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Chapter Thirty-Six

Plunging into the Second Legion’s labyrinth, Jade examined the neural network that was exactly what Niko had described: home.

Unlike the labyrinth Julian maintained, this one gave her strength instead of leeching away at it. Roman’s energy circulated through her, invigorating her, and letting her breathe deeply for the first time ever.

As she opened her psychic eye, she saw the brilliance of their connections, shimmering through the bonds that linked them together. Hundreds of minds that were interwoven not only through their prime, but with each other.

All except one.

As Jade re-emerged on the physical plane, she frowned over toward Roman. “Prime, you said I could ask if I had concerns. What is the darkness within our labyrinth?”

He gave her a sad smile. “What you see is my mother. Her light is blotted out by the restraints Julian has leveled on her mind. I fear what I will find if I ever manage to recover her.”

His potent regret carried a newfound weight within her. “Julian admitted to having her when I asked. He refused to tell me anything more, other than that he’d taken her and kept her prisoner.”

“Do you know where?”

“I don’t.” Jade exchanged a heavy look with Niko. “Julian has never disclosed where his jail is to me. Kinnick would know.”

“Kinnick,” Niko growled. “I’ll take so much pleasure seeing him cut down to size. I intend to have a giant pair of scissors made just for that purpose.”

“Oh, he’s already gotten a taste of that,” she chuckled. “The night he left, Azrael took one of his arms.”

Roman perked. “The Reaper?”

“Yes, Azrael the Reaper. He taught Lark and I how to fight, and he’s always kept his eye on Kinnick being cruel to us.” Changing topics, Jade voiced the question that’d been on her mind. “What excuse did Julian give for taking your mother, Roman?”

“He arrested her in the confusion following that night, giving no reason other than he suspected her of treachery.” Roman crossed his arms. “What did you read in the Royal Archive reports of that night?”

“That she was arrested on suspicion of coercing Yelena.”

“Did they mention that my mother was mourning her mate at the time they suspected her of coercing Yelena? That she was surrounded non-stop by kinsmen for days preceding that night and had no chance to coerce her without someone overhearing?”

Jade frowned. “That was nowhere in the reports.”

“Then the reports have been doctored since we last saw them.” Niko’s eyes connected with Roman’s. “A pity, since we can’t get into the Royal Archives any longer.”

“When I was there, I confirmed that Julian killed Kinnick’s mate and personally recorded it as a suicide,” she revealed. “And when the two of us were with him in the meeting, I linked my hand with his at the table. Niko—I confirmed that he was behind the king and queen’s murders.”

“That’s what you were doing,” Niko whispered. “You were incriminating him.”

She nodded. “When I accessed the memory, I heard his thoughts as clearly as I hear my own. Killing the king and queen was only one step in his plan—eliminating Yelena and Ivan was another. He could be responsible for much more than we originally thought.”

Shifting on his feet, their prime cracked his neck in a rare showing of agitation.

“Julian controls all of it: the archives, the Anchoria , and the largest legion. He’s outlawed communication between us, and made it a crime to mate with those of different kin.

Julian has made us both dependent on him and estranged from every other legion. That stops today.

“We finally know who murdered the queen,” Roman growled. “Which means we can finally trust the ones who didn’t.”

***

Both keen to finalize their bond, Niko and Jade excused themselves from their prime’s company only minutes later. Though she was exceptionally interested in acclimating herself to her new legion and kinsmen, she was far more interested in Niko .

As soon as he closed the door behind her, Jade twisted in the cage of his embrace and claimed his lips.

Wild with need, she crushed herself against him, eager and needy and enraged that she’d taken so long to see the truth.

Just as savage in his love for her, Niko fisted a hand in her hair, snarling possessively.

Jade melted into him, allowing him to lead their kiss and their courtship, ceding their dance into his hands. Every inch of her was lit on fire by his touch. As the mating bubble tightened around them in the labyrinth, she prepared to drop her barriers.

With the last remaining ounce of control she had, Jade splayed her fingers on his chest and leaned away. “If you don’t want this, stop me now.”

All she received in return was a smirk she knew too well. “Bite me. Make me your mate, dove.” Then, a whisper, “I’m yours.”

Deep in the labyrinth, she dropped her psychic shields, baring herself to him unrepentantly.

Her fangs were in his flesh only seconds later, the warmth of iron-rich blood swelling in her mouth.

The mating bond tightened, finalizing on her end as the weight of their connection moved to Niko.

Jade removed her teeth from him only seconds later, her tongue gently brushing against the semicircle of puncture wounds.

Hungry, his golden gaze rounded as he fixated on her neck, for mere moments before the sharp sting of his fangs completed their connection.

Dazzling, their souls intertwined, finalizing the mating dance between them as their bond impossibly broadened. Two halves became one, a piece of their soul found in the other. For a moment, Jade couldn’t understand how she’d ever lived without him.

Niko was everything .

Distantly, she became aware that she was shaking, and that they’d collapsed on the floor, intertwined and panting in the aftermath. Her head was snuggled beneath his chin, and the comforting warmth of his arms encircled her.

But fear didn’t leave her alone. “What if Julian looks for me?”

“He can look all he wants, Jade; he can’t have you.”

She spun to catch those beautiful golden irises. “So certain are you?”

“I’m never letting you go, dove,” came the blunt promise. “And even if he attempts to phase to you, it’d be into Roman’s territory. I doubt he’ll risk open war to retrieve you.” At her mock-offended look, he added, “Though I’m sure he’s openly weeping at your loss.”

Jade’s expression turned serious. “You gave up your chance for revenge, Niko. You gave it up for me.”

“And I’d do it again.” There was no remorse or hesitation in his voice. “My parents haven’t been alive for four centuries, Jade. You’re here in my arms. You will always take precedence.”

Dissolving into him, Jade let the tears fall as everything came crashing into her, her stoic facade shattered.

“I love you, Niko.” She hesitated. “I love you, Netarios .”

He kissed her temple. The movement was soft, gentle, and so very affectionate. “I love you, too, Jade, with every cell of my being.”

For a moment, they simply sat tangled in each other’s embrace, delighting in their mate and the future that now spanned out ahead of them. She voiced her last fear.

“If he controls the hunters as we suspect, he’s far more dangerous than we knew,” she warned, needing the solid feel of her mate beneath her fingers. “He has control of everything.”

“But not us,” Niko contended. “He doesn’t control us, or Roman, or the other primes. Trust me, Jade; we’ve been working toward deposing Julian for the better part of four centuries.”

“I trust you, Niko,” Jade said with complete certainty.

Thumbing away the wetness from beneath her eyes, he said, “I know you’re thinking about Quinn and Lark, dove. I know you’re worried about what Julian will do to them; what he’s already done to you. But don’t worry. We will get them out.”