AllFreeNovel
Share Us
“I ... don’t know.” It was a tough thing to admit. Had I noticed one was unsealed, what would I even have done? Nothing, probably. People snuck sips at home all the time. “We all helped setting things out and pouring glasses.”
Styx and Caius stared at each other for a tense moment.
“I’m taking Reagan away. We’ll leave within the hour.”
She scoffed. “That isn’t going to solve anything, Caius. Whoever did this would just go underground. They’ll bide their time. You know they will. It’s exactly what I would do, and so would you.”
Caius growled, slamming his fist into a wall. A crack formed down the middle, splintering the stone.
“Keep your friends close and your enemies closer,” Styx continued. “Taking her to a cottage in a different part of Tartarus isn’t going to keep her safe. If they can get to her within the castle walls, you’ll be sitting ducks anywhere else.”
“I’d like to see them try.”
“Um ...” I stepped forward, holding up my hand. “I wouldn’t. I think Styx is right. I’m already in danger. My geographical location isn’t going to change that.”
Caius’s angry features softened, and he cupped my face rubbing his thumb over my cheek. “I don’t want to risk your safety. You’re my mate, and I will do everything to protect you.”
I placed my hand over his, forcing a tight smile. “Then protect me here. I’m not leaving Clara.”
He closed his eyes, inhaling deeply before he dropped his hand and nodded in agreement.
I wasn’t sure why, but I felt the need to offer him comfort. He was struggling with rage or whatever emotion a guy experiences at a time like this, and the best I could do was lace my fingers through his and hold on tight.
“Let’s say you’re right, Styx. Why would somebody try to poison me? They think I’ve accepted the mate bond. I think we first need to figure out why I’m still a target, right?”
“They haven’t seen the primal hunt ceremony,” Styx said, tilting her head as she looked at Caius.
“The what?”
Before he answered me, Caius grumbled about something I couldn’t understand, and it seemed directed at Styx. “The primal hunt is a tradition here for mated couples. Basically anyone who can attend does, and then the couple is officially announced in front of everyone.”
“What does that have to do with us hunting?”
He hesitated. “Then I would hunt you to consummate the union.”
My jaw dropped. “In public?”
“Not exactly, but sort of”
I scoffed. “How? I mean ... When would we even do this?” I breathed out, the sound of it panicky.
The way he paused before answering me made my heart drop. “It’s usually done right before the dual full moons when ...”
My heart didn’t drop anymore. I may as well have swallowed it. “A woman is in heat,” I croaked, and he nodded reluctantly.
“It’s just around the corner. I think it’s worth considering. People like their traditions, Caius.” Styx lifted a shoulder, ignoring my obvious concern. “However, I think this may go beyond the mate bond, but I don’t know why. The real question isn’t why she’s the target, butwhowould benefit from Reagan’s death?”
My entire body tensed. The obvious answer was Caius. It was also the answer that didn’t make sense. If he wanted me dead, he’d just do it.
It didn’t escape him that I’d physically reacted, if only for a fraction of a second. His eyes darkened momentarily before sadness took over, and I gave him an apologetic look and a gentle squeeze of the hand.
Caius cleared his throat. “Reagan needs weapons training. We’ve been working together, but she’d do well to learn from you.”
Styx frowned. “That’s not going to protect her from being poisoned.”
“Obviously,” he said dryly. “Jana attacked her, now this. If someone is going to attack her directly again, she needs to be ready to defend herself.”
“And if someone tries to poison her again?”
