16. Zoey

Zoey

Aerix sighs, pinching the bridge of his nose. “You ask too many questions.”

“And you give too few answers.”

“You say that as if you’re entitled to answers.”

I glare at him, since he’s right—I’m definitely entitled to answers.

“You made me stop struggling earlier with just your voice,” I continue. “That’s not fae or vampire magic.”

At least not that I’m aware of, given what I’ve picked up so far from Sapphire and Riven’s conversations.

“Very observant.” He settles onto the edge of the bed, and I scoot back, maintaining as much distance as I can. “Humans aren’t usually aware of my kind’s influence.”

“Then sorry to break it to you, but your ‘influence’ must be a little rusty,” I reply, not backing down. “Maybe you should workshop it? Because so far, the thing I’ve been the most influenced to do is to stab you. Well— try to stab you.”

He lifts a hand, silencing me with a flick of his fingers. “I’m night fae,” he finally says. “An ancient hybrid of fae and vampire.”

“So, you drink blood.” A pit of fear forms in my stomach that probably should have been there since being dragged into this palatial bunker. “Human blood?”

“Human blood is preferred, yes,” he says, so casually that it’s like he’s discussing his coffee preference.

My stomach twists. “Great. So, you’re saying you could’ve drained me dry if you felt like it.”

“I could have,” he says, watching me with those infuriatingly calm midnight eyes of his. “But I didn’t.”

“What incredible restraint.” I roll my eyes, since refusing to back down is probably the only thing that’s emotionally getting me through all this insanity right now. “Really appreciate not being someone’s midnight snack.”

“I also could have let you drown at that waterfall,” he continues. “But I didn’t. Because that’s what would have happened, you know. Your friends weren’t going to get to you in time. The only reason you’re alive right now is because of me.”

I glare at him in response.

Aerix smirks. “You’re welcome.”

I clench the blanket tighter, forcing myself to stay composed. “So, why did you save me?” I try again.

“You ask too many questions.”

“And you give too few answers,” I shoot back. “So, come on, Mr. Can’t-Lie. Spill.”

“That’s all you’re getting.” He stands, his towering frame looming over me, and I feel the full weight of his presence—dark, magnetic, and unnervingly calm. “Now, given that I rescued you from drowning and dragged you halfway across the forest, I’d like to rest, too.”

I scowl as he lowers himself onto the other side of the bed, making no effort to ask or even pretend he needs permission.

“Absolutely not.” I grab one of the pillows and shove it down the middle of the mattress, so tired that I don’t think I’m fully comprehending that a dark fae-vampire hybrid is casually jumping into bed with me.

But he clearly doesn’t want to kill me right now. And if I somehow manage to escape the bunker, I’ll definitely die in that forest.

So, what reasonable choice do I have?

“This is the line,” I tell him. “Cross it, and I’ll stab you again.”

“A pillow fortress.” He glances at it in amusement. “How formidable.”

“I’m serious,” I hiss, scooting as close to the edge of the bed as I can without falling off. “Stay on your side.”

“Relax, Zoey.” He stretches out with infuriating indifference. “I’m not going to dismantle your monumental barrier. You’re safe with me.”

“How do you even know my name?” I ask, since I definitely didn’t take the time to introduce myself to him.

“Your friend screamed it back at that waterfall,” he says simply. “Where I saved you.”

I’m seconds away from sarcastically thanking him for specifying which waterfall he meant, when I remind myself about one of the rules of the fae—never thank one of them, unless you want to owe them a favor. And sure, maybe since he’s part fae, I’d only owe him part of a favor. But I have no interest in finding that out.

Plus, his mention of Sapphire’s scream is a blow to my heart.

She must be going out of her mind with worry. I can still see her face as I was carried away—the devastation in her eyes when she realized she failed me.

Then another thought strikes me, making my stomach sink even further.

The deal she made with Riven.

She swore to help him find the potion for his father’s sanity to the best of her ability. And “the best of her ability” probably doesn’t include a detour to rescue her human best friend who got kidnapped by a fae-vampire to an underground bunker magically hidden under a snowbank. She wouldn’t know where to start looking for me, either.

She might have no choice but to leave me behind.

My fists clench around the blanket, my chest tightening. It’s not Sapphire’s fault, but it doesn’t stop the hurt or the betrayal that edges into my thoughts. All I can see is her face as I was dragged away—her fear, her helplessness.

Now all I have is Aerix and his smug expression as he watches me to see if he’s making any progress on breaking down my metaphorical—and physical—walls.

“You’re upset,” he observes, interrupting my spiraling thoughts.

“I’m going to sleep.” I don’t bother looking at him, instead rolling onto my side—facing away from him—and closing my eyes.

Even with the pillow barrier, the space between us feels suffocatingly small.

And then there’s his scent—dark and intoxicating, like rain on burnt wood. No matter how much I try to block it out, it seeps into my senses, making it impossible to ignore him.

I hate it.

I hate him.

I hate this place.

And most of all, I hate being powerless.

I’m finally starting to drift to sleep when the mattress shifts.

Jolting awake, I look over to see Aerix’s arm brushing against my pillow barrier.

“Do you mind?” I hiss, throwing as much venom into the words as I can muster.

“Relax.” He raises an eyebrow, looking far too comfortable for someone who kidnapped me and forced me to share his bed. “Your precious barricade is still intact. Although, I have to say, if you’re trying to ward off evil, you might want to try something sturdier than finely woven silk.”

“Just... stay on your side,” I say, more defeated than angry by this point.

I’m too tired for this. Too tired to think about Sapphire, about almost drowning, about being kidnapped, or about any of it.

“Sweet dreams, little human,” he murmurs, and I hate how his voice seems to wrap around me, softer than the silk sheets I’m relying on for protection. “And you have no idea how grateful you should be that you remind me so much of her.”

Not having the energy to continue this back and forth with him, I don’t reply.

Instead, I close my eyes and let exhaustion pull me under, praying that when I wake up, it won’t be to Aerix sinking his fangs into my neck for a cup of the vampiric version of morning coffee.