For a moment, I thought I heard genuine concern in his voice, saw real fear in his stare, but that had to be a byproduct of my fright.

“Are you all right?” His hands folded over my upper arms.

Swallowing hard, I nodded. “How did you know?” The moment I asked the question, I remembered. “My blood.”

“I felt it.” He leaned in and swept back the hair plastered to my face. His features sharpened even more. “Your…fear. I tasted it.”

 Booted steps drew to a halt outside the bathing chamber, and I heard Saion growl, “Fates.”

I glanced over Nyktos’ shoulder to see Ector in the doorway beside Saion. His face paled as he took in the scene before him.

“Having your blood in me has come in handy.” Nyktos’ gaze lowered, halting on my throat. His jaw hardened.

“Exactly how much does my blood let you feel of my emotions when I’m not around you?”

“Only if what you’re feeling is extreme.”

 “Feels a bit intrusive,” I muttered.

Silvery, swirling eyes met mine. “Part of me is astonished and somewhat bemused that you could even feel anger about that right now.” A pause as his stare returned to my throat. “The other half is…” He didn’t finish, but thick tendrils of shadow spilled across the floor, forcing Ector to take a step back. The god’s head snapped in the Primal’s direction.

His reaction… Was he truly concerned? Did it matter if he was? Because I…I was valuable to him right now. No, not me. What I carried inside me was important. Of course, he would be concerned about losing the ember of life and whatever else his father may have done.

“Get me a towel.” Nyktos shifted, shielding my body with his, but there was so much hazy darkness gathering around him that I doubted either god could see much of anything. “Not that one,” he said as Saion neared, reaching for the one that had been on the stool. “One that hasn’t been touched.”

“Of course.” A moment later, Saion handed a towel over.

Nyktos whipped it around my shoulders, but he didn’t let go. He held the edges closed and brushed aside several more soaked strands of hair. The eather was all too bright in his eyes and in the streaks cutting through the shadows churning around him.

“He tried to strangle you?” Nyktos’ voice was soft—too soft.

“He tried,” I said, suppressing a shudder. “He failed, as you can see.”

That didn’t seem to ease the Primal as his fingers grazed my throat, the touch tender. “Your skin had better not bruise.”

My eyes shot to his. He’d said that as if he could somehow will it into reality, and I wasn’t sure why he cared.

“I’m okay,” I repeated, clasping the towel just below his hands. “I mean, I’m pretty sure I’ll never take another bath again in my life, but I’m okay.”

Nyktos stared at me, brows slightly pinched.

“That’s…that’s Hamid,” murmured Saion, and I caught a glimpse of him turning to where the man lay. “What the fuck?”

The name was familiar. It took a moment. “The…man who came to court to report Gemma missing?”

The man groaned, jerking my attention over Nyktos’ shoulder.

“He’s still alive,” Saion said at the same time Ector stepped forward.

Nyktos twisted away from me. “Don’t—”

It happened so fast…a bolt of silvery-white energy arcing across the bathing chamber to slam into Hamid. I sucked in a startled breath, jerking back. Nyktos folded an arm around my waist, catching me before I toppled over. He gathered me against his chest and stood, bringing me along with him. The aura of eather swallowed the man, crackling and spitting, and then there was nothing left but a fine dusting of ash.

“I don’t know if I’ll ever be able to use this bathing chamber again,” I murmured, and Saion’s brows kicked up as he looked over at me.

Nyktos drew in a deep, forced breath as the shadows scattered away from him, retreating to the walls and corners. “You killed him.”

“Was I not supposed to?” Ector lowered his hand. “He tried to kill her, and for reasons, you are not too keen on that idea.”

“I would’ve thoroughly enjoyed his death after I spoke with him.” Nyktos pinned a glare on the god, and it was then that I realized the man hadn’t just been killed. His soul had been destroyed. “There will be no questioning him now.”

“Shit.” Ector apparently realized the same thing. He dragged a hand through his hair. “I might need to think before I act.”

“You think?” Nyktos snapped.

Ector cringed. “Sorry?”

“You’re cleaning up this mess,” Nyktos directed Ector then led me from the chamber.

“Gladly,” Ector remarked. “I think I’m going to need a bucket and a mop. Possibly a broom…” He trailed off under the Primal’s glare. “Or I could just use some towels and stuff.”

I started to look over my shoulder, but Nyktos led me toward the chaise as Rhain entered the bedchamber, drawing up short.

“Do I even want to know?” Rhain asked, sword in hand.

“Hamid just tried to assassinate Sera,” Saion answered from the doorway to the bathing chamber.

Confusion marked Rhain’s expression as he sheathed his sword. “Why in the hell would Hamid do that?”

“That’s what I would like to know.” Nyktos sat me down on the chaise. Flames roared to life from the quiet fireplace, causing me to jerk. My wide gaze slid to him. “Primal magic,” he said absently as if he’d only lit a candle. “Where is your robe?”

“I…I don’t know.”

He grabbed a throw blanket and then stopped. “You don’t need to let go of the piece of wood, but you do need to let go of the towel,” he said softly, and I blinked, realizing I was still holding the broken leg. “No one is looking.”

At that moment, I honestly didn’t care if the entire Shadowlands Court saw. I let go of the towel, and then the warm, soft weight of the blanket settled over my shoulders. I curled my fingers into the edges with one hand because I wasn’t exactly ready to part with the only weapon I had.

“I wish I had my dagger,” I murmured to no one in particular.

Everyone, including Nyktos, looked at me as if I’d possibly suffered some injury to the head. I sighed.

“How did he even get in here?” Rhain turned to the doors, stalking back to them. He checked them over. “There appears to be no forced entry.”

“I left the doors unlocked.” I briefly closed my eyes. “I thought someone would be guarding it.”

“Same,” Rhain murmured, looking over his shoulder at Nyktos.

I stared at the Primal, equally confused. Had he not made sure someone was outside to ensure I didn’t do anything?

A muscle ticked in Nyktos’ jaw. “I hadn’t quite gotten to that part yet.”

“He’s had a busy morning,” Saion chimed in. “First, assuring you and the others clucking around him like mother hens that he was okay, and then he had to check on the damage to the Rise.”

I didn’t know what to think about him not making it a priority that I was a…a prisoner. “Was there damage to the Rise?”

“Minimal,” Nyktos answered.

“And were there more deaths?” I asked.

He looked back at me. For a moment, I didn’t think he’d answer. Or that maybe he would accuse me of not caring. “There were injuries, but none that should be fatal.”

Exhaling softly, I nodded. That was good news, at least. “So,” I drew the word out as I looked up at the Primal. “A man who was a complete stranger just tried to kill me.”

“Appears that way,” Nyktos agreed flatly, sweeping his thumb over my chin before seeming to catch himself. He dropped his hand and rose. Several moments passed. “Did he say anything?”

“Only that…that he was sorry and had to do it,” I told them.

“Why would he think he had to do that?” Rhain asked. “Hell, I never would have expected something like that from him.”

“Did you know him well?”

“Well enough to know that he was a quiet man and kept to himself. Kind and generous,” Rhain said. “And he hated Kolis as much as any of us.”