Page 184 of Forbidden Fate

“No, you can’t.”

“Yes,” she says. “I can.”

“Robin—”

“Hawk.” Her voice hardens. “Please.”

He points at me without looking away from Robin. “He doesn’t get to be alone with you.”

“We’ll be right here by the door.”

“No.”

“Hawk.” Daniela touches his arm. “Come on.”

His nostrils flare. For a second, I think he’s going to ignore them both and hit me anyway.

Then he steps back.

Barely.

He leans in just enough that his voice reaches me without carrying into the rest of the house. “You watch your fucking back.”

I hold his gaze. “I understand.”

“No,” he says. “You don’t.”

Then he turns, stiff with fury, and lets Daniela guide him away.

Robin waits until they disappear down the hall before she turns back to me.

The door remains open between us.

I stand outside.

She stands inside.

“My family is going to want to know why you’re here,” she says. “They’re only two rooms away, and Hawk is probably telling them who you are right about now. So why are you here?”

Because Vega is coming for you.

Because you’re in danger.

Because Adriana said he would cross any border to take what he wants.

Because if he can’t get me, he’ll take you.

Those are the answers I carried across a continent.

But as I stand here, looking past Robin into this house, those answers begin to fracture.

The Bellamys are here.

All of them, or at least enough of them to matter.

Cars line the drive. Security is visible and invisible. I got here, but that doesn’t mean I’m safe here.

This is Bellamy land.