Page 168 of Taken By the Fae

Hell, I look—and certainly feel—as if I was just hit with a transport truck.

Thedingof the elevator makes me jump. I step into the foyer and walk to Tristan’s door. I swallow hard, cringing at the copper taste lingering in my mouth.

I reach for the door handle and turn the knob to find it’s unlocked. Opening the door, I step inside and close it behind me.

Voices drift toward me from the living room, so I follow them.

“I have several teams scouring every inch of this city.” Tristan’s deep, commanding voice is a punch to the gut.

“Skylar and I are heading out as soon as team four gets back.” That’s Allison.

“I want to go with you.” My eyes widen at the sound of Oliver’s voice. What the hell is he doing here?He knows about the fae?

“No,” Allison and Skylar say in unison.

“Come on, I can handle it. Those assholes took one of my best friends and my boyfriend.”

“We’ll get them back, Oliver.” Nikolai’s voice interjects. “We need—”

His voice cuts off the moment I step into the room. My friends stare at me as if I’m an apparition.

I lick the dryness from my lips and open my mouth to speak, but nothing comes out.

“Oh my god,” Allison breathes.

My eyes travel around the room until they land on Tristan and stay there. His eyes are wide, desperate, and filled with terror. Tears blur my vision as my knees shake.

Tristan shifts in front of me just as they give out, and he catches me before I hit the floor. I cling to him, terrified to let go, as my shoulders shake with sobs.

“I didn't say it.” Hot tears stream down my face, blurring my vision. “I wanted to, but I was so scared, and—I should've said it.”

He guides my face away from his chest so he can look at me. “Aurora—”

“I love you, Tristan,” I cry. “I fucking love you.”

He smiles as if he’s feeling the warmth of the sun on his face for the first time in days. “You didn’t need to say it, Rory. I knew.”

As happy as I am to hear that, it doesn’t stop the tears. Now that I’m away from that place and my adrenaline is wearing down, everything is catching up to me.

“Aurora,” Tristan murmurs. “Aurora, you’re safe.”

“She’s human,” Nikolai says, confusion clear in his voice.

“Shut up,” Skylar snaps at him.

Tristan brushes his thumb along my cheek, warming the skin as he heals the cuts and bruises on my face.

“Stop,” I choke out. He shouldn’t be making me feel better, not while Max is…

He pulls his hand back, his eyes filled with concern. “Did I hurt you?”

“Max—” My voice cracks.

“Where is he?” Oliver asks, panicked.

I swallow hard, wanting to close my eyes and bury my face in Tristan’s chest again.

“Aurora, where the hell is he?” Skylar demands, stepping forward.

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