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Chapter Twenty-Six

Why did you call Quinn to you?

Jade startled awake from dead sleep at the frigid telepathic voice. There was a hiss behind her prime’s words that was entirely atypical, a tone she only heard him take when he was angry. Blearily, she answered, Prime, forgive me. I was asleep.

Why did you call Quinn, Jade?

Her mind raced, desperate to keep both Quinn and Niko out of the line of fire. An incident at work. One of our elderly employees had a heart attack and I was in need of his services. No human discovered his ability, I can assure you.

A tense silence followed, but Julian’s presence didn’t recede from her mind. With every second, her anxiety grew, and when she could no longer take the tension, she asked, Julian, is something wrong?

A report of a startling nature has reached me, and I had concerns for your safety. You are unharmed? His displeased tone chilled her again, undercutting the words.

I am unharmed.

Good. But still, Julian didn’t bid her goodnight. If I’ve discovered you’re duplicitous, Jade, things will not end well for you.

On that ominous note, Jade was alone once more in her head.

The shiver that skated over her skin had nothing to do with the temperature in her bedroom.

Fully awake, she glanced around the room almost expecting to see shadows haunting her.

Nothing stared back at her from the darkness, but she couldn’t shake off the feeling.

She threw back the silk sheets that still smelled of Niko and grabbed a robe before sliding open the glass doors of the balcony and stepping into the night.

Even at this hour, Chicago was alive. Distantly, car horns sounded, and street noise filtered into her sensitive hearing: the symphony of the city was a delicate lullaby.

The knowledge she’d be leaving it soon to return to her legion’s capital inspired both happiness and great sorrow.

Jade’s psychic senses crept again to where Niko lingered alongside her in the labyrinth. Almost obsessively, she’d checked on his wellbeing throughout the night, only stopping when she’d finally fallen asleep.

At least this time, Niko was no longer in pain. His hurt had lessened as the night drew on, and she was pleased that Roman had kept his promise.

Restless, Jade waited on the balcony until sunrise before she sent him a telepathic hail. The way Niko’s peace shifted to dismay signaled he’d received it.

Ten minutes later, he finally contacted her telepathically. What is it, Jade?

Are you okay? Can I see you?

He hesitated. I’m doing better. My prime won’t permit you to enter legion territory.

Heart dropping, Jade crossed her arms, attempting to suppress the sorrow caused by his comment. Though she desperately wanted to ask him to come to her—and for them to live in a world where their every interaction wasn’t outlawed—she held herself back. In the end, she settled for his word.

Okay. Please take care of yourself?

For a long moment, he allowed the silence to stretch between them before saying, I can come to you.

And then he was there.

Real and whole, Niko solidified next to her in the next breath. His comforting mint scent enveloped her nearly as quickly as she did him. He was surprised by her possessive action, stiffening as her arms closed around him, gentle but possessive. He responded nearly as quickly.

Holding Niko close soothed her soul. His brush with death brought up so many things that remained unsaid between them, but now wasn’t the time to address them.

“I’m sorry,” she apologized. “I just needed to see you. To make sure you were okay.”

Niko’s hand came up to gently cup the back of her head, gently sifting through the blonde locks that’d been left down for once.

“I’m okay, dove. I’ll be fine.”

Gently, her fingers reached up to brush against his chest. She lightly splayed them, contenting herself with the drumming sound of his heart and closing her eyes.

“Roman took care of you?”

Niko chuckled. “He had Amadeo, our legion mender, heal me. It’s a good thing, too; Roman can’t be trusted to play medic. He’d probably just make it worse.”

But Jade didn’t find humor in it. “Are you in pain?”

“Not really,” came his sobering response. “Only a twinge here and there.”

Below her skin, her snow leopard yowled fiercely, demanding she see his skin for herself to ensure he was unharmed. Jade felt herself blush.

Niko’s voice held a teasing note. “Why do I feel embarrassment from you in the labyrinth, Jade?”

“My leopard,” Jade’s face reddened further, “she’s demanding I see your skin to make sure you’re healed.”

“Far be it from me to deny my favorite kitty cat,” he chuckled.

Jade didn’t need any more prompting. She tore at his shirt, swiping at the cotton tee, her fingers barely restraining from growing claws.

The single, round scar near his sternum was the only sign left of the ordeal.

A strangled sob caught in her throat. She reached out, the tips of her fingers resting gingerly right below the wound. Reverently, she got onto her tip toes to press her lips to it.

“I’m glad you’re healed, Niko.”

Burying her face in his chest, she gave in to the impulse and let her tears flow. Niko simply held her, letting her bare her soul in a way she’d never done before. And when no more tears would come, she tilted her head back to catch his beautiful golden eyes.

“The true color of your eyes is beautiful, Niko.”

Something changed behind his expression, and in that moment, it felt like they were alone in the world. Niko was the only thing she knew, the only one she saw. He was hers, and she was his, and nothing could break their connection.

As she fell into the abyss, he leapt in beside her.

He captured her lips with a possessiveness that claimed her very soul.

The events of the previous twenty-four hours had brought them together more fundamentally than they could admit.

They kissed like they were thirsty for each other, but Jade knew their passion wouldn’t bridge all that was broken between them.

Niko was here, in her arms, and she wouldn’t think about what came next.

The burning need to mark him as her mate was almost painful, blinding her to their situation. When Niko lifted her into his arms, she went willingly, wrapping her legs around his waist while continuing her worship of his lips.

Jade nearly lost her control on the leopard as it prowled closer to the front of her consciousness. Its instincts became her own as they merged closer together than they ever had, the barrier between them shattering. An inborn wildness overtook her, desperate for her mate and hungry for connection.

As soon as she let go of her inhibitions, she retreated from Niko’s mouth and lowered herself to nip lightly at his neck. His low, masculine moan of response inspired her to brazen levels. Despite everything, she was ready to latch onto his neck with the mating claim that would solidify their bond.

When Niko sensed her intent, he stilled.

“Jade.”

The low warning held as much need as it did caution. Though the intent was to bring her back to herself, she couldn’t seem to shake off the urge to mark him as hers.

“Jade,” another warning, hoarse this time, “it’s the mating instinct. You have to stop.”

Seeing that she couldn’t withdraw on her own, Niko reluctantly disengaged instead. A child-like whine left her lips, but it served to bring her back to herself. She’d nearly marked him when she knew he had no intention of returning the favor.

Ashamed, she whispered, “I’m so sorry, Niko—I don’t know what came over me.”

“We can’t do this, dove.” As much an apology as hers had been, his palm came up to cup her cheek. “Neither of us want this.”

Jade wasn’t so sure.

Righting herself, she stepped away from him, needing the distance to clear her head. “Niko, did you mean it when you said that you wanted us to reject the bond?”

His eyes dropped from hers.

For several long moments, he remained silent.

She didn’t want to interrupt what appeared to be his own internal fight with the decision that would shape their future.

She retreated to the kitchen where she grabbed two cups and put hot water in the kettle.

Flipping on the glass top stove, she opened a cabinet to retrieve mini-marshmallows and her gourmet hot chocolate.

Niko shadowed her into the kitchen just as the kettle sang.

Jade motioned to the stool across the island, pouring the boiling water into the waiting mugs. Niko made a show of looking around, pausing briefly on the double oven and then staring at the collection of sculptures above her glass-fronted cabinets.

“Those didn’t make the cut for your office?”

Jade shook her head as she put exactly six marshmallows into their steaming mugs. “No. The patterns, the colors, the style: none of them fit.”

She gingerly slid one cocoa-filled mug filled across the countertop toward, carefully avoiding any spillage. When it slid it into his open hand, she made sure to refrain from brushing her fingers against his, and then she retreated across the island to blow on hers and avoid speaking once more.

The sweet beverage was an easy distraction.

“Why buy them?” Niko tilted his head, studying them in earnest now. “The sculptures, I mean. If they didn’t fit, why waste the money?”

Jade stared at them now, too, explaining, “I didn’t buy them; they were gifted to me. Quinn enjoys buying me things. It’s his love language.”

Niko’s gaze was suddenly hot on hers, intense and unnerving. A faint narrowing of his eyes, a tightening around his lips, a tick in his jaw. Jade saw all of it, but he buried the reaction and swallowed in the next moment.

“I see.”

“Quinn gives from the heart, and I cherish everything he’s gifted me.

I’d never reject them or throw them away—but they’re here because none of them fit ,” she reiterated, with more emphasis .

“They were all mismatched somehow. The wrong shape, the wrong color, the wrong size. It made my brain itch when I put a few in my office.”

Niko remained silent, his gaze heavy, but Jade read the underlying question. It was written across his face even though he didn’t utter a word of it. What he wanted to know was if his sculpture had fit.

If he fit.

“I know I said it before, but I meant it: thank you for the cardinal, Niko. It is gorgeous.” And then, to put him out of his misery: “It fit perfectly with my office collection.”

Pure male satisfaction drove his smirk. “Glad to hear it.”

Taking a sip of the too-hot liquid, her nose scrunched as it burned the tip of her tongue but warmed her throat and belly. Niko hadn’t made a move to drink his, and though she wanted desperately to know him what he thought of it, she asked the question that was far more important.

“Have you thought on what I asked you? On whether or not you still want to reject the bond?”

“Jade, you yourself said this was a bad idea. That we can’t mate.”

“That was before everything happened, Niko.” Jade’s shoulders curled closer toward her cocoa, her attention fixating on the ivory marshmallow bobbing amidst the chocolate. “I was wrong.”

“You weren’t wrong.” A hint of anger touched his voice. “We’re from different legions, different lives, and your prime killed my parents. The same prime you continue to believe is incapable of any sin.”

Like a fire that wouldn’t be put out, her stubbornness reared its head. The overwhelming need to defend Julian swelled inside her, coming to a crescendo.

“Julian’s no saint, I’ll say as much, but Niko, you have to admit that you could be just as likely wrong about him.”

“I’m not wrong about him; I’d stake my life on it.”

Jade stared at him, then reached her hand across the island. “Then show me the memory, Niko. Show it to me, and I’ll draw my own conclusions.”

“That’s the only way I can convince you?” he hissed. “By reliving my worst memory for your proof?”

She hesitated.

Niko’s incredulity defined him. “That’s beside the point, Jade. When you tattled on me to your prime, I ended up getting shot. Coincidence? I think not.”

Her scoff echoed around the spotlessly clean kitchen. “You think my prime had something to do with your getting shot by hunters?”

“Stranger things have happened.”

“Are you truly so blinded by your hate that you believe my prime commands not only the Anchoria , the First Legion, and the Council, but has human hunters at his beck and call, too? And that he somehow put a hit out on you?” She let her question hang in the air before reciting, “You’re ridiculous.”

Niko stood, his stool groaning against the hardwood floor as it shoved out behind him. Pointing a finger at her in defiance, he argued, “You’re wrong, Jade—he’s not the angel he’s made himself out to be. You’re only fooling yourself.”

He phased from her apartment so quickly that magic shimmered in the air where he’d once been.

Completely alone, she braced herself against the cool marble of her island countertop, fixating on the cooling hot chocolate within her mug. Slowly, she dragged her gaze up to where the second mug remained on the other side of the island.

Niko hadn’t touched his.