Page 144 of Dark Haven Omegaverse

I tried to reason with her but from the firm set of her jaw, she had it all planned out already.

“It has to be this way. Do we really want him lurking back there, not knowing what he’s doing?” she argued.

“Hiro?” Drake yelled, rushing forward as the boy almost fell face-first into the table. He steadied him in a seat but he was no longer truly there.

The small human’s eyes were vacant and hollow for a moment before they refocused. His features seemed to harden as the other version of the human came out.

They were fascinating but now was not the time to appreciate it.

“Roman,” he corrected. “What the hell did I miss?”

Harlow caught him up and the spark of determination in his eyes meant he was on her side already.

“I can protect her. I’ve proven myself already,” Roman said to Drake. Drake nodded at that but paced, hands tearing at his hair.

“I don’t fucking like this. Two humans, even if they’re badasses, aren’t a match for a whole fucking floor of demons. Especially demons who have proven they want you captured. If they take you, we won’t be able to reach you,” Drake said desperately, holding Harlow on either side of her arms and forcing her to hear him. “We could lose you forever.”

“If we don’t go, you will anyway. I have no answers from Hel or this fucking adviser, no way to move forward, and no clue what the fuck to do. I need to do this, Drake. No one else can do it for me,” she wasn’t arguing now. Her voice was gentle, pleading.

Shadows filled the space as they argued. Monty was ready to whisk her away but she stepped away before he could.

“Don’t you fucking dare, Monty. You guys can’t lock me away anymore. We have to do something. Kol. Tell them. I see you guys fighting every fucking time I look outside.” She turned those vibrant blue eyes on me this time.

“They haven’t gotten through again,” I said. “But the attempts are increasing. We have no rest.”

“How are you okay with this?” Ivar demanded. His eyes were locked on mine in a challenge.

“Gargoyles aren’t led by emotions. She’s right, it’s the logical choice,” I said. “She’s not going alone. They’re capable.”

“I’m going with her. We’re going to fucking find something to give us the upper hand. If not, I’ll at least have this fucking monster’s blood on my hands. That should be enough of a win for you guys,” Roman said.

For a human, he was similar to the gargoyles. He was commanding when he spoke, to the point, and never held back his opinion. There was a calm to him I’d only seen in my own kind.

“See, there’s no other choice,” Harlow said, quieter this time. “I need you to trust me.”

“Trust has no place in this conversation,” Ivar said vehemently. “This is not going to fucking happen. I will take you away if I have to.”

“You can’t leave Roman to face this alone,” she argued. “I wouldn’t forgive you if he died alone.”

It was harsh, but she was desperate. Her eyes found mine and for the first time in our forming bond, I had clarity, knew what she needed. Walking up, I placed a hand on her cheek. When her pretty blue eyes met mine, I rested my forehead on hers.

“I trust you. Swing with purpose and fight with your entire soul, mate,” I ordered her. She swallowed hard and touched my cheek. Our bond thrummed with mutual respect as her scent drifted over me like a balm to my soul.

We still had a long way to go. I had a lot to learn about her and humans in general, but I still trusted my mate to succeed. I had to.

“Thank you, Kol. I will,” she promised. “I’m going to change. You guys can fight it out but when I get back. We are going in, turning back now could be our downfall.”

“No!” Ivar yelled, his voice so loud it echoed against the walls around us.

She was right regardless of his anger. This was the only direction forward.

We needed to find answers. Something that would explain how our own queen could betray us.

For the first time in my long existence, I felt as if I were lost. No leader ordering me to follow orders and fall in line. She said I was destined for Harlow before she forced us to slumber.

Now that I was free of my stone, there was no turning back.

My mate called the shots now.

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