“I told him to.”
If Luca hadn’t stood right next to Nox, he would have never believed the words came out of his mouth.
“When we were alone, he told me I was likely to die, and I told him if I did to do whatever it took to make sure you didn’t.”
“Why would you do that?” The dumbest question ever, and Luca was sure even the Mah and Varu knew it.
“I thought it was the right thing to do.”
Thought. “And now?”
A flood of emotion, bits of thought, an entire wave of Nox’s fears pummeled Luca’s mind within seconds, conveying everything words couldn’t.
Nox loved him so much he’d been willing to give him up.
Luca stared at Johnathan because he couldn’t find the anger to glare at Nox.
“I promise you, the hunt happens because of the wolves, not the people,” Seung said. “And that won’t change even when two people hate each other to the core, so the afterward can be difficult. For both sides, especially knowing it will happen again and again.”
Hadn’t Luca experienced that firsthand? When he and Nox were first together. Luca had wanted to be with him, but once it was over, the guilt of how Nox had treated Luca had driven Nox into avoiding him.
And now, Nox had been willing to die to keep from harming him again.
In both scenarios, it had been the Anubis that changed things by going against the will of the man it resided in.
The only difference, Luca and Nox had fallen in love even when, in the beginning, all Luca really wanted was to experience what it meant to live.
“I’m going to go check on Dr. Dante. Will you be okay?” There was no tension buzzing through Nox’s thoughts or Luca would have never asked.
“Yeah.”
“Of course, I could always go check on him instead.” Green flickered in the irises of Craige’s eyes. But the shadows worried Luca more.
Dekker growled.
“Jesus, I was kidding.”
Luca doubted that. Going by the expression on Dekker’s face, he felt the same way.
The back door opened, and James returned with a plate of fresh steak. Luca’s stomach growled.
“Finally.” Craige pushed off the wall and headed to the table where James placed the food.
“C’mon, before he eats it all.” Seung led her betas to the table.
“You should eat too.” Nox cupped the back of Luca’s neck.
“I’ll take Dr. Dante a plate with enough for us to share.”
Nox frowned.
“I promise I’ll eat, but Dr. Dante shouldn’t be alone.”
Nox watched the door on the far end of the room. “Yeah, he shouldn’t.”
Luca turned.
Nox pulled him back. “I have regrets.”