Page 71 of What Lies Beyond the Realms

I feel my cheeks flush, embarrassed by my own words. “I didn't know what to say. Rhett caught me off guard.”

“And you like him? Is he the boy you slept with?” Nyx asks, his voice betraying a hint of jealousy.

“Oh gods, no. Yes, I like him as a friend, but nothing more. Nothing sexual has ever happened between us.”

“I just watched him hold you while he was nude,” Nyx says, his voice tense.

“I think nudity is just normal for the Lycans. Honestly, there’s nothing between us other than friendship. I haven’t even known him for very long.” I adjust my grip around Nyx's neck as we continue walking.

“It’s not like you ever asked me to be something more than a friend. I didn’t want to assume anything just because we slept together. I’m sure you’ve slept with many girls before me without it meaning anything,” I say, trying to hide the vulnerability in my voice.

Nyx sighs, and I brace myself for his response, feeling exposed and raw on his back.

“Throughout my life, I’ve been with many women, Lyra. But none of them can compare to how I feel about you. I don't just want a friendship with you. I want to be yours in every way – body, mind, and soul. I have no desire to possess you like others might. My only goal is to cherish and adore you, give you everything you could ever want and more. I just want you, Lyra, in every sense of the word.”

My heart pounds in my chest at his words, and I feel tears prick at the corners of my eyes. “I want to be yours, Nyx,” I whisper, my voice filled with emotion.

He grips my thighs and twists me around, holding me in front of him, and kisses me deeply. I open for him immediately, wanting his tongue in my mouth, wanting anything to feel closer to him.

“Good. Because I wanted to kill Rhett when he kept hugging you,” he says, and I know by the hardened look in his eyes he’s not joking.

“Well, I’m glad you practiced good restraint,” I tell him, pulling him in for another kiss.

“Goddamn snow, you have way too many clothes on,” he mutters, trying to rustle under my layers of sweaters to touch my skin. His hands finally slip under my shirt, stroking the skin on my back. I moan into his mouth.

“I can’t wait to be alone with you in bed again,” I whisper between kisses.

“Soon, my love,” he says, placing a kiss on my nose then continuing to walk toward Aidan’s village. The rest of the walk, all I can think about are Nyx’s hands on my body. I should be thinking about how I’m going to face Aidan and what I’m going to say to him, but my mind keeps betraying me, replaying the hours I spend with Nyx inside of me.

“When was the last time you saw Aidan?” I ask, breaking the silence.

“At your parents’ funeral.”

“How do the two of you know each other? Are you friendly with one another?”

“He knows me because I am the king of Nighthold, and I know him because he’s the leader of the Lycan Realm. Neither of us has ever considered the other a friend. An acquaintance would be a better word for it. We’ve had our fair share of run-ins over the years, but Aidan’s always been a bit of a prick. I've never liked how he treats women or how he treats his packs. Why do you ask?”

“Just curious.”

We finally make it to the village, and the sky is a light-blue hue, like the sun is only a couple hours from rising. The village is eerily quiet. Everyone must still be asleep, or it’s mostly deserted. All the packs must be patrolling their territories. I don’t know what’s normal for this village since I was only here at its busiest time of year for the ceremony, but it feels as though it’s devoid of life. The only sound that breaks the eerie silence is the crunching of gravel and snow under Nyx’s feet.

When we reach the start of Aidan’s driveway, I point to it with a trembling hand, and Nyx starts walking down it. With every step, my anxiety grows. Memories of my last visit to this place flood my mind, and I can’t help but feel sick to my stomach. I know I have to face Aidan, but the thought of being back in that house, where he abused and hurt me, is almost unbearable.

As we approach the barn, memories of Luke bubble up, and I can feel a lump forming in my throat. The thought of him coming out to greet us with his floppy hair and innocent smile brings both happiness and sadness.

The cabin comes into view, and I can barely recognize it. What used to be a rustic, cozy log cabin is now a foreboding fortress of black stone and iron. It's as if someone had taken a snapshot of my nightmares and brought them to life. The black stone walls loom over us, adorned with fierce wolf carvings that look almost alive in the dim light of the dawn. I shudder as we approach the tall iron fence at the front, and Nyx pulls the gate open.

As we walk toward the main house, my heart is racing, and my palms are slick with sweat. The once-humble cabin has been transformed into a grand palace made of gleaming, petrified wood and is now two stories high. The wooden door that used to welcome guests is now an enormous set of unbreakable obsidian doors that match the surrounding walls.

“Are you alright?” Nyx asks, and I know he must be picking up on the strong wave of emotions rolling through my body.

“Yes, but this is different. The wall and the cabin, it was basic farmland last time I was here and now…” I whisper, trying to collect myself. Calm. Just keep calm.

We reach the top of the steps, and my breath catches in my throat as Nyx knocks on the door. The sound reverberates through the eerie silence of the village, and I can't help but feel like we're disturbing the peace. The anticipation is making my head spin, and my heart feels like it's about to burst out of my chest. I grab Chepi and wrap my arms tightly around him, drawing comfort from his warm, furry body. The unease that has become a permanent fixture in my chest rears its ugly head, causing my palms to sweat and my stomach to knot. Chepi comforts me with a lick on my cheek and a snuggle into my neck, slowly easing the anxiety in my chest. I take a deep breath and let it out slowly. Calm.

No one answers, and after another minute Nyx knocks even harder, kicking the door a bit.

“This better be fucking good.” Aidan pulls the door open.