1572

~Amolet

Staring down into my teacup, I wait.

I've agreed to meet Stace here, in a random coffee shop somewhere deep in the Harmony Pack. It took a lot, but I managed to convince Cian to allow me to meet him on neutral ground. And Cian is far away too, meaning I'm going to have to trust Stace in order to have this conversation.

Soon enough, the glass door of the shop opens, and in walks Stace.

Immediately I can feel all eyes draw to him, as he ducks his head under the doorway, approaching the table I sit at. His tattoos, his eyes and the obvious power emanating off him is enough to garner curiosity, and some equally uncomfortable looks.

I wouldn't be surprised if patrons start to get up to leave.

"You wanted to talk?" He draws a chair out, falling into it casually. My hands tuck under the table as I try to not let him see that I'm shaking.

"I'm assuming you know Noah is dead?" I hate that I sound so flippant, as if his death doesn't effect me at all. As far as Stace is concerned, it won't have, and I'm happy for him to think that. Him knowing the death of my enemy has bothered me so much will only make me look weak in his eyes.

His hand comes up to his mouth as he considers me. "Hmm. Was it you?"

"No...Cian did it," I admit. I could have killed Noah, had I not been caught off guard by his admission. Had his death been at my hand, I don't think I would be so well recovered by now.

"I'm surprised. Despite despising each other, they often mutually agreed to stay out of each other's way," Stace muses, looking out the window. Everything in the Pack still continues to run, oblivious to the fact that their Alpha has been killed. I'm not sure who is running the place now, but that's an issue for once Stace has been dealt to.

I take a sip of my tea. "Noah came to kill me, so don't act like it wasn't deserved."

A smile tugs at his lips. "I never said he didn't deserve it."

My eyes narrow. I wish I could understand Stace. His motive is buried deep behind those expressionless black eyes, unable to be grasped. His intentions with Noah, with Abella and now with me are what I need to get out of him, although I doubt I'll have much luck. He clearly enjoys being the enigmatic one.

"Okay...Then tell me where Abella is," I demand.

"You mistake me for someone Noah trusted. If Abella is, in fact, alive, then I have no idea where she would be," he shrugs, motioning around himself as if she could be mingling with this crowd right now.

I drag my eyes over everyone's faces. Even though I don't know Abella, I'm hyper aware of everyone, as if it's realistic she would be here right now. "Are you not magically capable of sensing people? Surely you can track her."

He tilts his head back and forth. "It's not so simple, Amolet."

"Make is that simple," I snap.

Stace leans forward, bracing his elbows on the table as he looks at me. My attempts not to shift uncomfortably under his scrutiny are failing. There's not many places on his person that I can look at and not be terrified. I settle instead for right in the centre of his forehead, where a few dark curls rain down.

"Or what?" he breathes. There's a threat laced in his tone.

"I can kill you." I'm not even sure if I can use my powers on him, considering he's not from this Realm, but I'm not willing to find out right now, when I'm supposed to be getting answers out of him about Abella.

"This is getting far too hostile. Why don't we have dinner together? You can even invite your friends," Stace offers, his threatening tone vanishing, replaced by a kinder lilt. I bristle, suspicious. "Not sure why you've decided to side with Sinful, Hale and Ira. I'm far more entertaining."

A rush of air comes from nose, as I try not to let my disappointment become obvious on my face. How can he not know if Abella is alive and yet know Cian and I have been convening with the other Sins?

"Dinner? What would be the point of that?"

"We could establish a relationship, you and I. I don't want you to be my enemy." He leans forward some more, smiling softly. I'm unsure of how believable this façade is. "And maybe we can work on finding Abella if she is alive."

Whether he is lying to me or not, dinner with Stace could garner invaluable information. It's a risk, but if he wanted to kill me, he would just do it here, whether there are people around us or not.

"Alright. Dinner it is," I relent.

He grins. "And your mate isn't invited..."

***

Cian's eyes are darker than I've ever seen them as he shakes his head slowly. "Not happening."

"Why not?"

"I'm not sending you to whatever hell he has planned without me," he growls.

My eyes close, as I release a calm breath. I've only been back five minutes to my apartment and Cian has already forbidden this dinner from happening. He even summoned the rest of the Sin's to confer, who all seem very interested in joining me.

"Now is not the time for you to be the jealous mate, idiot," Ira snaps, examining her nails as she lounges on my couch. Lev sits on the opposite one, having been unable to take her eyes off her since she arrived. She may be beautiful, but Lev should be aware of how deadly she is, even if she doesn't appear like it right now.

Sinful emerges from the kitchen, a bag of my favourite chips in his hand, which I scrunch my nose up at. "Remind me, Amolet, why Stace expressly asked for me, Hale and Ira to come with you?"

"I don't know, but he wouldn't settle for anything less," I say with a shrug.

"Doesn't matter, it's not happening," Cian reminds us. His shoulders are tense, arms crossed over his chest defiantly. I want to comfort him, to tell him everything will be okay, but not here, in front of his siblings.

"What are you so scared of?" Hale asks.

He stands back against the window, the view of the city lights glittering behind him. The top few buttons of his shirt are undone, showing an unnerving amount of his silver tattoos that litter his chest, their meaning unknown. The very few times he speaks, I use the opportunity to not only look at him, but also the strange vile of brilliantly blue liquid around his neck that I'm too frightening to inquire about.

"Stace killing her," Cian says with a frown, as if it's the most foolish thing to be asked.

Hale's gaze is steady, unwavering in the way he focuses on Cian. "Don't think we will protect her?"

"Hale, you hate mortals, last time I checked," Cian mutters, before turning his attention to his sister. "And don't get me started on Ira."

Ira rolls her eyes, but doesn't bother defending herself.

"Then the burden falls on me..." Sinful exclaims, walking past me. He only just manages to hold the bag of chips high enough for me to miss when I make a grab for them, making me consider using my powers just to get them back.

"I can protect myself. Against Stace and these three," I remind Cian. Sinful glares at me.

"I could kill you without a second thought," he snarls. "Don't tempt me."

I tilt my head. "Likewise."

Cian comes to stand between Sinful and I before a fight erupts. "Still not happening."

"Are you worried that Stace will seduce her? I've been alerted to the fact they are awfully friendly with each other," Ira comments from the couch, the amusement in her tone just to rouse anger out of Cian.

My mate turns, looking as though he's about to react angrily to his sister, but I cut in before he gets a chance.

"Stop, all of you." My voice is close to a yell, thankfully making everyone pause, their attention shifting to me. "We gain Stace's trust, we end the dinner and that's it."

There's a silence as we all monitor Cian, anxious for his reaction. I could go without Cian's permission, of course, but I don't want to do anything to upset him. If I was in his position, I wouldn't want him to go either, but this is about Abella, and without Stace, I doubt there's going to be a chance for us to get her back if she is alive.

"If Stace so much as touches her, you have my permission to end him. Or get close to it," Cian says after a long moment, pointing at Sinful, who at this point, seems to be the only one he can trust.

Sinful grins, clapping his hands together. "Ohh, delightful."

💜••💜

🦋••🦋

🐼••🐼

Sophie_Midika

Midikacrane

~Midika 💜🐼