Page 32 of Facade

Malachai quietly stood at the rear, always observing.

“Did you see my kill, Cap?” The young guard hollered as he ran up the gravel path, his golden curls bouncing and eyes bright from the fight.

“Yeah, Brax, I saw it,” Aiden chuckled.

“Do you mean the kill where the skur chased you while you ran, then it tripped and impaled itself in the heart on that branch?” A very naked Dimitri challenged, hands on his hips. I blushed, turning away. I hadn’t even seen him transform.

“Dimitri!” Aiden scolded, pushing me toward the door and shielding me from view.

“I’ve got my pants over—who got this pasty fucker inside the fence?” Dimitri called. Blood drained from my face as Aiden turned to look.

“Looks like its fucking throat was ripped out,” Dimitri called over his shoulder. One glance around Aiden, and I knew he was inspecting the scene.

Thaddeus paused near us, that golden gaze locking on me. The corner of his mouth tugged up, but only just. Warning bells went off in my head—but for what? I didn’t do anything wrong. Sure, I hadn’t told Aiden about the white-haired stranger, but did it matter? I wrung my fingers regardless.

“Looks to me like one of its own got it. It’s been known to happen in a horde,” Thaddeus answered, then winked at me before turning to the group. Could he know the stranger after all? “I don’t know about all of you, but I could use a drink!”

The males shouted their agreement as they bounded up the stairs.

Aiden grunted, though he looked back at the mess in the yard once more, hesitating as everyone else followed Thaddeus inside.

I fidgeted with the edge of the sweater. There was no reason for me to be nervous, except the fact that I hadn’t just come out and mentioned the events. It was as if guilt were trying to settle in. Guilt over what, exactly? Aiden wasn’t my knight in shining armor. He might as well be my executioner.

A long exhale from his nose and a sharp tick of his jaw said he was clearly aware that something else had happened here. I released a breath I barely registered I was holding when he moved past me, up the stairs.

He glanced over his shoulder, the side of his mouth kicking up.

“You coming?”

“Do I have a choice?” I huffed, holding my arms up, the sweater sliding down, exposing the ink.

His smile faltered, a darkness flashing over his features before he took one step back down the stairs. Foolish. I was foolish to bait him like that.

“If you did? Would you choose to follow me inside?”

The air grew thin as I turned his words over, not at all sure how to answer. One minute, he looked at me in a way that reminded me I was only a prisoner transport to him. When his guard was down, I could forget. For a moment at least.

He sighed, looking to the sky.

“Don’t worry, I won’t take your silence personally.”

My lips pulled up at the corners, trying to offer something in place of the awkwardness.

“Come on. Thaddeus has a great selection of wine and spirits. You’ve earned it too, Evanee.” His eyes flashed bright in that predatory way before he went inside, leaving me trailing behind.

Hearing my name from Aiden sent a shiver of exhilaration through me.

Yet it was the stranger’s voice that echoed in my mind.

And his electrified me.

9

Aniah

Ryker told me to stay behind. To wait. It was his way of keeping me safe, as was his nature.

He wouldn’t have to protect me if my powers were at their fullest. With only embers remaining after the fall of the Western Realm, I was no better than a lesser Witch. I was almost ordinary.