Page 153 of The Prince's Curse

The drive passed in near silence. Afternoon gave way to twilight, and the last fiery streaks of sunset faded as they crossed the state border into South Carolina, then into North Carolina.

Night had fallen by the time they reached Charlotte. The leaden heaviness of daylight faded, and his senses sharpened. Kova nudged him and said, “We’re nearly there. Eyes up.”

Silently, they drove past the sprawling house. Black trash bags were clustered around the front door, like a cleanup crew had been hard at work.

“Her wards have been repaired,” Misha said as they drove past the house. Julian craned his neck, as if he could see the shimmering magic around the mansion.

Stella glanced at him. “I can take them down. Leave that to me.” His eyes narrowed, but she just smiled faintly, her mismatched eyes glinting.

“Kova, you’ll stay with her,” Julian said.

“You don’t trust me?” she said with a sharp laugh.

“I’m giving you backup,” he said hotly. He glanced back at Misha. “I want you to stay back. Help Stella, or pick up the slack if she fails. And I fail, you make sure to get Paris and the others out.”

Misha’s red eyes narrowed, his lips parting with what was sure to be a protest. But he nodded. “I don’t like it, but I’ll do it.”

“Fair enough,” Julian said, turning to Dominic. “You want to look the witch in the eye with me?”

His old friend spared a smile. “Not particularly, but we started all this, and it’s only fitting.”

Kova parked down the street, then headed to the trunk to fetch the cooler he’d brought. He distributed the blood bags, handing two to Julian with a nod. Without ceremony, Julian tore into the first, wincing as the too-cool liquid spilled down his throat. Even with the off-putting temperature, his body thrummed with anticipation and hunger, and he gulped it down. The second left him feeling like kindling in want of a spark.

“I will not give any grandiose speeches,” Julian said quietly. “I thank you for being at my side. I am prepared for whatever happens. I pray that I am worthy of your loyalty.”

But as they emerged into the cool night air, he wondered if that was true. Was he prepared to die? Was he prepared to let Scarlett walk in at his side?

As he watched her tucking a tight braid around itself, securing it with pins, despair nearly overwhelmed him. What if he lost her after all of this?

Misha drew his blade, drawing Julian’s gaze. Tall and elegant, he could see why the man had caught Paris’s eye. He was smart and strong, a good match for the wily Frenchman. He was someone’s soulmate, as was Dominic, as was Kova. Hell, maybe even Stella had someone out there.

His heart ached. All of them were at risk. Not just Scarlett. As their Elder, he would bear the responsibility for losing them. For facing their mates and murmuring empty apologies.

His eyes burned as he looked at Scarlett again. The thought of losing her was enough to drive him insane. How had Eduardo managed this?

He didn’t.

Eduardo did not go into battle. He did not entwine himself in the lives of his court the way Julian did. He did not visit Shoshanna York’s bedside or listen to Olivia’s frustrations or lose sleep over Rhys or advise Sasha on modern living. And so he did not care, not deep down in his soul, for each of his good soldiers. He valued them as one might value an armory full of sharp weapons, but no one meant more to Eduardo than his mate.

Part of him wanted to break down and scream. Go home! Get out of here before it’s too late.

But they were here because they wanted to be. Because people they loved were at stake, or there were wrongs to be made right. He swallowed, raked his hands through his hair, and joined the group. If he was worthy of their loyalty, then he owed them every ounce of ferocity he had.

Stella winced as she set aside a nearly-empty blood bag. Her eyes flared bright, and she stared at her hands as if she saw something there. “Oh, I see why you guys like it so much,” she said, her voice almost a purr. “I’ve got this. Let’s approach through the woods in the back. I know exactly where the wards begin. When they break, I’ll give you a light show.”

“Scarlett, you go with her,” Julian said. His mate flashed a glare at him. “See if you can learn what she’s doing, if it triggers your instincts somehow.”

“After that?” Scarlett said archly.

“You can come in,” he said. “Hang back if it seems advantageous. Don’t tip our hand entirely if you can surprise her. If you walk in next to me, we have no further cards to play.”

Her brow furrowed as if she wanted to argue, but she nodded. “Okay. That’s fair.” Her eyes met his, and he could see the shape of her lips as she started to whisper I…

Stella elbowed Scarlett and said, “Let’s go. Try to keep up.”

If he didn’t know better, he’d have thought the witch was excited about the mission. Two vampires and Scarlett broke into a run, disappearing into the shadows.

He turned to face Dominic and said, “Here we go.”

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