave me two mates for a reason. I deserved both of them. I would keep them from killing each other long enough to see that I was to be worshipped by them both.
I wiped a hand over my face.
“Nikolai, I need to make you understand something.”
I pulled back to look at his face.
“I fear I already know your mind,” he murmured, face lowering to mine.
I clutched his nape, fingers sinking into that soft mass of curls I loved. Trapping his lower lip between mine, I sucked and licked.
His chest vibrated with a groan. His hands dropped lower to grip my hips. “What would it take to make you choose me?”
“I—”
A scream rang out.
We both snapped our heads upward. The scream was etched with terror.
Tammy.
Commander Leif must be trying to arrest her again.
I lunged toward the door. “That’s the girl—the lead. I have to go…”
Nikolai followed behind me.
“I thought you couldn’t pass into the fortress?” I asked.
“Vampires can walk in. But can’t trace in or out.”
Then he’d be outnumbered with no escape. But Tammy screamed again at that moment, making me run faster.
At the adjoining corridor, footsteps suddenly pounded. Tammy’s voice sounded closer.
I slowed to a stop.
Commander Leif stood up ahead. In his grip was Tammy’s wrist. Behind them stood more than ten soldiers. Tears tracked her face, her wrist looking red in the man’s harsh grip.
“Now what do we have here?” Leif sneered.
They’d been bringing Tammy down to the greenhouse. To hurt her? Or to find me?
“The princess consort and a vampire,” Leif continued. “I knew you were a leech whore.”
I sensed Nikolai tensing to attack and blocked him with my arm.
I calmly told Leif, “Let her go.”
“Said the leech apologist. She’s just like you, in love with the undead. So much that she wants to become one. There’s only one end for your type. Death.”
He flexed his other hand. Claws shot out, reaching for Tammy’s neck.
A flash. A blur.
Nikolai backhanded Leif so hard he crashed into the soldiers behind him. Nikolai pushed Tammy toward me, she ran the rest of the way.
The dim fire lamps in the corridor fluttered as blood sprayed.
Nikolai slashed like an overpowered devil. When his claws glinted, screams cut short and blood splattered the walls. One lamp extinguished under the weight of blood.
Tammy clutched me tightly, shaking.
I unraveled her arms. “Come on…”
We ran back into the greenhouse, leaving Nikolai’s silent slaughter behind.
My stomach tightened.
One of my mates was a cold-blooded killer.
Tammy gasped. I followed her gaze to the exit doors of the greenhouse. More soldiers.
The air wrapped behind me and a hardly-bloodied Nikolai ran beside us.
“Keep running,” he ordered.
I realized what he planned.
I nodded and dragged a shocked Tammy along.
Once we neared the greenhouse doors, Nikolai snatched both me and Tammy by the waist.
The soldiers in front of us charged.
We crossed the threshold, the surroundings bled away.
My head spun at the sudden trace. Nikolai held me tight, holding a retching Tammy up by her arm.
Chest heaving, I blinked at the environment.
The stench of rotting blood and death. Dilapidated buildings and a chill fog. District 3.
I pushed away from Nikolai, my heart pounding.
I’d been seen tracing away with a vampire after he slaughtered IronWolf soldiers.
My mother was enjoying a meal with some man after abandoning me.
My mates wanted each other’s head.
I dug my fingers in my hair, turned my face up to the sky, and screamed.