030: DO IT

ARYA

I saw the terror in his eyes when I fell. I didn't think he could feel fear, but there it was…raw and open.

Lying there in his arms with all of the chaos unfolding, I understood one thing. I was the tribrid alpha's weakness. Seducing him didn't matter. I could hear the sound of violence and the pounding of feet from a distance. But nothing was clearer than the sound of Alpha Daxton's voice as he pulled me into his arms, whispering gentle words of comfort under his breath. The world was fading into a dull grey when he rose to his feet while carrying me in bridal style. And then everything went black.

When I awoke again, I felt as though I was floating on clouds, numb to the sensations in my body. But he was right there by my side, holding my hand. Daxton.

There was a shadow of grief hanging over his features, and there were dark circles under his eyes. I wanted to ask him why he was so bothered that his enemy was down, but sleep whisked me away again.

I stirred awake once more. This time, I felt the sensation of a kiss on my forehead. It was him again. When he pulled away and noticed that I was staring, he brought a hand to my face, giving me a smile. Still, my exhaustion won again, pulling me back into oblivion.

The smell of lavender floated in the air, wrapping me with a sense of safety when I opened my eyes. Through the window, I could see that it was dark outside.

"You're awake."

I looked up at the sound of Aunt Sally's voice. She gave me a small smile, leaning over to place a hand on my forehead.

"Your fever has broken. That's good," she whispered, moving over to my nightstand to pour me a glass of water. I sat up slowly, stretching my arms above my head.

"Where's Dax—master?" I asked, and she handed me the glass of water.

"He's been by your side for the past five days," she responded, and my eyes bulged in their sockets.

"Five days?!"

She nodded.

I blinked at her, bewildered.

She moved over to embrace me, her lavender scent flooding my senses. For a moment, I stayed still, astonished by this gesture of hers. She'd always seemed so distant. Now, I didn't know what to make of this. When she pulled away from me, she wiped a tear away from her face.

"Thank you for protecting him. But, please don't do it again. You could've died...and your death would've broken him beyond consolation."

I stared at her, my mind reeling.

"Aunt Sally—"

She shook her head, flashing me a weary smile. "Call me Sally. The master is in his study. He's been waiting for you to awaken."

...

I took a deep breath and knocked on the door of Alpha Daxton's office. I'd washed up and eaten the meal Aunt Sallie had prepared for me. And now, it was time to face my mate.

"Come in."

I opened the door and walked in, shutting the door behind me.

He stood by the window dressed in a loose white tee and a pair of blue jeans. He suddenly looked so young. But he also seemed to be lost in thought.

"Master, it's me," I said.

He turned to look at me, relief crossing his features the instant he saw me. "Arya," he rasped almost breathlessly. "Moon above, I thought—"

He looked tired. Much more tired than I'd ever seen him.

"I'm still alive," I shrugged. "You look like hell."

"I guess you couldn't stand the thought of dying without dragging me to hell with you," he said, and despite myself, a smile curled my lips.

"You bet."

There was a crack in his armour. Just a small one. But through it, I saw the man behind the beast. And gods help me... it was taking me so much effort to keep my heart from wavering.

"Come closer," Daxton said, and my fingers curled into the fabric of my dress, knots forming in my guts.

As I took a step towards him, I realized that I was indeed nervous. But why?

What changed?

When I stopped in front of him, he reached out to cup the side of my face, his dual-coloured eyes filled with a haunting tenderness.

"Don't," His Adam's apple bobbed in his throat. "Don't scare me like that again, firecracker."

I shrugged. "I couldn't let you die by someone else's hands."

His gaze sharpened, his expression turning serious. "You could've died. I couldn't give you my blood because I was poisoned."

It was only at this point that I understood the gravity of the situation.

I really could've died protecting him.

My goodness.

Suddenly, his face contorted in pain, and he released me, turning away from me. I frowned in confusion.

Was he still being affected by the poison?

"What's happening? You should've healed by now," I said, and he turned to look at me, letting out a sharp breath.

"It's the moonstone," he sighed, and my frown deepened.

"What do you mean?"

He pushed his hair away from his face and began to take off his white T-shirt. I held up a hand to stop him, a flurry of panic flooding my insides.

"W-what are you doing?"

He arched a brow, amusement swimming in his golden and crimson irises.

"Relax. I won't do anything...inappropriate," he drawled, and I swallowed, feeling my cheeks heat up.

Damn him.

I lowered my hand, and he slipped his shirt off his body in one fluid motion, his muscles flexing under the action.

For a moment, I got distracted by his pecs, my gaze drifting to his well-defined abs and the freaking happy trail...

My mouth went dry.

Focus, Arya!

"My eyes are up here, firecracker," Daxton said, and I scowled, lifting my gaze to his chest.

To my surprise, he wasn't wearing the moonstone necklace.

"Where did it go? Did you hide it away?" I asked. He shook his head.

"Look closely, you'll see it," he told me.

I squinted at his chest, my eyes widening when I saw something pulsing in his chest under his skin. Drawn, I moved closer to him, reaching up to place a hand on his chest. The moonstone flared to life, glowing a bright blue.

He pulled away from me like he'd just been scalded, his chest heaving.

"How? Why is it in your body?" I breathed, confusion brewing inside of me.

He sighed, lowering himself onto his chair. "That day you activated it...that's when it happened. I can't get it out. It seems to have merged with my body."

My eyes widened with horror.

How was I supposed to steal the moonstone and give it to the people who'd asked for it?

"What? Are you worried that you won't be able to steal it from me?" he asked with a glint in his eyes that showed that he knew more than he was letting on.

"I'll take it out," I hissed, and he smirked.

"Enlighten me on how you would do that," he drawled, and I clenched my fists, tension gripping me.

"I'll dig it out of your dead body if I have to."

He rose to his feet, towering above me. Then he picked up a knife from his desk, holding out the handle to me. My hand trembled as I took it from him, my breathing quickening.

My heart raced in my chest as he grabbed my hand, directing the tip of the weapon to his exposed chest. His face was so close to mine, I'd never been so aware of his overbearing attractiveness. His lips brushed my earlobe when he leaned in.

"Go ahead, firecracker. Do it," he said in a low voice, shivers racing down my spine.

Despite the growing unease unfurling in my stomach, my hatred for him was beginning to burn in my heart with a feverish intensity.

"I'll kill you," I spat, my chest heaving.

He blinked, his expression turning stoic.

"What are you waiting for, Arya?! Fucking do it!"

Then the anger consumed me, hot and unrelenting. It felt as though I was possessed.

I lifted the knife, striking him in the chest. But he barely reacted. Then I stabbed him a second time, warm blood splashing on my face and dripping down his bare chest.

Only then did I snap out of that haze, stumbling away from him. My hand was trembling so hard that the knife slipped off my grip and crashed to the ground with a clatter.

The sight of the crimson stains on my hands had me trembling and panting, falling to my knees as I struggled to come to terms with the monster I'd become.

Alpha Daxton crouched in front of me, the wound on his chest still raw and bleeding.

I raised my head to look at him, tears stinging my eyes at the sight of him. My heart felt like it was being ripped apart brutally. Snow whimpered in my head, unable to stand the fact that we'd hurt our mate.

"You are weak," Daxton whispered, and tears of frustration rolled down my cheeks.

This was the man I'd so badly wanted to kill. He'd given me an opportunity, and I...I'd failed.

I lowered my head, my heart heavy with grief. I felt sorry for my poor mother, who had given birth to a weakling like me.

But then, my mate took hold of my chin, forcing me to hold his blank gaze.

"At this rate, your fellow assassin might get the job done before you can," he said, and I froze, my blood running cold in my veins.

He knew?

How did he know?

And just how much did he know?