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“We should go now.”
I nod and clasp Kyros’ hand. Pulling my powers around me, I let the energy sweep my body on a silent wind, but just as my body is about to break apart, a hand desperately grabs for my forearm, a pair of brown eyes the last thing I see as darkness swallows me whole.
Chapter Twenty-Four
Olivia
“Whatthehelldoyou think you’re doing, Nelle?” I scream as my body reforms, immediately dropping Kyros’ hand and clasping her by the shoulders. I jerk her in my grip, needing her to get it through her head just how dangerous this is.
“Stop that,” she grunts, rolling her eyes as she pushes out of my grip.
“Do you not understand that the last time you put yourself at risk, you died?” I ask her incredulously, waving my finger at her. My blood turns to ice as fear grips me, and I scan the cave, needing to make sure the coast is clear.
“I’ll do a sweep, sweetheart,” Kyros murmurs, backing away slowly to check the rest of the cave. Of course we’ve been here throughout the day and night, but we have to be sure, especially with Nelle with us now.
“I didn’t die though,” Nelle says, waving her hands as though I can’t see her fully healed and very alive body standing right in front of me.
“Because I saved you.” I start in on her, wishing I could take her back with me but there isn’t enough time. “I don’t even know if there’s any coming back after you’re already a guardian.”
“There isn’t,” Titus interjects, and grinds his teeth. He fixes an unimpressed look on Nelle and crosses his arms over his chest.
“Is everything okay?”Mateo projects, panic clear in the urgency of his tone.
“It was just Nelle,”I project back to him and Adrian. “She’s fine, and everything is clear here. We can still go on with the plan.”
“Okay, little mate. I’ll let your parents know.”
“What made you think this was a good idea?” I sigh and scrub a hand over my face, narrowing my eyes on my reckless best friend.
I’m really regretting not locking her in her room at this point.
“I told you that I was coming with you,” Nelle announces, crossing her arms over her chest. “I don’t trust him.”
Nelle nods towards Titus and pins him with a scathing glare.
“What is going on?” Maximus grumbles. He pushes himself up from where he’s been lying on the cave floor. He tries to get to his feet, but his arm gives out beneath him and he lands back on the ground with an “oof.”
“Max!” I rush over to him, putting my disagreement with Nelle on the back burner as I scan my mate. Sweat beads on his brow and he inhales a shaky breath.
“I’m fine,” he grunts as he tries to climb to his feet again but this time he can barely get his feet under him before he’s panting desperately for air.
“What’s wrong with him?” I place my hand against the barrier, wishing I could rip him from this prison with only a thought.
“It’s the effects of the trapping spell.” Titus grimaces as he strides over to me. “They’ll subside as soon as we get him out of here.”
“We’ll get you out of here soon.” I kneel down, capturing his emerald gaze. His eyes usually resemble the hardness of stone, but now they seem like they’ve been drained of their usual brightness, leaving only a shroud of their former radiance. “Just stay still, don’t use any more of your energy.”
Max’s jaw tightens and he looks like he’s about to argue, but he glances around himself for a moment and nods, clearly piecing together that it’s his best chance of getting out of here with enough energy to repay Romulus.
“I’m sorry,” Nelle breathes. “I didn’t know he was this bad, I just wanted to—”
“It’s fine,” I say, cutting her off. I pull myself to my feet and suppress the anguish bubbling up inside me at the sight of my mate so broken. “Just please stay safe, Nelle. I can’t risk you getting hurt too.”
“I will. I swear you won’t even know I’m here,” Nelle promises, pleading with her hands in front of her like I have any choice now than to let her stay.
“I’ll watch after her,” Kyros says as he walks back from the mouth of the cave. I give him a grateful smile, some of the tension easing from my chest at the assurance.
“Have they given the signal yet?” Titus asks, rolling up the sleeves of his shirt.
