Okay. No. No, no. I’ve definitely snapped something loose in my brain.
I push at his snout. It takes both hands — his nose is bigger than my face.
He lets me.
Courage rises like a tide inside me. “You won’t hurt me,” I whisper. “If you wanted to, you would’ve done it already.”
He doesn’t move. Just watches.
I narrow my eyes. “How well can you speak? Can you do sentences?”
He tilts his head. Shakes it slightly.
“Of course not,” I mutter. “Because that would be too convenient.”
I look closer into his eyes, and that’s when it clicks.
“He’s not home, is he?” I whisper. “Draven. He’s not… in there. You’re not connected right now.”
The lycan nods once, slowly.
“Shit.”
A lycan unanchored from its human side? That’s the stuff of nightmares. Dangerous. Unpredictable. One wrong move and I’m a stain on these very expensive sheets.
I’m about to really panic when I feel her, flickering like a soft spark in the back of my mind. Neris.
“Ask him his name,”she yawns, like we’re not currently locked in a room with a feral apex predator.
“Neris.” My voice softens. “You okay?”
“Never been better. No bond to pull at me until everything hurts, no pain with every heartbeat.”She sounds lighter. Brighter.“We’re free, Kass. We’re finally free.”
Something in my chest warms. I smile. It’s brief, but real.
My gaze shifts back to the monster in front of me. My hand is still on his snout. He hasn’t moved. Just stares at me like he’s waiting for me to do something. Say something.
“What’s your name?” I ask.
He rumbles low in his throat, then speaks, voice thick and broken: “Drrraaaxissss.”
A hiss and a snarl wrapped into one. Rough, but clear enough.
“Okay. Draxis.” I nod. “Now we’re getting somewhere.”
He watches me expectantly. Eager. Still too close.
“I need to get out of here.”
He doesn’t move. Just shakes his head once. “Maaattteee.”
That damn word again.
“No, Draxis. No.” I cross my arms. “I am not your mate. You’re just glitching right now. You need to get on the same page with your other half.”
He growls low — not angry. Just… stubborn.
“Bring Draven forward,” I command, lifting my chin. “I want to speak to him. Now.”
