Page 137 of Dark Fate

ThenAxilya, cool as you please, slices through the bullshit with that regal bearing of hers. "We must address this matter carefully," she says, every word dropping like ice into a glass of whiskey, cool but sharp.

Faderynkeeps his mouth shut and gives a somber little nod. He seems to agree withAxilya's play-it-smart approach.

Dani's hold on my hand is like a vise, her eyes a mirror of my own fury, laced with a damn dose of disbelief at the crazy-ass twist our story's taken.

Erikmoves closer, his voice a blend of firmness and allure. "We must proceed cautiously;Adrianis privy to our vulnerabilities."

Lucianlets out a low, ominous chuckle, the sound carrying a hint of malicious glee. "I say we let the backstabbing prick marinate in his mess for a change," he suggests, a wicked glint in his dark eyes. "It's high time he gets a five-star serving of betrayal straight from the chef's special menu of karmic retribution."

Danicocks her head to the side, that fiery spark lighting up her eyes without so much as a peep. She's standing there, all fired up, defiance radiating off her like she's ready to take on the goddamn world.

My heart's pounding a rhythm of rage and resolve—Adrian's gonna pay. He's gonna answer for every last fucked-up thing he's done to us.

Danica

64

As the solid door shuts behind us, the sound reverberates through the room, creating a barrier between us and the external bedlam. The rich aroma of sandalwood permeates the space, a signature note that underscoresRhyland's formidable aura. He strides toward the window, his silhouette framed against the twilight, shoulders set in a taut display of contained strength, while his gaze is drawn to the dusk outside.

My head is spinning with all the mind-blowing revelations from my Atherian crash course, but right now,Rhyland's well-being eclipses everything else. I can sense his inner turmoil through our bond, and it's gnawing at my very soul.

"Alina," my voice carries gently through the chamber to where she stands alert. "Would you be so kind as to prepare a bath forRhyland?"

Her response is a quiet nod, her slight form barely stirring the air. Observant and perceptive, her wide eyes dart from me toRhylandand back again, a silent witness to the unspoken tensions rippling between us. With a quick, almost fluttery motion, she vanishes to set the bath in motion, leaving me to focus fully onRhyland's brooding figure.

Rhyland, remaining at the window, carries the burden of his thoughts like a bulwark against an invisible tempest. I encircle him from the rear, my arms wrapping around his sturdy frame, and lay my cheek softly against the muscle of his back.

"Talk to me," I whisper gently, coaxing the words into the silence that hangs between us.

Rhyland's response echoes with a faraway quality, his voice seeming to traverse a chasm of unspoken truths. "There's nothing to tell,Angel."

He's shutting me out—I can discern the unsteady tremor beneath his words, sensing the trouble simmering beneath the surface.

I maneuver myself to stand before him, my hands reaching up with purpose to cradle his scruffy face—guiding his gaze down to meet mine. "Look at me,Rhyland," I say, seeking connection through the windows of his beautiful blues. Observing the muted turmoil, I recognize there's more than he's willing to admit.

My heart aches to imagine the tormentRhylandmust have suffered while I was gone, locked up and chained by those two monsters. Just thinking of the cruelty he endured during his last imprisonment by Amara is enough to ignite a firestorm of fury in me, making me want to watch that sadistic bitch burn.

And now the presence ofAdrian, his own brother by blood, shackled and imprisoned before him, must be tearingRhylandapart from the inside out. The bitter sting of betrayal, the agonizing realization that someone he trusted, someone he called family, has turned against him—it's a pain that cuts deeper than any physical wound ever could.

I can see the conflict raging behindRhyland's eyes, the tempest of emotions threatening to consume him whole. His mind must be a battlefield, a landscape of shattered abuse, trust, and fractured loyalties, as he grapples with the harsh reality of what has happened.

Rhylandremains frozen, clearly lost in the labyrinth of his own haunted thoughts. I know he's not only grappling with the fresh wounds of his recent captivity andAdrian's treachery but also the unrelenting anguish of not knowing if or when I would find my way back to him—an endless cyclone of turmoil and dread that must have ravaged his mind and soul.

Alina's presence is discreet, her voice barely more than a murmur from the doorway. "The bath is ready, My Lady."

Grateful for her service, I reply without turning, "Thank you, Alina." She retreats with a hushed grace that speaks of her understanding, leaving us again in our private sanctuary.

The steam from the bath fills the room, weaving through the air like ethereal wisps, setting a mystical stage. Alina's meticulous work is evident in the large, inviting tub, where the hot water sends ribbons of heat that curl into the cooler air of the chamber.

FacingRhyland, I gaze into his poignant ocean-blue eyes, noting the turbulence that dwells within. "Let's talk while you soak," I coax softly, suggesting both an invitation and solace.

His nod is quiet, a silent acknowledgment of the need for conversation, yet his lips remain sealed.Rhylandstands before me, a paragon of restraint, but I feel the subtle cracks threatening his composed exterior.

Perched on the tub's rim, I watch asRhylanddiscards his garments one by one with mechanical precision.

He's an absolute vision, a breathtaking spectacle that seems almost too perfect to be real.

Standing there, he's the living, breathing embodiment of a Norse deity—powerful, raw, and so damn captivating it hurts. He's covered in blood and dirt, but it only amplifies the rugged, primal sexiness that draws me to him like a moth to a flame. His very presence commands attention, demanding worship and reverence with every perfectly chiseled inch of his godlike form.

---