24. Dexter

24

DEXTER

M y hands trembled as I sat in Darkmore’s… no, Hunter’s, office. The weight of my worry for my fated mate pressed suffocatingly against my chest.

The room smelled faintly of aged wood, sweet chocolate and caramel, plus some fae wine. A constant swirl of shadow magic whipped around me, and I flicked my gaze to the map on the wall. There was another red X—right above the academy. That made three Xs above it.

Hunter’s dark blond hair fell into his face as he moved his neatly labeled fae wine bottles around in his cabinet.

My heart pounded as I watched him pull out a caramel chocolate flavor, and the faint clink of glass against glass rang in my ears as he did.

“Care for a drink?” he offered, holding the bottle out to me.

I nodded, snatching the bottle from his hand and taking a long swig. The rich, sweet liquid burned an icy path down my throat.

He raised an eyebrow at me with a small smirk playing at the corners of his mouth. “Ill-mannered as always.” Turning, he grabbed another bottle, pouring his portion into a ceramic coffee cup. The swirling sound of liquid filled the room.

“I might be ill-mannered,” I shot back, “but at least I don't ruin fae wine by pouring it into a coffee cup.”

His chuckle was low before he took a sip. “No, you ruin it by drinking from the bottle like an uncultured demon.”

“Well, I am an uncultured demon.” I snorted, taking another swig of the wine and going over to lounge on his sofa. “Not everyone can have an enchanted chilling crystal in their cabinets for alcohol.”

He chuckled, setting his cup down on his desk and sitting in his chair. His white eyes moved over me with concern. Concern wasn’t an emotion I think I’d received from anyone but Bram and Skel. “What did you want to talk to me about?”

I heaved myself up and set the bottle down on the stone floor, the clink echoing louder than it should have. “I know I asked for your help to get away from my parents.” My voice was tight with fear—fear of the pain I knew I’d be dealt for even thinking this. “But I think I need to get initiated into Dark Veil and figure out what they plan to do with Pandora.”

Hunter's expression darkened like a storm, and the air thrummed with the intensity of his vengeance magic. “You realize the dangers of infiltrating a cult, don't you? We already have someone on the inside. This isn’t something to take lightly.”

My hands clenched into fists, the knuckles turning white against my pale skin. “I’m aware of that. I know the risks, Hunter. But this morning…when Pandora's desperation and fear shot through our unsealed bond, it fucking broke me. She was terrified, and they were responsible. I have to do whatever it takes to protect her, and I’m in the position to do it.”

He sighed deeply, reaching for the cup of wine. He leaned back in his chair, cradling his coffee cup with an indecipherable look on his face. “I understand the urgency, Dexter. I do. But I don't want to put you in a shitty situation, either.”

“I can't just sit here and do nothing. She's everything to me. She’s my fated mate, and I’ve already fucked her over so bad. I owe this to her at least.”

His gaze softened. “I’ll think about it, but we can’t lose you, either. Pandora would lose a part of her if you were gone.”

I flinched, glancing down and grabbing the bottle off the floor. I tilted it back and gulped it down more than half way before stopping to breathe. The caramel chocolate fae wine had turned into a bitter comfort. “I have to try, don’t I?”