Chapter 220
~ ROWAN
The moment the words left his mouth I knew that was his plan.
That was why he attacked, and that was why he wanted to be here. He wanted to be heard, and he wanted the reaction.
I wanted nothing more than to grab him by the throat and rip his head clean from his body, but judging by the mocking grin on his face, it was what he wanted.
The courtyard went silent instantly, their eyes narrowing at Nyssa as his words settled like a weight in the air.
The vampire had the audacity to fucking grin as he watched them process it. I saw their faces go from confused to shocked and betrayed in the span of one second and I knew.
“Get her into a car, now!” I snapped at Eric.
He grabbed her hand and tugged just as the entire courtyard went to shit.
The crowd screamed, clamoring for an explanation while the guards fought to keep them back. The vampire laughed as he was led away to the cells and behind me, I saw Eric tug Nyssa towards the car.
“Where do you need me?” Jeremiah asked, rushing up to my side. “Do you want me to go with her p>
I thought about it for a moment before shaking my head. “She’s good with Eric. I need you and your men to keep the crowd at bay. Keep the pack peaceful right now. They’re raging p>
“What about her p>
“They won’t hurt her p>
I wasn’t sure if I was trying to convince him or myself. The truth was, right now, they were confused, and until they understood fully, they would only rage, or so I hoped.
“I’m going after my mate,” I told him. “Once the pack is secure, call me. We need to know what the fuck we’re going to do about this news p>
Nyssa was seated in the backseat of the SUV when I got in, her hands folded neatly on her lap. She stared at her feet, her lips pressed thinly and her eyes hazy.
Eric slammed his foot on the gas, speeding through the opened gate and into the darkness.
“You good?” I asked Nyssa down the mind link.
She was silent for a long minute before humming. “I think so. I don’t know how to react to what just happened p>
“Don’t worry about it p>
“How can I not?” she asked with a snort. “I felt it, you know? Their hurt, the betrayal. There was anger in there too, and disgust p>
“How p>
“The pack link. I never put my wall down because of you and… I guess I just left it too wide open.” Her voice did not sound bitter or upset, just resigned. “They hate me p>
“They don’t hate me p>
“You didn’t feel them like I did, Rowan p>
“Maybe, but I know them. I know my pack, and I know that they fucking love you. They may not understand now p>
“You say that as if they will ever understand. I am an anomaly, I am the fucking monster that bit on of them tonight and could have killed them all, and a vampire is threatening war if I don’t go with him. I don’t think they love me that much to risk their lives p>
There was so much I could say but I knew that nothing about it would change her mind. She’d convinced herself that she was the enemy.
I pulled her into my side, letting my lips drop to the top of her head.
She said nothing throughout the ride back.
As soon as the car pulled to a stop in the driveway, she was out of the car, rushing upstairs like someone had lit a fire under her ass. Seeing her that way made my heart pound and my skin tight with unease, but I forced myself to remain standing still as she ran away,
She needed space.
“You should go home,” I said without glancing at Eric. “It’s late p>
“I could stay,” he offered. “I don’t mind, just in case something… happens p>
I thought about it for a moment before shaking my head.
As much as I would like to have more people guarding Nyssa, it would only fuel her ideology that she was some kind of monster. Besides, I was more than capable of protecting my mate.
“You need to rest for tomorrow. If that vampire was to be believed, then we’re going to have a lot on our hands p>
He sighed tiredly, his hands running through his hair. “This is fucked p>
The corner of my lips tugged upwards. “Tell me about it p>
“Will she be okay though p>
I glanced up as the upstairs light flipped on. The windows were drawn, but I could see Nyssa’s silhouette moving around. “She will. She’s much stronger than she thinks p>
“Goodnight, your Majesty,” he bowed.
I waited until he had disappeared into the darkness before making my way into the house and locking the door shut.
Nyssa was in the bedroom when I made my way upstairs. She sat in the middle of the bed, her legs drawn up to her chest and her eyes hard.
“What’s the plan for tomorrow p>
My head cocked to the side. “What do you mean p>
“You heard what the vampire said. Are you going to wait for the vampires at the border? How are we doing this?” I opened my mouth to speak but she cut me off. “We are doing this, Rowan, don’t try to push me out of it p>
I sighed softly. “I would never p>
She swallowed thickly, smoothing her hands down her clothes. “Good. Now, what’s the next step p>
“I am waiting for Jeremiah to call and let me know that the pack is quiet and secure, then I will return to the palace p>
“What for p>
“The vampire has answers, and I am going to get them from him p>
She stared at me for two long minutes. “I want to go with you p>
Of all the things I thought she would say, that was not the first, but I should have expected it.
“As you wish p>