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“Knox, what the fuck is going on?” Rafe growled.

Their brother prowled forward, his steps calculated, his eyes cold. Theo couldn’t help the shiver that ran through him. Knox’s gaze roamed from Rafe to Theo. A smirk crossed his face.

“Look at us. The whole gang back together.”

“I swear to God…” Rafe snarled, but Knox just smiled.

“The seer is perfectly fine, Rafe.” He gestured to Lena, and Theo had to admit, she looked … good. Better than he’d last seen her. She wasn’t the same gaunt, pale woman he’d met before. Her face had filled out like she’d been eating better, like someone had been feeding her. Taking care of her.

Theo’s gaze flicked back to Knox. What the fuck was this bastard up to?

“Since when do you kidnap humans?” Rafe asked.

“I didn’t kidnap her.”

Even Lena scoffed at that.

Knox rolled his eyes. “Fine. I did. But as you can see, I didn’t harm her.”

“But why? Why did you take her?” Ruby was still looking wildly between Knox and her sister. If you asked Theo, which of course no one did, the woman was owed some answers.

“I needed some time with her … to convince her. I thought we could have a mutually beneficial relationship.”

“You could have fucking told us about it.” Rafe was still seething, barely containing his rage at the harm Knox had caused Ruby.

“I really don’t think I could. Look at you,” Knox snarled in disgust. “You’re a fucking animal, Rafe. I needed some time to explain things to Lena.” His silver gaze shifted back to Theo and Fee. “So, I had some nymph friends help me hide out for a while. Thanks for the distraction, Phoebe,” Knox said with a nod to Fee. The Alpha winked at her, and Theo saw red.

“The distraction?”

“Theo, let me explain.” Fee tugged on his arm, but he couldn’t tear his gaze from his brother.

“What the fuck to do you mean, distraction?”

Knox shrugged. “I knew Rafe would be up my ass, but I didn’t expect him to send you after me. And then you brought your little … friend. Nymphs know too damn much. So, I needed Phoebe to keep you busy for a while.”

He smiled then, cold and calculating like a fucking snake.

“And it worked perfectly.”

“You knew?” Theo turned to Fee, anger and embarrassment surging hot and fast through his veins. “You knew he had her the whole time?”

“Gert said⁠—”

“Gert! Jesus Christ, Fee. You knew before we even left town!”

“I’m sorry. If you just let me explain. Knox’s plan⁠—”

“Fuck Knox’s plan.” He couldn’t listen to anymore. He couldn’t stand here with his brother looking at him like that, like he always had. Like Theo was an insignificant fuck-up. The useless runt. He couldn’t stand here and listen to Fee’s lies.

He stormed off into the trees, leaving Ruby and Lena hugging on the porch and Rafe and Knox arguing about his brilliant plan. He didn’t give a shit about any of that.

He heard Phoebe’s footsteps behind him, but he didn’t turn, just strode further into the underbrush, snow and ice crunching beneath his feet.

Of course, Fee had no trouble keeping up.

“Theo, wait. Please, come on, just listen.”

“Listen to what?” he asked, spinning to face her. Her cheeks were red with exertion, her eyes wide. She looked so sweet, so fucking innocent. But now he knew the truth. There was nothing innocent about his best friend, nothing sweet.