A fair assessment, one I would have applauded, but she faced me in the next second, her blue eyes alight with censure.
“And killing them all makes you no better than them. You’re just annihilating the threat without giving them a chance to defend themselves or talk things through, which is exactly what they’ve done to the Quandary Bloods. You’ll kill just as many innocents, perhaps even more.”
Shade smiled as he stood and came to hug Aflora from the side. “Well said, little rose,” he whispered into her ear before kissing her on the cheek.
Part of me almost agreed with him. The other part had seen too much to buy into such a high-level assessment. She assumed I intended to kill blindly, but I had a specific list of targets, all of whom had earned their fates.
She’d understand soon.
After the Blood Gala.
Then we would talk it through. Because I needed her on my side, and once she realized what we were truly up against, I knew she’d see reason.
She had to.
There was no other clear alternative. The Elders refused to listen to reason, so why should I? They needed to pay for what they’d done.
I met Zen’s gaze, her expression one of defeat. She knew I’d never align with her again, not after the way she’d failed my mother and so many others. “Take care of yourself, Zen,” I said, meaning it.
I didn’t wish her ill will.
She was a powerful fae with good intentions. She just didn’t have the inclination to do what needed to be done. Fortunately for her, I did.
And soon, Aflora would, too.
Time to go, star, I whispered into her mind.
Can I have a few minutes to say goodbye to Shade?
I nodded. “Of course.” I squeezed her hand and left her to it, knowing there was nothing she could say that he didn’t already know.
And if he shadowed her off somewhere, I had a spell waiting to bring her right back.
But it wasn’t needed.
After a few minutes of hugging and several intimate kisses, she joined me outside and took my hand again, her gratitude warming our bond.
“I don’t want to keep you from them,” I admitted. “But your safety matters most.”
She nodded. “I’m starting to understand that.” She glanced at me. “I think I’m starting to understand you, too.”
“I don’t think you do yet, but you will,” I murmured, leading her to the portal. “I’ll make sure not to let you freeze this time.”
“I would appreciate that,” she replied, releasing a shiver from the memory.
My lips curled. “Or maybe I should so I can warm you up the old-fashioned way afterward.”
Her cheeks flushed a pretty pink. “Just take me home, Zakkai.”
Home, I repeated to myself, my chest warming at the term.
I knew it was just a slip of the tongue, a thought she hadn’t meant to voice. Regardless of the cause, I liked the sound of it.
So I nodded.
And took her home.
Then released her to dream of her mates, where she told Kolstov and Zephyrus about her visit with Zen.