Page 78 of Never Run from an Immortal

A shadow caught Rae’s eye as she followed Reed to the front of the manor. Quinn. “Keep Ru out of trouble while I’m gone,” she told him quietly, scratching beside his ear and not letting herself meet the daemon’s eyes, just in case Baelin was paying too close attention somewhere. Quinn whined, his rough tongue licking her chin.

Keep them all out of trouble, she wanted to tell him, but knew there was little chance of that. Rae’s PAD buzzed in her pocket, and she swiped away a message from Scarlett, jumping into the front seat of a waiting vehicle beside Reed. Already she could feel Aidan’s gaze on her as he slid into the driver’s seat of his own vehicle. Rae couldn’t risk letting anything slip around him; she doubted a few feet made any difference with how strong his mind was, but it helped her focus. She needed the distance. To hold on to her anger.

Evander and Orion took up their position in the vehicle behind as Reed left the manor grounds, the lights of the city flashingby. Even at night, Demesia was full of life. “We need a fourth,” he said after a while. Someone to replace Roak, he meant. A new member of the First Unit. Rae shot him a sideways glance. “What? You’d be a great asset to the team, Rae.”

“Something tells meLord Valewouldn’t allow that.”

Reed chuckled. “I think yourhusbandwould do just about anything for you.”

It struck Rae, then, that she thought he might be right. Dangerous, dangerous territory. Aidan had seen her tattoo, seenher. How exposed she was; would have felt it, the connection between them, just as she did. Rae swallowed. Swallowed down every emotion; the memory of him above her, inside her, surrounding her. “You know better than anyone our arrangement was a means to an end.”

“What end, exactly?” the Fae asked as they turned into the Central District. The buildings became more industrial with metal fascia instead of the prettier architecture of the First and Second Districts. Warehouses that stretched for entire blocks. Humans were smart, but their eye for aesthetics was sorely lacking.

Rae turned to Reed and winked. “A good wife never tells.”

His fingers tightened on the steering wheel, the air in the car suddenly thick.

“You were going to ask her?” Rae whispered. For a union. Marriage. The Fae nodded, and what remained of Rae’s heart crumpled in on itself. Nim would have been overjoyed. “Oh, Reed. I’m so sorry.”

He managed a smile, a small shrug of his huge shoulders. “I know it might seem fast to you, but I knew the moment I met her.” His voice thickened, and he cleared his throat. “I knew her. Had time with her. That will have to be enough.” Rae’s throat was painfully tight as she watched him. “But if I’m ever lucky enough to feel that again.This,” he said, placing a hand over hisheart. “I won’t wait a second time. I won’t hesitate or second guess myself. I’ll be all in. I know she’d want that for me.”

Rae rested her hand over his as he pulled the car into park. “She would.”

“So you’ll think about it?” Reed asked, his tone light once more. Optimistic. “First Unit?”

Rae didn’t meet his gaze as she slipped out of the car, struggling to keep her tone light to match his. She couldn’t be the reason he lost any of the hope he clung to, and Goddess knew how he still did. “Sure.”

Cormac was already waiting for them, his mate beside him, Scarlett’s expression brightening the moment she saw Rae, no doubt taking in her pale pink hair and her blue eyes. Rae had barely been able to hide her surprise when she’d seen the hybrids bring the Witch up top the night of the raid. It had been just over ten years since she’d laid eyes on her cousin’s friend, but everything from Scarlett’s perfectly styled blonde curls to her manicured nails was the same.

Despite how close she’d been to Emlyn, her cousin was afforded certain freedoms that Rae, as princess, never was. Emlyn didn’t live in the palace. Could move through the Witch city of Riguera as she pleased. Make friends with whomever she wished, like her tutor’s daughter, Scarlett.

Emlyn had always spoken fondly of Scarlett, and they’d met precisely twice: once before her cousin’s death, and once the day of the funeral when her cousin Maddock had made a scene about his sister’s demise.

Whatever happened, I know you’d never harm her intentionally, she’d told Rae. And Rae knew she’d meant it. But if she’d witnessed it, if she’d seen Emlyn’s marred skin and smelt the stench of burning flesh, Rae knew the Witch would feel differently. She swallowed down the memory as Scarlett approached, hazel eyes meeting hers immediately.

“So good to see you, A—” the Witch began.

“Rae.” Rae shoved a hand into the one Scarlett offered before the Witch could use her real name. They’d been communicating these last few days via encrypted messages, ones Rae had gone to great lengths to ensure Baelin hadn’t discovered. “I’m so happy to see you’re well.”

Scarlett hesitated for a moment. “I… of course. Thank you. For everything.”

Rae knew Aidan watched them, felt the press of his Provident abilities over every inch of her skin, praying he was feeling benevolent enough to not tear through Scarlett’s shields. Rae had told him earlier she’d be remaining up top with Scarlett and the other survivors in the makeshift hospital whilst he went below to speak with the council, and Aidan hadn’t argued with her.

They’d barely spoken since they’d left his room, but Rae preferred it that way. There was nothing left to say, and Aidan understood that. She couldn’t bring herself to acknowledge what was between them—never had, no matter how much things had changed. Howeverythinghad changed. Not a minute had passed since he’d fed from her that she hadn’t thought about it, thought about everything she knew it meant and couldn’t face.

Rae hadn’t been afforded the luxury of safety in the last ten years. It was exactly as she’d told him; she’d had no one looking out for her but herself. Until him. He’d made her feel safe for perhaps the first time in her life, and the thought made her chest ache.

Scarlett led her in one direction as Cormac ushered Aidan and the others towards the elevator to take them down to the lower level, to the rooms they’d used on their last visit there. Her last visit there, when she’d almost crumpled under the weight of her dread, and he’d found her, eased her fears in a way only he knew she needed. Not with tenderness. Never with gentleness.She couldn’t bear his kindness, and he’d known it. He’d always known it. Had always known what she needed from the moment they met.

Rae couldn’t help but glance over her shoulder, meeting Aidan’s silver gaze just before the doors closed. She sucked in a breath at the sight of him and followed Scarlett towards the rows of beds, helping with spells wherever she could, talking to survivors and trying to snuff out the guilt every time she wished one of them was Nim.

They worked for hours, until Rae knew the council meeting below them would have long since dissolved into a dispute over what to do next. Two nurses came to relieve her and Scarlett, and Rae knew it was time. She reminded herself of all the reasons why she had to do this, why she had no other choice as she quietly followed Scarlett to the far end of the warehouse, to a corner where stacks of metal were still piled floor to ceiling. There wasn’t a Vampire in sight, no survivors from the facility, no nursing staff. Only a narrow door that Rae knew as soon as she laid eyes on it was another elevator, one most likely used for service access judging from the size of it. She took measured breaths as Scarlett quietly opened the shutters and they both shuffled in, barely enough space for the two of them.

“I can explain your absence up here to the others until dawn, but any longer and Cormac will suspect me,” the Witch explained.

Rae swallowed. She’d made her decision, chosen duty over desire. There was no backing out now. “Dawn is all I need. Thank you.”

“I like the pink on you,” Scarlett said with a sideways glance as she shut them in the tiny metal box. “It was always Emlyn’s favourite.” Her shoulders rose as she sucked in a deep breath. “I didn’t know—”

---