Chapter 51

51

SKYE

“ I ’m really okay,” I insisted almost two days later, my voice small while I watched as Remy jerked a t-shirt out of his dresser drawer and yanked it over his head. I was still in bed, where I had essentially lived those two days, one of which I just spent sleeping.

I was exhausted from whatever magic Lulu had siphoned out of me, but I was feeling stronger by the minute. But Remy was the one who seemed to be stuck on what happened days earlier. He’d been oddly absent during the day, but I had the feeling he set up a schedule to have all my friends take shifts sitting at my bedside since someone was always there when I woke up.

Everyone except the guy currently with his back to me as he got ready for our trip to Illinois to confront Damien today. With the exception of sleeping next to me, I’d barely seen him.

Worry had been slowly eating away at me, but now it was turning into a full blown gnawing in my gut.

“Remy.”

He grunted noncommittally and turned away to grab his cell phone from his desk.

I sighed, leaning forward and bunching the comforter in my lap. “Would you look at me?”

He turned slowly, jaw clenched as he gave me his attention.

I squirmed uncomfortably at the tension between us. “It’s been almost two days since I helped Lulu. We’re leaving in a few hours for Windale. You’ve barely spoken to me.”

He crossed the room and sat on the edge of the bed, next to me but not touching. The few inches between us felt like an uncrossable chasm.

I glanced down, balling up the fabric of the sheets and comforter in my hands until my knuckles turned white. “I know you’re mad at me.”

His eyes narrowed. “I’m mad at me , Skye. I never should have let you—”

I arched a single brow.

He huffed and rolled his eyes. “Fine. I never should have agreed to letting Lulu use you.”

“But it worked,” I pointed out.

It had worked. Maybe better than any of us expected. Lulu had easily funneled our combined magic into the bracelets and it barely winded her.

“You were unconscious for over a day!” he snapped, getting up and pacing anxiously. “Do you know how scared I was?”

Okay, that part definitely hadn’t been planned. And I knew for a fact that Lulu felt like shit about it. She had apologized profusely when Dimitri brought her up to Remy’s room to see me yesterday afternoon.

She hadn’t meant to suck so much magic out of me. It just kind of... happened. And she looked completely gutted over what had happened.

“I need to finish packing,” I tried weakly, starting to shift my legs to get out of bed.

“No,” Remy ordered. “The plane leaves in a few hours. Until then, stay in bed and rest. Katy and Larkin already packed for you.”

I knew that. They both had kept me company last night while Remy stayed downstairs with the council, making contingency plans in case he failed. Katy had done most of my packing while Larkin cuddled on the bed with me, resolved but more than a little anxious that she had been included in Damien’s deal.

“I’m not an invalid,” I snapped, running out of patience.

With the exception of going to the bathroom, which was a whole new level of mortification for me the first time Remy literally carried me to the toilet, I hadn’t left this bed in almost two days. I had woken up late last night for the first time since falling asleep.

The borderline terrified, ragged look in Remy’s eyes when I woke up would haunt me for years to come. But once I had woken up, and he knew I was okay, he’d started staying away.

And that didn’t work for me.

Just like staying in this bed while everyone else prepared for us to leave wasn’t working for me.

His eyes flashed as he glared at me. “Just... stay where I know you’re safe, okay? I have to handle a few more things before we leave for the airstrip.”

I pushed myself up higher. “Hold on, okay? Can you just talk to me for a second?”

His jaw clenched and he glanced at the door, almost... annoyed?

“Did I do something wrong here?” I asked helplessly.

He sighed and tipped his head back, his throat working. “I don’t know.”

“You don’t know ?” I pressed, my frustration turning to worry.

“What do you want me to say, Skye? That I wasn’t scared as hell when you were unconscious? That it didn’t feel like I was back in that infirmary room at school, wondering if you would wake up?”

I twisted my hands together on my lap as he started pacing again.

“That I spent more time worrying about you than focusing on a challenge that I’m not sure I can win?” He spun and faced me, and I could see the fear in his eyes. “A challenge that I bet your life and Larkin’s on? Not to mention Griffin and his pack.”

I held out a hand.

He sighed again, warily eyeing my hand.

“Either you come here, or I’m getting up to come to you.” I wasn’t above threatening my somewhat volatile mate in the middle of his outburst. “Your rules, remember? We talk shit out. We don’t walk away, and that’s exactly what you’ve been doing.”

That made him move. He joined me on this bed, this time his thigh brushing against mine.

“You’re right,” he said after a second. “I’m sorry.”

I grabbed one of his large hands with both of my smaller ones. “I’m here and I’m safe. I’m fine .”

His nostrils flared as he went to object.

“Okay, I’m a little more tired than usual,” I acquiesced. “But I need you to stop focusing on me and focus on you, Rem. The only way I’m not going to be okay is if you lose.”

He dipped his head and leaned forward, resting his forehead on my shoulder as I wrapped my arms around the wide expanse of his back. I felt his body shudder as I hugged him.

“I need you to focus on winning, Remy,” I whispered, stroking my hand along his spine. “Not just for me or Larkin, but for all of us. Damien can’t win.”

“I went to see my dad last night,” he admitted, pulling back.

My heart pinched with guilt. I hadn’t seen Gabe since I’d been home. Not that there had been much time. I’d spoken with him on the phone a few times when Remy had called to check on him, but I hadn’t physically gone to the med center in town.

“How is he?” I asked, my hand running down his arm.

“Good,” Remy replied, “but not totally back to normal. The doctor thinks in another week or two he’ll be himself again.”

“That’s good news,” I said brightly.

He nodded. “Yeah, but if I lose, Damien’s first move will be to take him out. Dad at full strength would be the person who could stop him.”

“ You can stop him,” I countered fiercely. “Don’t underestimate yourself, Remy. You can do this.”

“It’s not going to be like Lodge or Cassian,” Remy told me softly, reluctantly. “Damien’s strong and smart.”

“So are you.”

A tiny smile found his mouth, turning the corners up.

“But Damien’s a snake. His people are with him because they’re either like him or too scared to stand up to him.” I splayed a hand on Remy’s chest where his heart beat. “I spent my life being beaten down by men like Damien Valois.”

His eyes flashed.

“You’re not that guy, Rem. You’ll never be like them, and that’s why you have an edge. All the people behind you are there because they believe in you. Because they want to be there, including me. I might not be able to take Damien in a challenge, but I could give you, and our packs, the best chance to beat him. That’s why I did this.”

He exhaled slowly and wrapped his arms around me, awkwardly pulling me across his lap. “Thanks, babe.”

I pressed my forehead to his and inhaled his scent. “We’re going to be okay. All of us.”

If I said it enough, put it out into the universe enough times, maybe it would be true.

I llinois was full of gray clouds as we landed close to sunset. We set down in a private airstrip near the western edge of the Windale pack’s borders.

Remy glanced out the window to my left and snorted. “Looks like we get the royal welcome.”

I spotted Griffin, and a few feet away from him was Damien and Trace. My eyes swept the crowd again and snagged on another familiar face.

“Is that—”

“Kace,” Remy finished for me.

The nightclub owner from when we had been at the Summit and Griffin’s long-time friend was far from home, but definitely a welcome sight. It helped knowing someone else had our backs.

“Quite the welcome,” Nikolai commented from the row ahead of us. The calmness in his tone belied the ice in his gaze as he surveyed the crowd awaiting us.

There were several dozen men, and only men, waiting for us to get off the airplane. I had a strong inkling that most of them weren’t from Windale, either.

“Remember what we talked about,” Remy said softly, turning to me. “Stay with me no matter what.”

I nodded mutely, getting up as he did. I followed him down the aisle, smiling at my friends. I flinched when I saw how pale and anxious Larkin was, Rhodes’s arm wrapped possessively around her thin shoulders.

Remy had intentionally kept the amount of women on this flight small after it became clear from the phone call that Damien was interested in us. Besides Larkin and I, Katy and Tate had been the only other girls who joined us.

Well, and Lulu.

My eyes moved to the elemental sitting beside Dimitri. Her gray eyes glimmered as he gave me a slow, confident nod.

Mom had wanted to come to be with me, but surprisingly it was Nikolai who finally convinced her to stay behind with Natasha. Dante and Ryder had insisted Tate come. The idea of not having her close at hand made them anxious.

Knowing Maren would be here, Remy hadn’t hesitated to include Katy. When he won, and Maren was back, she would need Katy and Tate.

We were the first ones off the plane, but Remy didn’t start walking towards the others until most of our group had gotten off the plane.

We managed to fill the plane with people we knew had our back. The only missing person was Alexei. Nikolai had suggested we send Dimitri’s beta with the army we had sent earlier. Most of the men were from the Narodnaya and a few neighboring packs and would know Alexei, or be willing to follow him.

My eyes scanned the area, wondering how close they were. The men had landed in Michigan, Wisconsin, and Illinois via commercial flights earlier in the day. Most would have made the drive here by now and should be nearby.

“Welcome to Windale,” Damien greeted loudly as we approached, spreading his arms wide like he was the Alpha here.

Griffin’s teeth clenched, but he stayed silent.

Remy only gave Damien a short nod before turning to Griffin and extending a hand. “Thanks for having us.”

“Nothing else I’d rather do,” Griffin replied, his voice thick with sarcasm. He gave me a nod. “Skye.”

“Hey, Griffin,” I said softly, keeping close to Remy as promised.

“Good to see you both again,” Kace said from behind Griffin.

I flashed him a fast smile that quickly vanished when I saw the people approaching from the right.

Damien pushed his way towards us, Trace following like a snarling puppy at his heels. His cold stare scoured our group, likely looking for Larkin. I glanced over my shoulder, glad to see she was tucked safely behind Rhodes and Ryder.

I felt Remy tense beside me as Damien came to a stop in front of us. Judging by the way Remy’s hand was twitching, he was fighting the urge to pull me behind him and out of Damien’s reach.

The older man studied me, but his gaze was less lecherous than I’d expected. He watched me more with fascination than anything.

“We never had much of a chance to meet at the Summit,” he said, speaking only to me. “Damien Valois.”

“Skye,” I replied coolly, and then added, “Dashkov.”

Interest glittered in his eyes. “Finally embracing your true heritage, I see?”

I smiled back serenely. “Well anything is better than being connected to Linden Markham.”

Damien snorted. “He really was a bit of an ass, wasn’t he?”

I didn’t reply. I wasn’t interested in any kind of bonding with Damien, even if I did agree with what he said.

“But he was a useful ass at times,” Damien added with a wink when I didn’t say a word.

“He’s also quite a dead ass,” Nikolai said drolly behind me.

Damien’s eyes moved to him and narrowed. “Your pictures don’t do you justice, Alpha.”

I went still, my gaze slowly inching to Remy’s. He had no idea Nikolai had given his pack to me. That technically I was the Alpha of Narodnaya and over a dozen other packs on the other side of the world.

Remy quickly smothered the small smile that hitched up the corner of his mouth.

“They rarely do,” Nikolai agreed, stepping up to my side.

“We should talk,” Damien said slowly. “We have a mutual friend, I believe.”

Nikolai’s brows rose. “Do we?”

“Don’t play coy,” Damien said, the congenial tone sharpening. “You and my uncle are well acquainted.”

“Yes, we are,” Nikolai agreed, his smile turning feral. “But he is no friend of mine or my pack. I would just as soon fashion a new chandelier from his ribcage.”

Damien hissed and stepped back, glaring at Remy. “Where is my uncle? He was part of our deal.”

“So was Maren,” Remy answered, ice in his tone. “Where is she?”

“Safe,” Damien replied loftily. This was all a game for him. Pretending this was a normal, friendly visit had to be some sort of psychosis.

“You’ll get him when I see Maren.” Remy’s chin lifted a notch in defiance.

“Fine,” Damien snapped. “We’ve arranged transport back to Windale. Buses for your pack members.”

Remy and I both looked at Griffin, who nodded. The buses were safe then. At least we didn’t have to worry about the bus being blown up or some shit by Norwood while we drove the twenty minutes back to where Griffin lived.

“Kace will head back with your pack,” he added, gesturing to his friend.

Remy glanced back over his shoulder and gave Rhodes a nod.

“All right,” Rhodes spoke up, looking to the others, “let’s head out.”

Remy and I started to follow them towards the bus, but Damien stepped in front of us. I stopped abruptly to avoid touching him in any capacity.

“I arranged for all of us to have a more comfortable ride.” He gestured to the limousine parked near the buses.

Remy shook his head. “Enjoy your ride then. We’re good with our pack.”

“I’m afraid I must insist,” Damien said evenly, all friendly pretense slipping away. “We have matters to discuss.”

Griffin sighed. “Just go with it, Remy.”

“Exactly, Remy,” Damien added, all smiles again. “It’s just something a tad more comfortable for Alphas so we can chat.”

“So Griffin’s coming, too?” Remy asked, arching his eyebrows.

Damien’s smile tightened, realizing he’d opened himself up to that loophole. “Of course.”

Griffin grinned at Remy. “Awesome.”

I turned and met Nikolai’s gray eyes. I gave him a strained smile. “Dad, you should come, too.” I looked at Damien innocently as he started to frown. “Since this is about Alphas.”

Nikolai stepped around me and smiled benignly enough at Damien. “More luxurious accommodations sound wonderful.” He tucked my arm into his. “And I can never say no to spending time with my daughter and her mate.”

Damien looked from me to Nikolai, barely masking the sour look puckering his face. “I’m glad to have to join us.”

“Lead the way then,” Nikolai added, his gaze sharpening as he dared Damien to say anything about him inviting me.

Damien might have set up this private ride, but with Griffin and my dad now included, he was outnumbered, and he knew it. The anger simmering in his gaze as he looked at me let me know he wasn’t happy about it.

I grinned back, not giving a shit.