Page 36

DARIUS

At some point during the laborious process of carrying them inside, Charlotte passed out. Something about the cold and the use of her magic took the wind right out of her.

Before going into the nest, Marcus takes Charlotte into his arms, and Julius orders Atlas to strip, which is only made harder as he refuses to let go of Charlotte’s hand.

When I try to pry her fingers from Atlas’, I’m met with resistance on both sides.

Charlotte’s magic sends painful pinprick shocks through my hands, and Atlas nearly headbutts me just to get me to leave them be.

“Leave her in her clothes. It’s not right to strip her now,” Atlas says, his voice low and laced with a growl.

“She’ll catch something if she stays in her wet clothes,” Julius says, earning another growl from Atlas. “Marcus and I have seen her naked, so I think it’s best we undress her and tuck her into the nest.”

“I won’t let my Firefly go,” Atlas says adamantly, squeezing her hand.

It makes me both proud and exasperated to see him finally give in to his feelings for Charlotte, but the timing could not be worse.

“Atlas, let her go,” I snap, sending a surge of my influence through our bonds and reinforcing it with magic.

The younger gargoyle grits his teeth, baring them all to me in a grimace as he slowly lets her go one finger at a time. Charlotte releases a sad little noise, shifting slightly in Marcus’ arms before settling with her face pressed into his pec.

“I should push you down the damned stairs,” he hisses, lunging toward me before stopping short.

I don’t flinch and hold back the roll of my eyes at his posturing.

Marcus slowly edges around him and takes Charlotte into the nest. Julius follows quickly after him, snapping the door shut and sliding the lock into place with an audible click .

Atlas glares at me across the short landing, where we normally take off our shoes before we enter the nest. I let him have his broody moment before crossing my arms. It’s time to be the alpha.

“Where did you go, Atlas?” I demand.

Now that he isn’t bleeding out, I can play the bad alpha.

“It’s none of your business,” he snaps, crossing his arms over his chest to mock me.

The new golden scar on his dark skin is beautiful in the same way a banshee is.

Whatever was strong enough to nearly rip Atlas apart is a problem for all of us, and he knows that, but he’s being a stubborn arsehole.

Atlas leans against the door to the nest, his wings tucked neatly behind him as he continues to glower. He is still the same headstrong youngling he was all those years ago, when he finally showed us who he is.

“It’s all my business. I am your alpha, unless you’ve forgotten,” I snipe.

Atlas scoffs. “As If I could forget with the chokehold you keep on our magic.”

“To protect you?—”

“From what? Being able to learn for ourselves how to control it? Are you so insecure that you keep the power born to you and forged into me held so tightly we can hardly draw on it?” His questions are laced with venom and sting me viciously.

“You are being hurtful on purpose. We will discuss that later,” I growl. “Where did you go?”

“And what if I don’t tell you? Will you punish me?” He snickers, tail whipping back and forth.

I know he’s goading me. I’m strong enough not to rise and meet the anger as it swells in my chest.

“You are a fucking brat. I’ve only ever tried to help you,” I grit out.

“Because you are a guardian, a savior. Helping the weak is what you do.” Atlas shakes his head.

The expression on his face makes my gut sink. It’s something like pity.

“I’m not weak anymore, and neither are Julius and Marcus. You need to get over your complex and come back down to earth. We are a team.” He shoves an index finger into my chest.

My mouth drops open, words on the tip of my tongue, but nothing comes out.

He thinks I have a complex ?

“You are our leader. I won’t even fight you on that, Darius, but you need to understand that sometimes enough is enough and just drop it,” Atlas snaps, whipping away from me and toward the door. He presses his palm flat to the door as if he could reach through and touch Charlotte.

“That was an eye-opening conversation,” I mutter, rubbing my chest lightly. “but it’s good to see you’ve had a change of heart about Charlotte.”