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“I need blankets,” I demand. “And water and food for when she wakes up.”
Like a scared mouse, Vaelenor has crept so far away he’s nearly on the stairs. At my words, however, his head whips up, and his eyes widen.
“I don’t think Dax—”
Gavran winces. I growl furiously, pinning the coward who can’t even face his own actions with a glare full of disgust.
“Fuck Dax. I don’t care what Dax thinks. I don’t care what Dax wants, or needs, or feels, understand? The only one who I care about is the Omega in my arms—and by extension, Caelan. If you don’t have enough honor to provide basic fucking comforts to the female you tortured, I will take her and disappear.”
When he frowns, I flash him a dangerous smile and lay out the rest of my plan.
“Now, keep in mind that if that happens, Idril and I won’t leave alone. The forest on your very own property currently contains dozens of my warriors, ready and waiting for my Command.” I shrug, feigning nonchalance. “Oh, they won’t attack, of course. Gavran’s right—a war is something neither Species can handle right now.”
“Then what—”
“You see, Vaelenor, wolven are known for possessing two innate talents. Fighting, and fucking shit up. My males won’t fight, but they will cause so much fucking chaos you won’t know your ass from your elbow in your own halls. And while you’re busy trying to remember your own mother’s name, I’ll take my Mate and go straight to the compound, down the stairs, take two lefts, a right, and arrive at room 109. From there, it’ll take me less than three minutes to grab Caelan, and another forty-seven seconds for all three of us to disappear.”
My smile widens at the horror in Vaelenor’s green eyes.
“You’ll spend the next century searching, and by the time we let you find us, I imagine your Packmate will have a thing or two to say to you after spending years imagining all the ways you tormented his Fated Mate while he was injured.”
It doesn’t escape me that I just claimed the fucking vampire as part of my own pack and a male under my protection. Three weeks ago, that idea would have been unthinkable.
But Caelan’s hers. Which means he’s mine, too. Just… not in the same way.
When neither male responds, I push my advantage to hammer home how serious I am. I stride forward, shifting Idril in my arms, which forces their focus where it should be—on her.
“If anything like this happens to Idril again, the consequences will be something none of us will be able to live with. Feel free to take that as a threat, because that’s exactly what it is.”
The air is thick with tension once I finally finish speaking. Gavran is stiff, arms crossed in front of him. He searches my features and must realize I’m not fucking around.
“Message received,” he responds, and if I’m not mistaken, his eyes hold a gleam of respect that wasn’t there before.
He turns on his heel, gesturing at Vae to follow.
Before he goes, Vae pulls out his keys and, with a grimace, shoves the key into the lock of my cell. He looks like he hates what he’s doing, but he still does it.
“Blankets,” I remind him. “I want some Nesting material for my Omega.”
“I’ll bring some stuff down,” he murmurs. His eyes never once stray toward Idril. When I don’t respond, he clears his throat awkwardly before he adds, “There’s a blanket she really likes still up in her attic room.”
“Go get it then,” I snap when he still doesn’t move. He jerks at my tone then nods frantically. As though he’s been waiting for some way to do something for her, he takes off, racing up the stairs two at a time in his haste.
I turn, crossing the cell to retake my seat on the stone bench, which is shockingly large enough to hold even my massive frame. Leaning back, I cradle Idril against my chest, wishing there was something I could do to fix this now.
“No more,” I promise her. “Those assholes are done hurting you. Everyone is fucking done hurting you.”
Part of me wishes I’d just taken her and run last night. I even considered revisiting the subject this morning, but when I asked her about Caelan and saw the way her eyes lit up, love shining through the shadows of exhaustion and fear for the first time, I just… couldn’t.
The last thing I want to do is treat her like every other Alpha she’s met by throwing out demands and dismissing her desires and agency because she’s an Omega.
But now… things have escalated. And it’s my job to protect my Mate above all else, no matter what.
And yet… taking her from Caelan could be just as detrimental as staying here. I have no idea how strong their Bond is. No idea if ripping her away from him could have emotional or physical repercussions for either of them.
I sigh, knowing what I have to do—protecting her means protecting her physically, emotionally, and mentally.
So if that means I act as a constant shield while we stay here, then so be it. If she is determined to wait for Caelan to wake up, then she’ll do it by my side. Not in separate cells. Not in the same room. Right fucking here.
