Page 97 of Those That Defy the Realm

Henry tenses around me and shoots me a look to say that I don’t have to answer her.

“I don’t know,” I answer. It’s mostly the truth. I have no idea if what they did to me is how vampires are turned. A feeling deep in my gut is telling me it was, but until I grow fangs I don’t want to face it.

And I don’t think Henry does either.

No, we need to focus on staying alive. Then, once we’re back in Froan, we can unpack the rest.

The scent of the cold night air hits my lungs, and I feel almost overwhelmed as it makes contact with my skin. After spending however many hours down in that room, where I thought I’d never be escaping, the sounds and lights of the city are so incredible, tears well in my eyes.

“Do you think we can hide out in your apartment for a day?” Ty asks as we emerge from a side alley door.

“I’d rather get straight out of here, but what’s your plan?” Henry replies.

“Rory says the boat to collect us is on the way, but they won’t reach us until at least the afternoon, and after dark will be safer.”

“Do they plan on docking it here?” Antares asks, sounding extremely intrigued.

Honestly, I don’t care as long as we’re safe.

“Yes, near enough. We might have to travel a little ways out the city but until they’re closer, they can’t confirm.” Ty goes quiet for a beat, probably exchanging more words with his mate through their bond. “And Bree, you’re probably safer with us for now.”

“Like I’m leaving Claire’s side until I know she’s okay,” My best friend retorts.

I’m sure she’ll be in trouble with her dance company but I love Bree in this moment. She ditched everything to help Rory last year, and now here she is doing the same for me.

“Fine, let’s just get off the street,” Henry says.

Antares begins leading us away from the casino building and I’m just about to settle into Henry’s arms for the journey, thinking about how we need to call Ash as soon as we get to Henry’s place, for he must be going insane with worry, when there’s a shout from behind us.

“Freeze!”

More bodies step into our path from across the street, firearms pointed straight at us. Halting our exit.

We’re very quickly surrounded by an entire team of fae dressed in dark navy combat gear, and West Scotian Authorities embroidered onto their chests.

CHAPTER 33

ASH

Sailing alone is really gods damned hard.

Against the winds, and rather turbulent ocean, I have been fighting the currents trying to pull me off course.

But I have to get to my mates.

The boat my mother told me about was exactly as she said, stocked and ready to sail. I’d snuck off as soon as I’d packed a few of my own personal things.

It’s been hours and my progress slow but I’d made it to the southernmost islands of the archipelago that made up the Northern Isles and was now in open water. And that is where the real trouble started.

The waves were getting bigger the further out I got, with no rocky lands to break their force. I can see now why the ferries refuse to sail some of the routes in winter.

This is brutal and I’m barely managing to hold the boat heading in the right direction.

The pain I’d felt from Claire had lasted hours, and I didn’t know whether the fact it had now subsided was a good or a bad thing.

Was she succumbing to whatever injuries she had been inflicted with?

Had Henry found her?