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I stare at him, my chest aching and my heart begging for something. Anything. “Are you insane?”
Nikolai rolls a shoulder. “Probably.”
I puff out a long sigh. “I’ll release you and leave the back door open, and you’ll have to find your own way out.”
“No.”
The new voice makes me freeze and I start panicking. How long has he been there?
I straighten and slowly turn around. “Creigh.”
Shit.
This whole thing is happening because of his revenge. I need to get Nikolai out of here. Now.
I have a terrible feeling about this.
Still turned sideways, I cut on Nikolai’s ropes, trying to keep my movements as minimal as possible.
Creigh, however, notices and barks, “Step back.”
“This isn’t right and you know it—”
“Step the fuck back, Bran. I won’t repeat myself another time.”
I do, letting my hand with the knife fall to my side as I face my cousin.
“Get out,” he orders.
This isn’t like him. He’s blinded by revenge and isn’t even seeing me. I’m the only person he actually seeks for company, because we’re both comfortable with silence and don’t feel the need to fill it.
He’s easygoing and prefers sleep over anything else, but he also fights and takes after the King genes more than I do.
This is the first time I’ve seen Creigh so unhinged and out of control. I’m worried Nikolai will be caught up in the madness he’s planning with Eli and Lan.
And that sparks a loathsome feeling inside me.
Fear.
The need to protect him beats under my skin like an urge.
“Listen…” I take a step toward Creigh. “I know you feel the need for revenge, but this whole thing is wrong.”
“No one asked for your opinion. Stay out of this.”
“I won’t allow you to throw your life away for parents you’ve never known and a past you’re better off without, Creighton.” I speak in a firm tone. “I’m letting Nikolai go and then we’ll talk about this.Rationally.”
I turn toward Nikolai and I feel like I’m melting when I find him looking at me with those hooded eyes.
I’m sorry, I say with mine.For everything.
I grab the ropes, but a blow lands at the back of my head, and the world is pulled from beneath my feet.
The last thing I see is Nikolai’s wide eyes as I fall on top of him. But I manage to slip the knife between his thighs so he can save himself.
Or at least, I think I do.
My last thought is just how much I’ve missed his smell. Maybe losing consciousness isn’t so bad after all if I get to hug him.
