~ NYSSA

My skin prickled and my stomach twisted with unease as the vampires disappeared, leaving us in the clearing alone.

Within seconds, it was as if they were never here, and only the lingering threat remained in the air.

Rowan stood still, his hands fisted by his sides as the guards waited with bated breath for him to say something. Rowan didn’t speak, he just turned slowly, his eyes locking with mine.

Jeremiah shifted next to me, as if trying to protect me from Rowan’s piercing gaze but his presence didn’t help. I felt the weight of my mate’s stare all the way to my toes.

To my surprise, he didn’t speak. He just pursed his lips tightly and walked away, brushing past everyone like nothing had happened.

"Return to your posts!" Jeremiah yelled out, his voice thick with authority.

The guards moved instantly, doing as the sentinel had asked, but I didn’t miss the confused and curious glances they sent my way.

"Come," Jeremiah said, tugging my arm. "We need to get you back to the car."

"What about Rowan?"

He pursed his lips. "He’s already there. He’s pissed."

I exhaled deeply. "I know, I just—"

"Why did you come here? You were perfectly fine at home and you were safe. How the hell did you even get past the guards that were outside the house? How the hell did Eric let you out of his sight?"

I opened my mouth to speak but promptly slammed it. I’d asked Aria to leave after dropping me off to avoid getting her into trouble. It was only a matter of time before Eric woke and told them everything, but for now, I’d protect her as best as I could.

"You’re really not going to say anything?" he asked and I shrugged. "I suppose I’m not the one you owe answers to."

Just like he said, Rowan was already waiting in the car. His fists tightened around the steering wheel so much that his knuckles turned white. He didn’t glance my way as I opened the car door, and he paid no heed to me as I slipped in next to him.

Once the door shut behind me, he floored it, speeding through trees until he burst out onto a quiet road. The air between us was thick with unbridled emotion and tension, but I said nothing, keeping my eyes fixed on the road in front of me.

"Give me one good reason," he began slowly. "Why I shouldn’t be fucking pissed right now."

I opened my mouth to speak but no answers would come.

"You had one direct instruction. You were to stay put."

"I’d hoped my presence would help—"

"Did it?" he asked, head cocked to the side.

There was an edge to his voice but even I could tell that he wasn’t trying to be malicious, he just wanted me to see reason.

"We know more," I offered. "We now know why he wants me."

"That doesn’t help us..." he trailed off, exhaling deeply. "Never mind." 𝐟𝗿𝐞𝚎𝚠𝐞𝚋𝕟𝐨𝚟𝐞𝕝.𝕔𝕠𝚖

"Really?" I asked, turning to him. "That’s it?"

He did not speak after that. He just continued to drive quietly and that unnerved me. I could feel his anger through the mate bond despite the fact that his wall was firmly placed between us, and every few seconds, his jaw clenched, his eyes flashing with heat.

I knew enough to know that anger would come out whether he liked it or not, and if he wouldn’t yell at me, then someone else would bear the brunt of it.

"Rowan—" I began but he held up a hand to stop me. "What exactly are you planning?"

Silence.

"If you’re mad at me then yell at me. There’s no need to give me the silent treatment," I continued. "I know you’re pissed and I should never have gone behind your back but this concerns me as it does you and I deserved to be there."

He pulled into our driveway and unlocked the door. "You should go. Guards are waiting for you inside."

"Guards?" I asked. "But Eric—"

"Eric needs to get checked for a fucking concussion after whatever Aria used to hit him."

My stomach dropped.

He knew.

There was no doubt in my mind as to where he was going from here. "It’s not her fault, if you want to take it out on anyone, take it out on me. I’m right here, I’m waiting, I—"

"I think you should worry more about yourself than others." He said coldly. "You should leave, now."

I opened my mouth to speak but he turned away, letting me know that he was done with the conversation. With a sigh, I opened the door, slowly getting out of the car.

I’d shut the door behind me when he spoke again. This time, his voice was low, barely over a whisper. Had the window not been rolled down entirely, I would not have heard him.

"I can’t do this with someone I don’t trust, Nyssa."

I didn’t get to respond because the next minute, he’d pulled out of the driveway and sped down the street leaving me standing in the dust with my insides twisting as guilt threatened to eat me up from the inside out.

When I was leaving, I was convinced I was making the right choice. I told myself that going with Aria was the best thing to do, and that Rowan would come to appreciate it. I’d never felt more wrong.

"Your majesty," a soft voice cut through my thoughts. "I am to escort you inside."

I didn’t recognize the guard, but I followed nonetheless.

Two of them stood outside the door, bowing low when I approached. I forced a small smile on my face in response but it felt more like a grimace.

I locked myself in the solace of our bedroom, unable to do much except wait for Rowan to appear again. Hours passed, and each minute felt like an eternity, but I sat there, completely unmoving until the sun had gone down, and the night sky was filled with chirping.

Only then did the door creak open and Rowan walked into the house, hair disheveled and lips pressed into a thin line.

"We need to talk," I said.