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“What do you want, Nyx?”
His unnervingly empty eyes snap to mine. Nyx, in this rare territorial form, shows off the fierce warrior he is. He earned his title as general through training and skill. Alone, he’s a force to be reckoned with, but with me and my shadows, we’re the monsters in all the stories.
“What are you doing here? And with him?” he yells. His hand flies up to point at Theo, but I quickly smack it down. He might lose a finger if he keeps shoving it in Theo’s face.
“That’s none of your business, Nyx. Unless you came here for something important, I suggest leaving before I make you.” He’s ruined my post-orgasmic high, and I don’t appreciate it.
Nyx steps toward me, and Theo shifts behind me. Reaching out my arm, I halt Theo as he tries to come around. Nyx and Theo lock eyes in another staredown.
Tension thickens the air around us, charging our little bubble. I shove at Nyx’s chest, trying to break this standoff, but he doesn’t budge. I snap my fingers in front of his face, finally getting his attention.
“What was so important you had to ruin my evening?” I ask, allowing my annoyance to be heard. He stares down at me, fury darkening his eyes. I stare up at him with the same amount of rage.
“We received urgent news from our spies. I went back to the bonfire to get you to head to the council room, and you were nowhere in sight. No one knew where you had gone. I took a lucky guess at where you may have taken him.” His gaze trails up to Theo, who pushes into me.
The air is thick with smoldering anger, and I have had enough.
“Both of you knock it off, now, or I’ll silence you myself.” I release my shadows from my hands in long spirals, taller than both of their hulking forms.
My power vibrates wildly, responding to the tension.
Nyx’s eyes widen in shock as my shadows twirl before returning to my hands. I take a deep breath, trying not to smack the two men around me.
“What was the message, Nyx?” I groan.
He cocks his head at an odd angle, pure rage rolling off of him. “That’s not something I’m comfortable discussing while others are present.”
It must be about Lux then, and I briefly wonder if they found the amulet.
I lean my head back to rest on Theo’s chest and look up at him, knowing our night together is over. A tight smile crosses his lips letting me know he had the same realization. I soak in our closeness for a moment longer, before shoving all my desire deep down and allowing only frustration to remain. Standing up straight, I grab Theo’s hand and push past Nyx, shoulder-checking him for good measure.
We walk the gravel path back to the coastline, heading toward the boulder with our clothes. I freeze when I see Hiram and Marcus near the vine wall. Theo bumps into my back, wrapping his arms around my waist. I stand tall, gathering my confidence and walk to the boulder.
I grab Theo’s clothes from atop mine and hand them over. Theo quickly dresses as I stare down my guards. Hiram meets my gaze with pinched lips.
“Lovely evening for a swim, my queen.”
Marcus’ face burns bright red in the moonlight as he fights his laugh. He turns away to hide his amusement. I’m glad they are enjoying all of this because I want to strangle every single one of them.
I pull on my clothes, the moisture from my undergarments causing everything to stick together. Nyx steps to my side, gripping my arm and pulling me toward him.
“What were you thinking? This is exactly what I told you not to do,” he whispers harshly.
Before I can retort, Theo pushes Nyx off me, causing him to stumble backward.
“Don’t you grab her like that. What’s your problem, anyway? Don’t like someone taking the queen’s attention off you?” Theo teases Nyx.
“You’re the problem. You have been nothing but a threat to our kingdom’s safety since you arrived here. I should have sent you back the moment you survived the Cypres,” Nyx shouts, pointing at Theo.
“I told you not to put your finger in my face, General,” Theo snarls. Nyx takes a step closer with his hand still raised.
“And what are you going to do about it, Captain?” Nyx asks, taunting Theo. Baiting him. In a blink, Theo shoves Nyx’s arm to the side before punching him in the face. Nyx’s head flicks to the side and when it returns to Theo, his eyes are colder than snow. An icy, burning rage flares through them. Nyx lunges at Theo, slamming a fist into his stomach. Theo grunts and hunches over in pain. Nyx swings for another punch, but Theo dodges it, landing his own to Nyx’s ribs.
“You two knock it off already!” I shout as Hiram and Marcus rush past me, eager to join the fight. Theo and Nyx dance around each other with Hiram and Marcus closing in on Theo.
Hiram and Marcus make eye contact with Nyx. The slight raise of Nyx’s eyebrow gives me all the warning I need. As the three men charge at Theo, I unleash my power. Shadows burst from me in long arches, stretching for all four men. They coil tightly around each one, raising them off the ground as if they are on display for me.
Nyx stares at me with nostrils flaring. Unless masked as Asher, I rarely release my power. It’s always been more of a weapon, and I’ve never needed that around my crew.
