46

W e're in the air, and I'm trying to prepare Leera for what she might see, but I don't think she's truly understanding the severity of a situation like this. If Khaos was so injured that he sounded like that and had to call us for help, that means that something very bad has happened.

Khaos, while not one of my favorite people in the worlds, is almost as strong as I am. Coupled with our werewolf healing, and for him to be in that kind of shape means it's far worse than she understands.

Scenario after scenario of what could have happened plays out in my mind over and over again during the nearly two-hour flight to where his pack resides in Maine.

I'm also balancing trying to keep Leera calm while planning strategy with the men in the event that the assailants are still nearby. Though I doubt anyone would expect that Khaos would reach out to me, especially if it’s my father that is involved.

I'm so fucking proud of my mate. She hasn't had a panic attack, and she's keeping her anxiety in control even with everything that's been thrown at her the last twenty-four hours. I don't know if finally uniting with her wolf has given her the additional strength or if it's just who she is.

Up to this point, I've been able to be the doting, hockey playing, lovesick pup for her, and I worry what she'll think when she has to see the other side of me. The commander of a royal military. The warrior who does what's needed, no matter the cost. The mate who will burn down the realms for her.

What if that side of me is too much for her?

What if she's too light for my darkness?

What if my darkness kills her like my father's killed my mother?

I shake the negative thoughts plaguing me, knowing that if there is a being in this universe that can handle me, it's the little spitfire sitting next to me, staring out the window. The Goddess gave her to me for a reason. I will not let either of them down.

The fasten seat belts sign blinks to life, indicating that we're going to begin our descent.

“Hey, Princess. Are you okay?” I ask, pulling her belt around her and clicking it in place.

She smiles, but it's weak and worried. “I just hope he's okay. We just got to start getting to know each other. And if he's hurt this badly, what about India? If they're at his pack, is his pack okay? Is this all because of me again? Have more people been hurt because of me?”

“Shhhh,” I soothe as I wipe a single tear off of her face. “No matter what we find, none of this is your fault. The only ones at fault are the people doing this. I promise you, no matter what we have to do or however long it takes, we will figure it all out and end this.”

She nods and takes a deep breath, then asks, “Slate, were you able to find anything else?”

He meets her eyes and slowly shakes his head. “I'm sorry.”

“We'll know what's going on soon enough. We're landing now,” Benny says with a crooked, hopeful smile.

When we finally pull the car to a stop, just outside Khaos' territory, she flies out of the car without giving any of us a chance to make sure it's safe.

Move fast. Check the perimeter for any lingering threats, I instruct my men.

“Leera, where are you going?!” I shout as I sprint to catch up to her.

“To get my brother!” she yells back over her shoulder.

Their bond. She's following it. I realize.

Jeanine, you and the others follow us.

Thankful that my legs are longer than hers, it only takes me a minute to catch up to her. It felt like it took longer, knowing that she could be running head first into an attacker. All of a sudden, she jerks herself right, runs up two more steps, then stops in her tracks and screams.