Page 24 of Ruin

“Damn, those things are real then?” asked Owen, his wolf flashing in his eyes.

Stone turned a hard expression on him. “Of course they are, how do you think me, or any other fae got into this world? I have lived in both worlds. But illegal portals are hard to find and are never kept in the same place for long, or they are hunted down by the SBI and destroyed. It’s harder in Faerie to stop them from being used, as the High King’s forces are spread thinly across the whole of Faerie, and politics and borders stop him getting to those in realms other than his own.”

“Oh, right. ‘Course.” Owen looked like he wanted to ask Stone more questions, but turned to me instead. “So who was that?”

Owen’s question was directed at me, but I remained quiet, watching the way Connor stared at where the portal had been. I noticed Zander’s narrowed gaze rested on him, too. Connor had seen a portal before, at least twice, so why did he look like a starving man in a bakery, right now? Zander’s creased brows dipped further. Ignoring the unease prickling the back of my neck, I fixed a little smile on my face and looked at Owen, even though my heart was racing and my palms were suddenly sweaty as thoughts whirled through my mind in a storm. I didn’t know what to do with that sense of dread, so I answered Owen’s question.

“That was B’nar, the Prince Heir to the High King. So if you ever see him again, I suggest you play nice. He’s powerful in magic and political position, and he makes a better friend than an enemy.”

Owen cocked a brow, and Stone stared unblinkingly at me.

“Damn.”

“Shit.” They muttered at the same time.

“Exactly,” I said, then glanced around the cave. “Can we get Connor settled somewhere a bit more comfortable than this, now? You mentioned cabins…?” I looked at Drake. His bright eyes were full of compassion as they held mine.

“Sure did. Come on. Let’s get our Prime settled somewhere.” It dawned on me Drake didn’t know about me holding Connor’s wolf. I glanced at Owen. It seemed the wrong time to divulge that little piece of information. Maybe only his brothers could sense he was different?

Zander grunted, and with what looked like a great effort, stood, pushing himself up with a hand on the wall. “I’m coming too.” Reaching down he offered his hand to his mother.

I shook my head. Connor’s mother. Except Connor wasn’t looking at Tyen with awe or even the resentment he might have for the woman who had abandoned him; there was a predatory gleam in his eyes that made me shudder. That gleam was one of a hunter, it was almost lustful. I rubbed the prickling from the skin on my arms and shook my head. I was tired and emotionally strung out; I was just seeing things. I blinked, and when I peered at Connor again that hungry gleam had gone. Instead, Connor shifted his intense gaze, and glowered at Zander.

I didn’t understand that look, but I was beginning to suspect why it was there; I just didn’t know what to do about it. I laid a hand gently on Zander’s arm. So many questions burned on the tip of my tongue, but now wasn’t the time to indulge my impatience and just blurt them out. “Umm, perhaps it's best if you leave him be tonight, Zander. I’ll find you as soon as I can and we’ll talk. Okay?”

Zander looked from me to Connor, his jaw clenched. Tyen placed a hand on his cheek and made him look at her. “He will be safe with his mate. No one here will harm him.”

“It isn’t him I’m worried about.” His muttered answer was cryptic enough my body tensed. With three shifters inside me, one of whom was in large part the alpha of all shifters, my hearing was astute. I heard his mumbled words as if he had yelled them. Who elsewashe worried about? I tried to catch his attention with my gaze, but he wouldn’t look at me.

Tyen’s dark brow furrowed, but before she could ask what he meant, Zander spoke. “Fine.” His face was drawn and it struck me again how exhausted he looked.

I looked at Owen, pleading with my eyes.

“Stone, when we get to the cabins, find Zander and his mother somewhere to rest, then ensure they get food brought to them.” Owen pushed a little power against Stone, making his point. Stone’s nostrils flared and his chin lifted, but he didn’t argue. He clearly respected Owen as much as he did Connor. With emotions already running high, Connor's brothers were going to need the extra push to willingly help Zander. Considering the brutalities and humiliation they suffered at his hand in the prison, forgiveness was going to be a long process. Owen’s compulsion, though not as strong as Connor’s had been, was enough to make sure the pack did nothing to harm Zander—or Tyen. Though I seriously doubted Tyen was in danger. She had never harmed them.

I observed Tyen, wondering why she had been in that prison in the first place. She didn’t look mistreated. As a matter of fact, she looked well cared for and her clothes were expensive. The silk dress she wore fell down below her knees, the material brushing against the soft leather of her black boots. But there was something in her eyes that spoke of great suffering. Shadows danced around her features, but not in a bad way. Almost as if they were trying to protect her and hide that suffering from the gaze of others. She gave me a small smile. I smiled back and hoped she didn’t take offense at my staring.

I shook my head. Connor’s mother. Gods, he hadn’t even spoken to her yet. How that must hurt, to have her child reject her so completely. Though after so many years, I couldn’t help but wonder what she expected?

“Come on,” Stone said coldly, eyeing Zander with glacial silver eyes, his wolf tinting his irises with vivid yellow before he brought it back under control. “I’ll find you both somewhere to sleep. So long as you don’t have that fucking button on you, you’ll be left alone. If it looks like you do, nothing any other alpha can do will stop me from ripping your throat out, followed by hers.” His eyes flashed purple this time, his vicious fae side peeking through.

Tyen tensed, but didn’t step away despite her already pale face becoming even more devoid of colour. The shadowed area she stood in seemed to darken.

I heard Connor chuckle, but when I looked at him his eyes were shut.

Zander nodded, his expression closed. “I understand, but please believe I have no desire to harm any of you. My purpose in that prison was to protect my mother and brother, as best I could. I might not have done a great job of that, but harming anyone else was not something I enjoyed—ever. My actions were unavoidable, given the situation with my father, if I wanted to protect the ones I love.”

Tyen squeezed his hand, her eyes almost fully black, that strange shadow wrapping her in a fine mist.

“I’ll come and find you once I’ve had some time with Connor. I need some answers.” My eyes held Zander’s as I walked closer to him and stared up into his handsome, drawn face. “About many things.”

“I know.” His shoulders slumped a little and he looked almost defeated. I couldn’t comprehend what his life had been like all this time, working for Walker and living a lie to save his mother and brother from his evil father. On instinct, I stood on my tip toes and kissed his cheek. “Thank you for bringing him back to me.”

He blinked, glanced at Connor, and swallowed. Then, he nodded. “Find me as soon as you can, Ember. It’s important we talk.”

Owen stepped closer to Reed, studying the big Were. “Lionel, Myles, Reed needs restraining with the silver chains we took from the raid.” He narrowed his eyes on Myles. “You good with that order?”

Myles growled, a low rumble in his chest, his wolf in his eyes. My heart ached for my friends. They had mated amongst the stress and violence of the fight rings, and then had their love ripped apart when Reed died at my hands. I had no idea if I could do anything for Reed, but I was going to damn well try. I left Zander and walked over to Myles. I didn’t really know what to say to him. If he struck me down, I wouldn’t blame him. Nervously, I took his hand and squeezed it. He squeezed back, but directed his comment to his current alpha. “He’s a Were with a demon squatting in his body. I have absolutely no problem chaining him down until we figure out how to save him.”

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