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“My chambers aren’t too far,” Ezra explained. “And the king’s are just down the hall.”

I remained silent, trying to memorize the way. I still wasn’t going to be allowed to wander around by myself, but who knew when an opportunity would come up? “So, what exactly happens now? Do you know how much longer until Alaroth forces me down the aisle?”

“Honestly, I don’t know what the king has planned for you.”

“Terrific,” I muttered under my breath. “As ‘Commander,’ do you at least know when he plans to start his war?”

Ezra didn’t reply, our footsteps echoing in the cavernous hallway.

“You really mean to go through with this, then? To lead an army of magical warriors to Earth and kill a bunch of people just because Alaroth thinks it’s a fun idea?”

He sighed deeply, fishing a ring of keys out of his pocket as we reached a set of doors. “If the humans surrender, there won’t be many casualties.”

Ezra opened the door, but I reached for the knob and shut it before we could enter. “Guns. Drones. Bombs. Missiles.Nukes,” I said, listing them off on my fingers. “Do you really think magic can stop all those? And if they can’t, how much of the planet is going to be left for Alaroth to rule once it’s all over?”

“Then it’ll be their own damn fault,” he growled. He turned to face me directly, anger simmering in his eyes. “We were born to do this, Marlowe. Why do you keep resisting?”

“Warorpeace,” I said. “The prophecy said we cause an eternity of either one. What makes you so certain Alaroth can achieve the latter?”

“Because!” he yelled, his face turning red. “I will ensure it!Iam the sword that protects all, and that includes you! Just… just fucking believe in me for once!”

I swallowed, catching the way his hands balled into fists at his sides. He clocked his reaction and closed his eyes, taking a deep breath and opening the door. “Go to bed, I’ll talk to you later.”

Then he pushed me in and locked it behind me.

The dark, hardwood floor was polished to a high gleam and covered in thick, muted rugs. A fireplace on one end roared to life in front of me, illuminating the large poster bed on the opposite side.

I kicked off my shoes and headed towards the dresser, looking for something comfortable to wear but finding only sexy little nightgowns.

Figured.

The attached marble bathroom had a giant clawfoot tub in the middle of the floor, the water already full and heated to the perfect temperature.

Aside from that lovely little stay in the dungeon, I hadn’t really been alone in… damn how long? Maybe that afternoon in the hotel before I went into heat?

Since then I’d almost always been with someone—my pack, the alpha females, the omegas…

Being alone made it harder to distract myself from everything that had happened, as all I had to keep me company were my thoughts.

I tried to reach through the bonds to my pack again, but it was useless. Even if they were getting anything, I certainly wasn’t.

Steam rose from the water, and I brought my knees up to my chest as I soaked, missing the feeling of being surrounded by my pack’s love and strength. What I wouldn’t give to be sitting around the kitchen island with them all. Cam would pull me on his lap while Archer made some announcement, Elias would challenge him, Julian would just observe quietly, and Nolan would interrupt to make some pedantic comment. Then, Cam would wait until the end to make some harebrained comment that was actually really insightful.

I held back my tears, because what good would it do to cry right now? I needed to make a plan—figure out how the fae had created more portals, how many were in operation, how we could close them after I got back to Earth, and how we could defeat Alaroth for good.

And finally, how could I deprogram my brother and help him realize the king was a sadistic fascist who didn’t deserve an ounce of his loyalty? Because I didn’t think I could leave here without him.

I finished washing up and slipped on one of the nightgowns, heading back into my bedroom.

“Is everything to your liking?”

“Christ on a cracker!” I screamed. I clutched my chest and grit my teeth at Alaroth, who was lounging way too comfortably on my bed. “Stop doing that!”

He patted the space next to him and smiled. “Hm, perhaps not. I find your reaction far too amusing.”

I stayed in place, my eyes glued to the spot where we wanted me to lay. “This deal—it’s only for tonight, right?”

“Oh, Marlowe,” he replied. “Perhaps tonight you can see this as a transactional exchange, but I hope with time you will shed someof this animosity towards me and, dare I hope, come to enjoy my company?”