Page 106 of Those That Defy the Realm

The door to the block opens that second and Ty and Antares stride in, Ty looking a bit worse for wear with his shirt soaked in blood across the top of his left shoulder.

“So much for sticking together,” Antares throws at my boyfriend.

“Sorry, I scented Claire as soon as we walked out of the cells and had to get to her. Good thing I moved fast too, this fucker had her pinned by her throat.” He tucks me into his chest again as if he needs to feel my warm body for reassurance. To be honest, I feel the relief just as much as I lay my palm over his strongly beating heart.

“A de-spine-ing. Henry, I didn’t know you had it in you,” Antares comes closer to inspect the body.

“I fought in the war, you know. I’ve killed plenty before.” Henry sounds offended.

“Yeah, but on the battlefield you can get away with so much. Guns and stuff make it a lot easier to take a life. This is the real deal.”

Henry just shakes his head in incredulity.

“How’s about we get out of here?” Bree cuts over the ridiculous turn in the conversation.

“Agreed,” Ty says. “Rory is losing her shit, and so is Ash from what she’s telling me, so let's get going.”

Both Henry and I tense, shooting a look at one another before we both face Ty. “Ash?” we ask in unison.

“Yeah, it seems your other mate may have broken the treaty to come rescue you. He’s on the boat with Red and barely managing to stay in his human form.”

“Shit, he told me he’d stay in the Northern Isles.” Henry’s concern bleeds into my own. If Ash is found, not only is he going to die, but so is his entire pack.

“He can’t come here,” I add.

“Well then, let's go. They’re approaching the coast now slightly west of here. If we can get out, I think I can persuade Red to stay put and keep Ash there too.”

“Before we go, you should know Claire has her fangs now.” Henry says as we all turn for the exit. I feel my cheeks pinken as all eyes come to me.

“Welcome to the crew,” Ty says. “It’s not that bad, I promise. And I think Red will be thrilled. I’ll leave it to you to tell her though, once we’re out of here.”

I give him a small smile. “Thanks, I think she’ll be happy too. She was trying to stay neutral when she told me but I could tell she wanted me to turn.”

We move to the door, checking the corridor beyond quickly before leaving the cell block. It’s only as Henry holds the door for me and follows at the tail end of our group that we realise Antares isn’t with us. The door opens a second later and he appears, wiping his lips with the back of his arm. “Sorry, I just needed a quick drink. I thought some more power might come in handy and I was running low.”

My grin widens as I think of how much Declan would hate knowing his body was used in this way, as a source of strength for creatures he apparently hated. We’d never really discussed the vampires when we were together but for him to join the authorities, and take a job in this particular unit, he must’ve believed all the hatred that was spread about them—us.

It kind of fits his personality as I really think about it. He jumped at the chance to put others down if it made him look superior. I can’t believe I ever fell for him or considered giving up my life to travel with him. It would’ve been the worst mistake of my life.

Especially as I look up at Henry as he guides me through the maze of this facility, his large hand keeping a tight grip on mine and keeping me pulled close to him. Why I’d hesitated in wanting to turn so I could have forever with him, and Ash as well, is another mistake I will regret for a long time. And one I won’t be making twice. Maybe it's the surge of my new instincts, but I will be making both of them my mates as soon as we’re alone together.

Henry keeps me even closer as Ty and Antares end up taking out a few more agents. The unit here isn’t large but we don’t want to leave any witnesses. I’m grateful for Henry remaining with me and Bree, and hiding the violence from my view. I’ve had about as much as I can take and can tell my nerves are fraying a little with the sheer amount I’ve been subjected to in the last few days. Now I’m safe in my vampire male’s arms once more, everything is starting to hit me and I’m not sure I can take much more.

After a few false starts we make it outside. Leaving the compound, we take cover in the surrounding bush. Trees are sparse but the shrubland around the facility is surprisingly tall.

The walk to the coast is a few miles but we push on, the thought of freedom spurring us into not stopping. The first view of the ocean is very welcome and it's a blur as we descend a rocky cliffside to the small, secluded beach below. Through miraculous timing, or Ty’s coordination with Rory, a smaller boat approaches the shore as we make it to the sand. Rory and Atlas meet us as we wade out to meet it, the ocean too shallow for it to come any closer.

Before I know it, we’re aboard a much larger vessel, one that looks like a rich person’s personal yacht, except for the clear indications that it’s actually an authorities owned boat. The weapons, the lack of soft furnishing, and most of all the fact all the crew are wearing the authorities combat gear. Henry introduces some of the fae, and another vampire, to me as those of Morris’s team as we get on board and are handed towels and sets of dry clothes. The hoodies and joggers are a very welcome sight considering I’m still wearing the medical gown.

There’s one thing missing, however, and it’s more of a person than a thing. Ash. Henry seems to notice as well as we both start glancing around expectantly after Ty told us he was with Rory.

Searching for Rory to ask her, I find her and Ty locked together, their embrace looking far too intimate for being surrounded by the crew of this boat.

“He’s down in the lower deck,” the vampire called Mitch tells us. “We were very firm with him about not being seen whilst we’re in the continent’s line of sight. We’ll be in enough trouble as it is if they spot us, we don’t need them knowing we’ve got a wolf-shifter amongst us.”

Henry and I waste no time, heading for the stairwell in the centre of the yacht as soon as Mitch points it out. Henry allows me to go first but is only a step behind me.

“He’s straight ahead, through that door,” Henry says, although I don’t need the instruction. I can hear Ash’s heartbeat now I’m away from the others. Locking onto it, I race with Henry at my heels to our wolf.