His lids narrowed. “You might have just ruined the only thing I had left here. Now, I’m paranoid you’re gonna pop in at any moment.”
“And here I thought you brought me in.” I winked.
“You weren’t who I was thinking of.” He leaned back against the wall with a smug grin. “Not that you aren’t hot as hell and great material, but I think Warwick would cut me into little pieces even having you anywhere near those types of thoughts.”
I couldn’t fight him on that.
“Can I ask who you were thinking of?” I lifted a brow.
“You can, but you won’t get an answer.” He mimicked my expression. I had an idea who it might be, though he’d never admit it.
Silence grew between us, and I realized we hadn’t spoken since the night in the pit. Hadn’t confronted what had happened when we were almost forced to kill each other.
“I’m sorry…” I bit into my lip.
“For?”
“Everything. That night. Doing what I had to do and eliminating you from the equation. For… Andris.” Blinking, I looked down at my boots.
“Brex.” His tone tugged my head up. “It would have been cruel to let him die that way. He made his decision to go in. You gave him peace at the end.” He rubbed at his chin. “And if you don’t think for one second the thought of losing you instead…” He tapered off, his hand moving over his face and into his hair. He shook his head, not finishing his thought. “Though punching me out? You will pay. Fuck, it hurt.”
A choked laugh came up my throat.
Scorpion watched me for a while. His gaze was heavy and full of unsaid sentiment. I would never lie and say we didn’t have something there—a spark—how could we not when we had this crazy link? But there was no contest. With Scorpion, I’d sacrifice myself to save him. With Warwick, I would sacrifice the world.
“We’re back.” Scorpion motioned to me, his voice low and quiet. He tried to hide the emotion behind it, but I could feel it.
“We are.” I couldn’t fight the joyous smile beaming over my face, which pulled Scorpion’s mouth into the same happy grin. It was so rare to see; I felt tears building up in my throat.
We didn’t touch or say anything else, but it was all there.
Home.
Scorpion would be part of my life, part of me, forever. Whatever fate put him in the way of my magic that night, I was so thankful.
“So, besides interrupting my alone time?” He pulled up his legs, dropping his arms over his knees with a wink.
“What would you say if I asked you if you wanted to start a mutiny, overthrow the guards, and get the fuck out of here?”
“I’d say it’s about fucking time you asked.” He went up onto his feet, rubbing at his bare chest. “Tonight good?”
“Whoa, cowboy. We get one chance. I need you to get close to Killian tomorrow in the factory, learn anything you can about this place.”
“Why not ask him yourself? I mean through me, of course.” Scorpion pounded on the wall. “Hey, your highness, you up?”
My mouth parted. “Killian? Killian’s next door to you?”
“Ash is on that side.” He nodded to the cell on the other side of me.
“Ash?” I whirled around to the wall like I could see through it. The need to see my best friend had me wanting to plow through it.
“Hey, fairy, someone wants to talk to you.” Scorpion went to the corner, hissing into Ash’s cell.
“For the last time, I won’t give your dick a pep talk. It was a one-time thing,” Ash muttered back through a yawn.
I glanced at Scorpion; eyebrow curved up.
“He’s kidding.” He cleared his throat, his head wagging.
“Don’t worry,” I smirked at Scorpion. “He’s probably jerking off over there to both Kek and Lukas.”
Scorpion sputtered. “Both Lukas and Kek? Seriously? At the same time?”
“Whoa. Who the hell did you hear that from?” Ash was suddenly off the floor and standing at the corner of his cage.
“Wow, you weren’t kidding?” Scorpion snorted, addressing me. “Interesting. And with that demon—she’s fucking terrifying. Call me impressed.”
“Bazdmeg.” Ash sighed. “Brexley’s there, isn’t she?”
“Yeah, or I finally lost my mind.” Scorpion scoffed.
“There is a good possibility of both,” Ash replied.
“Tell the asshole I miss him.”
“Brexley says you’re an asshole.”
“Scorp!” I smacked Scorpion. The sensation was like touching someone through plastic. Real, but not completely yet. “Tell him.”
“I am not going to tell him that. I won’t be your carrier pigeon.” Scorpion huffed, stomping over just a few feet to the other side, hitting the wall connected with Killian.
I could see Ash’s hands sticking out of the bars. Reaching over, I let my hands grasp onto his. Goosebumps covered his skin, his body jolting with a chill.
“Fuck!” He jerked back. “That’s just creepy, Brex.” He chuckled, shaking out his shivers, knowing full well it was me. Out of most people, Ash would feel the connection threading through the atmosphere, the energy tugging at the molecules connecting Scorpion and me. “Many people claim to have sex with ghosts… always been curious. Any takers?” I pinched him with my fingers, making him laugh louder. “Just putting it out there.”
Strolling over to Scorpion, I chuckled to myself. Damn, I missed my boys.
“Hey, your highness? Wake up.” Scorpion whispered toward Kilian’s cell.
Silence was the only response. But I could feel he was awake, feel the brooding melody of his mood.
There had always been a connection to Killian from the day he brought me to his palace. I felt his presence from a distance, could sense him in an abstract way. It was vastly different from my link to my boys, but still substantial. Was it my magic, Aneira’s power running through me, which made me feel his more acutely? He was at the level of a noble, a king if he declared himself to be. A queen would respond to this kind of magic—good or bad, enemy or ally, war or peace. Killian was an equal.
And that kind of magic attracted the same.
“Killian.” I knew he couldn’t hear me, but I wondered if he could sense me too. “Killian, please, we need you. Don’t give up. I can’t do this without you.”
“I am not saying that either,” Scorpion grumbled.
I glared up at him.
He blew out. “We need you, blah, blah, don’t give up.” Scorpion rolled his eyes.
“Well, that was heartfelt.”
“It’s all you’re gettin’。” Scorpion retorted. “Basically, highness, stop moping and help us out here, or your girlfriend is gonna nag me all night long. Drive me out of my skull.”
“What do you want?” Killian’s low, taut voice finally came through the dark. “And who are you talking about? I have no girlfriend.” He spat the word, which sounded odd coming from him. It didn’t fit him at all. Killian did not have girlfriends. It was too insignificant for him. He had lovers, or possibly a mate.