I wanted to do the same thing, but one look from Kols had me remaining in the hall.
“We need to talk through our relationship going forward,” he said.
I frowned and pinched my leg, concerned that perhaps I’d fallen into a dream state after the gargoyle’s little attack. Because this wasn’t the Kols I knew. Maybe I shouldn’t have sent Kyros away.
“I know you’re still hiding things,” he continued. “And I’m going to overlook it. But we need to work together, not against each other.”
My brow furrowed as I glanced between him and Zeph.
When the Warrior Blood nodded in agreement, I knew this all had to be a dream. Because no way in hell would these two ever decide to work with me.
“We’ll start by you contacting Zakkai to arrange a meeting,” Zeph said, his green eyes on me. “I want an introduction to this infamous Source Architect.”
Kols nodded. “As do I.”
“Maybe I wasn’t clear before, but Zakkai wants to kill you, Kolstov.” I made sure each word was enunciated clearly so there could be no mistake in the interpretation of my words. “He wants to kill Tray and Ella, and anyone and everyone else associated with the Nacht family. Do you understand that?”
“Then Aflora is in danger,” Tray interjected. “Because she’s mated to Kols.”
“Not fully mated,” I replied. “And Zakkai can help her undo that link, something that will be even easier for him to do if Kols goes anywhere near him.”
“She won’t let him remove our bond.” Kols sounded far too confident. “And even if she does, I’ll just bite her again.”
“If you’re alive to do it,” I pointed out, shaking my head. “You’re asking me to help you commit suicide.” And I’d bitten him to prevent that. “I may not like you, but I am not going to help you die.”
“I can’t be killed by you talking to him, can I?” Kols countered.
No, but I certainly could, and then what? I thought, exhausted from this conversation and several iterations of it before this point.
Of course, the others all ended rather violently, so I preferred this temporary lapse in pain to discuss this cordially.
Except Kols apparently had a death wish in this version of events.
Because I’d bitten him? Was that the catalyst for this madness? Or had I finally determined the right sequence of events?
I shook my head, my mental gymnastics giving me a colossal headache. “I need a nap before I talk to Zakkai.”
“Okay,” Kols agreed.
I studied him. “Seriously, this whole”—I waved a hand over him, unsure of how to define his behavior—“is alarming.”
His lips twitched. “This whole what?”
I just gestured at him again because fuck if I knew how to describe it.
The result made him chuckle and Zeph roll his eyes. “Do you two need a room?” the Warrior Blood deadpanned.
“No. I’ll be fine in Aflora’s bed,” I muttered, shadowing to her room before either of them could argue with me. Her floral scent hit me right in the chest, sending a spike of agony through my spirit as I fought the urge to reach out to her again. To apologize for what I’d done. To verify that she was okay.
But I felt her in the bonds, her fury hot and very much alive.
Give him hell, little rose, I whispered to our closed mental door. Flay him alive.
Because Zakkai fucking deserved it and worse.
I hated him more than I hated myself.
Or I wanted to, anyway.