43. Addi

FORTY-THREE

Ihaven't dared asked him for confirmation, but I feel thoroughly fucked, so I'm certain I look it no matter how much I've tried to shield the fact. I rebraided my hair and opted to wear fitted combat pants tucked into flat, black combat boots, with a long-sleeved white tee and my adapted corset beneath my leather jacket.

If anyone remembers me from the night Leticia challenged me to a duel, I'm sure they'll recognize the shimmer of daggers around my waist too. The only difference this time is every single one of them is made of silver. Since I know where I'm going, I can plan accordingly.

"I'm sure we can get there some other way," I grumble, pouting at the wolf standing toe to toe with me, back to his usual grizzly self.

"You're making this harder than it needs to be." I'm sure he's right, but he's not the one left with the nausea churning inside of them.

"Do you not have access to a vehicle?" I press, hoping for something else, and he cocks a brow at me.

"Why would that be necessary?" The challenge flashes in his eyes. Since he can use his wolf speed, it makes sense it wouldn't be needed, but that's beside the point.

"The vampires drive around in flashy cars, and they have vampire speed," I retort, and he rolls his eyes.

"The vampires are assholes. I'm not. Now, come on," he grumbles, offering me his hand again. I can sense the tension growing around him, probably regretting the extension of courtesy instead of just grabbing me and running like he's done previously.

Fuck.

"Fine. Get it over with," I mumble, my stomach clenching in preparation, and he wastes no time wrapping his fingers around mine and pulling me in close.

The world shifts a second later and I press my face into his chest, trying to shield myself from the sickness I know is coming. He stops quicker than expected, and I'm relieved to note that the waves of nausea aren't as bad this time.

My eyes fix on his as the world settles around us, and before I can take a confident step back, he leans in and presses his lips against mine in a ghost of a kiss. He's gone too quickly, putting a large step between us as I find Raiden, Brody, and Kryll waiting by the tree to our left.

I can hear the sound of music in the distance, but it seems as though there's a little distance between us and the party. Thank goodness.

Raiden is dressed head to toe in a navy suit tailored to perfection with a pristine white shirt underneath. He's forgone the tie and his top button is open. The way the moon beams down on him, he looks even more sinister than usual.

Brody stands beside him, his usual grin in place as he winks at me. He's wearing stone-colored chino pants and a white polo top. He looks so casual and put together—nothing like a mage walking onto wolves' land.

Kryll, however, almost looks like he could fit in. Maybe it's the shifter in him. Not that I know what he is, except for the fact that he mentioned wings. He's dressed in a fitted white tee and black jeans with unlaced leather boots. The tattoos that cover his body look darker in contrast to the white top, and his auburn hair looks almost brown beneath the dark sky.

I don't know what brought the four of these guys together, but here they are, and I seem to have found myself tangled in the middle of it.

"Are you ready to dance, Dagger?" Brody asks, sauntering toward me with a grin on his face. Before I can answer, his arm is around my shoulder, pulling me toward the noise in the distance.

"Dancing, not really, but I'm ready for someone to give me a hint as to what we're walking into. Who I should be on the lookout for, who I should avoid at all costs, who is safe to breathe around," I ramble, looking up at him with pleading eyes, and I don't even care if it makes me look weak. I need the facts however I can get them.

He frowns down at me. "That's what Cassian was supposed to be telling you. That's why he came to get you and we met you here." He looks at me expectantly before glancing at the wolf in question. He puts two and two together and quickly gets four. "Fuck. Now I'm jealous."

My cheeks heat and I'm thankful for the night air hiding it from him.

"You two were fucking? Again?" Raiden grunts, and I refuse to glance back at him to see the disapproval that undoubtedly matches his tone.

"Fuck off, asshole," Cassian grunts, while Kryll appears at my right side.

"The low down is, Cassian's father is…there's nothing more accurate than calling him a cunt." I cringe at the word, but no one disregards his assessment. "Stay away from him at all costs. I know that's why we're here, but even Raiden won't leave you alone in his presence." A few beats pass and Raiden doesn't correct him, which fills me with a little bit of hope.

"Who else is off limits?" I ask, my body relaxing under Brody's guiding arm.

"Dalton. Kenner's right hand man. He's worse than the rest. Ruthless, brutal, and will kill you first and reap the consequences after." Great. Sounds like a nice guy. "You're safest with Janie or Jake. I'm assuming you met Janie at the diner?" I nod. "Good, her and her husband love Cassian, which will extend to you unconditionally."

I open my mouth to correct him on the situation, but Brody squeezes my arm. "Winning the duel matters more than your origin or any other factor that could make them hate you. That's why she called Cassian the moment we sat down. That was all completely my fault, and she ensured you were safe before you won the duel. Now, her respect for you will have only grown."

I nod, not really sure what to say while my thoughts swirl with the entire situation, leaving me feeling a bit helpless. I want to say I'd rather not be here, I want to confirm that I don't ever want to cross paths with Cassian's father, but more than that, I don't want some victory of a duel to gain me things I have no business receiving.

The music gets louder as mellow lights illuminate the trees, revealing a huge gathering of people dancing and laughing along with the music as they clink their beer bottles and move to the beat. The energy quickly shifts around me and trepidation clings to my limbs.

Everyone seems familiar with one another, all touchy-feely, as wolves are known for being, until their eyes find me and their joy falters.

Cassian silently steps forward, semi-blocking me from view as Janie approaches. She wraps her arms around Cassian's neck, murmuring into his ear. He nods and she walks around him to stop in front of me.

"It's good to see you again. I didn't really introduce myself properly last time. I'm Janie." She offers out her hand and I take it, but instead of shaking it, she pulls me from Brody's grasp and into a hug.

"Be careful of my daggers," I yelp, and she chuckles in my ears.

"I'm good, but the heads up from you earns a little more respect from me," she states. "Now, are you going to introduce yourself or leave me guessing?" she muses, leaning back and releasing me from her hold.

"Addi. I'm Addi."

"Nice to meet you. Do me a favor, yeah?" I nod, and she smiles. "Stay at Cassian's side, okay?"

Great. The concern for me is extending past the small group I'm here with. It's appreciated, but it doesn't leave me feeling any safer here.

"When was the last time you ate?" she asks, looping her arm through mine as she pulls me toward the barbeque set up in the far corner.

"Oh, I'm not really hungry," I insist, and she shakes her head.

"That will just show them that you're nervous, Addi. You've got to walk in here exuding that confidence you were bathing in when you took down Leticia," she murmurs against my ear. My gaze darts around the space, and I find a large percentage of the crowd watching my every move.

Fuck, she's right.

"Lead the way," I reply, making her smile spread as I absorb her words and channel my confidence into every step I take.

I may be out of my comfort zone, but that doesn't mean I don't know my own abilities. I can handle myself. Being here doesn't change that.

Janie releases me as she approaches the guy at the grill. He sweeps her off her feet and plants a kiss on her lips with a big goofy grin on his face before he swiftly gets back to manning the meat. She reappears at my side a moment later, the guy waving at me as she places a plate in my hands.

"How am I supposed to eat all of this?" I ask, glancing down at the meat, potatoes, and corn piled high before me.

"Do fae not eat this much?" I shake my head as she leads me toward a table. "Maybe it's just a wolf thing," she adds, and I grin.

"Maybe."

The second I sit down across from Janie, I'm shuffled along the bench so Cassian can sit beside me, and Brody takes the spot to my left. Kryll and Raiden sit on the other side with Janie, and they all have their own plates stacked high.

Thankfully, the table settles into a comfortable silence as we eat. The music is good, and the longer I sit here, the calmer the general atmosphere tends to be. Not that I'm going to bask in that fact too much. The second I let my guard down, I know the rug will be pulled from under me.

As if sensing my inner thoughts, a guy appears at the end of the table. "Cassian, your father is looking for you." He's speaking to Cassian, but his dark gaze is settled on me. A jagged scar runs down his cheek, slipping down his throat and disappearing beneath the collar of his t-shirt. His tongue sweeps over his bottom lip as his stare intensifies, and without being told, my gut confirms this is who I was warned about. Dalton.

"You can let him know where you've spotted me," Cassian grunts, not lifting his gaze, but his hand quickly lands on my thigh, squeezing with confidence.

"I think we both know that's not how it works," he retorts, his voice deepening as he leans forward, bracing his hands on the table. Cassian sighs, seeking my hand with his, and the moment our fingers are laced together, he pulls me to my feet.

The second we're standing, Kryll, Raiden, and Brody rise too.

"Alone," Dalton bites, glaring at the entire table. Janie included.

Fucker.

I definitely don't like him.

"I don't think so," Cassian grunts, and the guy shrugs like he's more than happy to report back to his father how uncooperative he's being.

"That's cool. He mentioned something about causing a scene, and we all know how much I love those."

The stare-off between them dances in their eyes, both of their muscles flexing, begging for the other to make the first move, until Kryll speaks.

"Go, we've got her."

I gulp, uncertainty twisting in my gut. I don't need anyone to have my back, but I'm not dumb enough to forget that I'm in unfamiliar territory, and they know more than I do.

Cassian squeezes my fingers, silently sending a message. What he's trying to say, I'm not entirely sure, but I muster the best smile I can before he saunters away with his father's right-hand man.

Settling back into my seat, Janie offers me a tight smile. "He won't be long."

I open my mouth to answer when another shadow casts over the table, and I turn to see a familiar snarl glaring down at me.

"Fuck off, Leticia," Raiden grunts, but she doesn't even acknowledge his words as her stare hardens and she inches closer to me.

"You only beat me in the duel because you used weapons," she states, jaw tight, rage pouring from her in waves. Half of me wants to pat her on the back, call it an unlucky event, and move on, while the other half wants to remind her exactly who she came for. Instead, I settle on using my snark.

"And you shifted into your wolf within the first five seconds. Using your inner weapon instead of facing me in your natural form."

"My wolf is my natural form," she retorts, nostrils flaring with fury. "You think you know everything, and I'm more than eager to prove that you don't."

"When did I say that I know everything?" I challenge, quickly growing tired of the bullshit she's throwing at me, and she scoffs. "What do you want, Leticia? You're boring me."

I know it before I ask, the answer shimmering in her eyes with a deathly promise.

"I want a rematch."