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And then the light shifted, snow drifting in from the window, glinting silver off Caius’s open eyes as he pulled Areanel’s face closer to his, two fingers gripping her chin. And Rymedur saw it. Areanel’s eyes were screwed shut, her body cringing away, muscles tensing. Her chest stopped rising and falling, as though she was holding her breath like the cold winter breeze had frozen her to the spot.

Without a second thought, Rymedur stepped forward just as his shadow, still curled around her thigh, hardened, becoming a tangible thing and spearing forward.

Rymedur smelt the thick, putrid scent of blood the same second Caius hissed in pain. Baring his teeth, Caius snapped his hand back, bringing it to his chest. His body stiffened as he cradled the injured hand, glaring at the shadow.

Good. Rymedur’s eyes gleamed when he saw the cut on his hand. He hoped it hurt.

Then, that glaring sneer turned from his shadow, landing on Rymedur. Caius finally seemed to realise exactly what had attacked him—and who it belonged to. But Rymedur’s attention was ensnared by Areanel.

Blinking furiously, her raven hair swayed like the dark strands of a river as she shook her head like she was trying to get her thoughts in order.

‘Am I interrupting something?’ Rymedur’s voice was clipped, but his eyes never left her.

And Areanel, her mouth falling open like a fish caught out of water, stared wide-eyed, gaze flitting between where he stood and where Caius sat, as though she couldn’t quite believe what was happening. His eyes narrowed on her when she rushed to her feet, stepping in his direction.

Rymedur’s jaw clenched so hard he could hear his teeth grinding, but he remained where he stood, blade tight in his grip while his hands shook at his side.

‘Rymedur—’ Her words came out in short pants. ‘I thought—but you were…’ Her head swivelled away from him and towards where Caius still sat slouched, refusing to meet their stares. Rymedur watched the torrent of emotions flash across his wife’s face as she squinted at the male, before her brows furrowed in confusion. Then, her eyes widened in realisation. ‘Cai!’

Her nimble fingers shot up to grab at the small pendant dangling from her neck as though it were a lifeline.

Rymedur almost stepped forward at her choked sob. Her chest rose and fell in short, gasped breaths, and the full force of Rymedur’s anger turned upon the male at that sound. What the hell had he done? A rumbling vibrated through his chest as a protective snarl ripped through the air like a newly forged blade.

Caius did not look at either of them, but an audible swallow gave away his shame before he turned his back on them. Rymedur bared his teeth at the male’s unprotected back, and the blade in his hand sang, pleading with him to use it. Rymedur’s rage was so palpable it could devour the room—and it almost did. His shadows reacted to the fire burning deep within him, growing like phantoms, emerging from the darkest corners, swallowing any light in their wake.

But then icy fingers grazed the inside of his wrist, and ever so slowly, Rymedur turned his head and met two sapphire gems. Areanel. There was a pause. A moment of clarity, before he noticed her unshed tears.

The silver lining her eyes had that beast in his chest raging, but he reached for her as she bit her lower lip to stop it from quivering. Her eyes darted away from him, not focusing on a particular point, just bouncing around the room. She was panicking.

Rymedur’s heart clenched; she couldn’t seem to see him. Her other hand had subconsciously reached for his shadow, still curled around her thigh.

The sharp sting of worry shot down the bond he shared with the shadow, and like an arrow piercing flesh, he felt everything, as if it carried his own emotions. Immediately, the shadow weaved through her fingers, settling on her wrist where it swished back and forth in an attempt to comfort her.

‘Are you okay?’ All jealousy and thoughts of vengeance had disappeared the instant she brought that wrist to her chest, fisting the fabric of the shirt she wore while the shadow licked at her skin. ‘What happened?’ He came to stand in front of her, his broad frame filling her vision, forcing her to see him. Focus on him.

Areanel’s azure gaze moved past his shoulder to where Caius still sat, his posture collapsed, his gaze averted. Coward.

But just as she turned back, her eyes finally settling on Rymedur and her mouth opening to speak, a loud slam echoed through the air.

Thud! The sound of wood splintering crashed through the tense silence as the door behind Rymedur swung open and slammed against the wall. Rymedur’s shoulders tensed at the rush of air, and his body moved to shield Areanel’s.

He heard more than saw Caius shuffle in his seat, but he did not stand to see who the intruder was.

From the corner of his eye, Rymedur saw a flare of red bolt out of the room at his back. The flame raced across the sitting area and into the small bathroom parallel to the kitchen on his right.

‘Vas!’ A grumbled groan, thick with sleep, came from the darkness of the room. With the door that still swung back and forth, Rymedur could see a completely bare Brutus sprawled upon the too-small bed. The mountain of a male made the bed look as though it belonged to a child.

A loud sigh, followed by the unmistakable sound of pissing, had Rymedur staring dumbfounded at the bathroom door. ‘Did he just run through the apartment naked?’

Areanel let out a broken sort of laugh. ‘As bare as the day he was born.’

Had he said that aloud? Rymedur hadn’t meant to, given the circumstances. But Areanel had laughed. The smile didn’t stretch across her face, nor did it reach her ears, but she had still smiled, and Rymedur’s entire being melted at the sight.

He was still worried about the exchange she’d had with Caius, but he saw the guarded look in her eyes. If she did not wish to speak about it, he would wait until she was ready.

Be patient, he told himself; she will come to you when she is ready.

Rymedur snaked an arm around her waist, pulling her closer, the fabric soft against his exposed skin. He smiled down at her when he realised exactly what she was wearing. ‘Is that my shirt?’ A sort of male satisfaction bloomed like a flower in his chest. She was a vision to behold, dressed in nothing but his shirt.