Word Count: 1623

~Aven

I almost make it back to the room. Almost.

Turning the corner, I jump as someone emerges from the shadows, pausing in front of me.

"Woah..." I mutter, backing up a few steps in front.

Shock and fear strike me as I realise it's Larsen I'm looking at, his hood now removed, showing off his head of thick black hair, but his eyes are still the same, hauntingly dark as they examine me quietly. There's something about Larsen that terrifies me. Not only is his touch deadly, but the way he looks at me with those green eyes makes me feel as though he is stripping my bare, revealing my innermost insecurities to him.

"How many Noble's am I going to run into tonight?" I exhale, running a hand down my face frustratingly. I should never have left without Stace, who is dead asleep in the room. He's going to kill me if he finds out I left, with Eryk cheering him on.

He looks over my shoulder. "I think I'll be your last..."

I open my mouth to make a joke before easing my way from the conversation to return back to my room, however I'm stopped short as Larsen slowly tugs at his gloves, pulling them off.

I stare down at his hands, terrified. They are perfectly untouched and normal looking, and yet seeing his bare skin only means one thing, the reality of that sinking deep into my stomach.

"You should probably keep your gloves on," I murmur distractingly, looking down at him as he flexes his fingers, examining them quietly. Would it be much use for me to run? He's blocking my way to Stace, and Kastriv could be anywhere in the manor by now. That means I'm left to face this powerful Noble by myself, who looks ready to lay his bare hand on me.

A smile touches his lips, so soft that in any other situation I would consider it to be a kind gesture. "No, because that would defeat the purpose."

"You're going to kill me, aren't you?" I whisper.

"Your father wasn't a good man, Aven," he explains darkly, his voice dropping a few tones deeper as he approaches with purposeful strides, which I match backward with terror. "And anyone related to a monster like that deserves to die."

"I've never even met my father," I scramble, moving backward until my back touches the wall. "You can't do this."

He doesn't look convinced, continuing his approach. My eyes glance down to his hands, witnessing the sight of his veins tinted black, the darkness creeping up his exposed forearm to his hands and to his fingers, costing them in shadows. I can practically see the poison ebbing within him, a part of him. How that's possible, I'm not even going to begin questioning it since I'm mated to a man with tattoos that move with the surge of his power.

Before I open my mouth to scream, Stace appears from behind Larsen, grabbing the man's clothed shoulder to turn him to face him.

"Larsen, don't touch her," Stace warns, pushing Larsen back in a way that has the Noble stumbling back a few steps. There's no evidence of sleep on Stace's eyes as he looks over us both, examining the situation that nearly transpired, although his hair is as mussed and frantic as he looks right now.

"You can't protect her, Stace...Not unless you're as evil as him." Larsen adjusts himself, looking back at me with his hands still exposed.

"Aven is completely innocent of everything he has done, do you understand?" Stace growls. A single glance down at his tattoos makes me painfully aware of the power within my mate that threatens to spill out, directed at Larsen.

The Noble steps forward, "Do it, kill me."

Stace looks as though he is genuinely considering it as he looks over Larsen, brows furrowing slightly. Throughout my short time knowing Stace, I've never seen him so obviously mad, and completely unafraid of Larsen's bare hands which are still tinged in darkness.

"Oh I will, if you ever come near her again."

Larsen exhales through his nose as he backs off, slowly tugging his gloves back on. "Message received."

I shiver as Larsen glances at me before walking away, the look in his eyes telling me everything. He is regretful that he didn't get to kill me, that he got caught.

I'm not sure what has overcome me, but I rush forward and collapse into Stace's arms, bracing myself on his body. "How did you know he was trying to kill me?"

"I sensed your fear," he breathes, tentatively wrapping his arms around me. "Let's get back to the room."

For a moment, I just hold tightly to him, enjoying the near euphoric feeling of safety in his arms. Near him, I don't feel as if any of those unpredictable Noble's can hurt me, and it's not just because Stace himself is powerful. The warmth of him seems to settle around me, practically making me melt. I haven't felt this since my mother and Lei returned back to the mortal realm.

Eventually, I pull away from Stace, who gives me a lasting look, likely assessing to make sure I'm actually okay before he leads me back to the room.

Right before we get to the room, a frazzled Eryk emerges from down the hallway, hair messy, eyes dozy as he looks over us."What's going on?"

"I think it's best you don't know, Eryk," Stace responds uncomfortably.

Eryk holds my gaze for a long moment, before blinking tiredly, turning back around to return to his room. He wouldn't question Stace, not when he's my mate and Stace is essentially his boss. I'm surprised he let it go so easily, though.

I narrow my eyes on Stace as he opens the door for me. "Why are you so scared to tell Eryk when I'm in danger? Isn't he hired to protect me?"

"I fear he will do irrational things if he hears that the person intent on causing your harm is still alive."

"He takes his job seriously..." I murmur, crawling back into the bed, feeling fatigue weighing my limbs down.

"I'm sorry for bringing you here, I had no idea he would act like that." Stace looks genuinely upset, which can't tell if it makes me feel better or not. This time when he settles into bed next to me, I don't shy away from him, scared of physical touch. This time I embrace the feeling of him next to me, the comfort of it. It's what is going to allow me to get some sleep considering Larsen is still walking around the manor.

I turn my head, a feeling of dread still wrapped around my heart. "He told me I deserved to die because my father is a monster."

"I didn't want to slander his name to you, as I figured it would be too much to handle..." Stace draws off.

I sit up slightly. "Tell me, Stace."

"He killed a lot of people...His own people in his own Territory," he says tightly, watching me apprehensively. My heart sinks deep down in my chest, a sense of shock seizing me, making me numb.

"Why?"

"No one knows for sure, but he was merciless, killing without reason and on a grand scale. Before anyone could stop him, he disappeared, and he hasn't been able to find him since," he explains. I shift, sinking deep into my pillows. Not only have I learnt tonight that my father is still alive and no one knows here he is, but now I've learnt he's a mass killer and I'm related to him...Even through I haven't met him, I very suddenly want to be sick.

My voice trembles as I tightly grip the sheets. "And yet you still wanted to protect me?"

"Of course, Aven. You're my mate, and I know you're nothing like him," he assures me, looking almost offended that I would even bring that up.

"Who got me out of this Realm?"

"Your mother, right when everything was going down. I don't know where she is though, but she made my father promise to look out for you if anything happened to her," Stace explains slowly, giving me time to absorb every detail. "I had my own issues with my father before his death, but I would have done what he told me if it meant keeping him happy. It was only later I found out you were my mate, and I hired Eryk."

My throat is painfully dry. "How did you find out..."

"I can feel it. I can feel a lot of things going on within people," he answers, rubbing the back of his neck. I believe him too, figuring he's got some sort of different read on people than anyone else I've met. It's how I've began to feel so comfortable around him despite hardly knowing much about him at all.

"Tell me more Stace. Tell me everything about you," I ask desperately. I want every detail laid out in front of me, scared that if I don't learn more about him, then I'm going to have no one here I can trust.

He shakes his head, turning the lamp off. "Later. Right now you need to sleep. Tomorrow, we leave for Territory Three."

I let my eyes flutter close, ready to sleep on the thought of a new Territory, of new possibilities, the warmth and familiar scent of him guiding me into darkness.

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~Midika 💜🐼