Footsteps pounded the rock floor, and before Nick could look past Isadora to see where they were coming from, a fist slammed into his jaw, knocking him off his feet.
Isadora shrieked. Nick stumbled backward and knocked into a stalagmite. Rock and debris broke loose from the tip, crumbling to the cave floor at his feet. Hands grasped the front of his shirt and hauled him around, slamming him against the cave wall.
“Demetrius! Stop!”
“You son of a bitch,” Demetrius growled, ignoring Isadora. “I was going to give her to you, you bastard. But not now.”
A gasp echoed through the cave, but all Nick could focus on was his brother’s enraged eyes. They were roughly the same weight, but Demetrius had him by at least an inch, though at the moment, Nick didn’t give a fuck. The coppery tang of blood slid across his tongue. And with that darkness roaring in his veins, urging him on, one corner of his mouth twisted in a sneer.
This was better than kissing Isadora. Or tormenting her. This was the bloodletting he’d been hoping for for months.
“Even you don’t want her?” Nick grunted. “Yeah, she’s turned out to be a real catch, hasn’t she?”
Demetrius’s grip tightened on Nick’s shirt. And he leaned so close, Nick could feel the darkness radiating from him too. “Give me one reason not to beat the fucking life out of you.”
Footsteps pounded close, and voices echoed through the tunnels. Kellen and the others who’d been checking out the cave-in tore into the room. Nick waved them off. “Don’t touch him. He’s mine.” Then to Demetrius, “You think you can take me? Try it.”
“Oh for gods’ sake.” Isadora’s voice bounced off rock and echoed in the air. “You’re both complete morons if you think this is helping. Kill each other for all I care. I’ve had it. You”—she tipped her chin toward Nick—“with your I don’t give a shit attitude, and you”—she turned her fiery gaze upon Demetrius—“thinking you own me? No one gives me away.“ She threw up her hands. “I’m done. I’m done with both of you.”
She turned for the tunnel that led back to the lowest level of the castle. For the first time, Nick realized Isadora’s sister, Callia, was standing near the door to the entrance of the colony. “Come on. Let’s go find Titus before it’s too late.”
“He’s upstairs, in one of the suites.”
“Thank the Fates we don’t have to go searching for him,” Isadora muttered. “The sooner we get this done, the sooner we can get the hell out of here. I’m suddenly sick of the view.”
Footsteps echoed and slowly faded. Silence descended, settling in the tense air. The only sound was the thump of Nick’s heartbeat roaring in his ears. He waited, expecting Demetrius to haul off and plow his fist into his jaw again, but the blow never came. Instead, Demetrius let go and stepped back. Then his face paled, and worry crept into his dark, usually guarded eyes.
“Skata.” Demetrius scrubbed a hand through his hair.
And standing there, watching, Nick had a memory flash. Of the way his brother had looked strung up in the Council’s chamber after Demetrius and Isadora had come back from that island. How lost he’d looked then. How Isadora had been the only one to believe in him. How she’d convinced her father to abdicate the throne to her, stepped in, told the Council to go to hell and stopped his execution.
What they had was stronger than the soul mate bond. It was the kind of connection that defined you, that made you who you were. The one thing in the world you’d sacrifice, knowing you’d never be whole again, all to keep the other safe.
“You love her.”
Demetrius sucked in a breath.
“No,” Nick clarified. “I mean, you really love her.”
“Don’t fucking mock me.”
Nick wasn’t. At least, he wasn’t trying to. Sweat broke out on his forehead. He didn’t care that his men could still be listening. That the private life he worked so hard to keep private from those he protected was slowly drifting away. He’d known Isadora felt something for his brother, but all this time he’d assumed it was the soul mate bond keeping them together. He’d thought that his own bond to her was just as strong. Now…
Now he knew it wasn’t even close. He may want Isadora. He may never be able to stop the soul mate draw to her. But she didn’t love him. And she never would.
“Go to her.”
Demetrius closed his eyes. “She doesn’t want me, you idiot. Didn’t you hear her?”
“Yeah, she does.” Nick swallowed the lump in his throat. “She’s just pissed, and with good reason. You were a dick.”
“Now you’re telling me to stay with her? Skata, you’re the one who said she’d be safer here with you.”
“I’m an asshole. What the hell do I know?” When Demetrius rubbed a hand over his eyes, Nick found himself with a choice. To go after what he wanted, or to do what was right. And shit, though he wanted nothing more than to be a selfish prick, something inside wouldn’t let him.
“She loves you, you moron. Even I can see that. Are you really dumb enough to let her get away?”
Demetrius stared at the cave wall. Defeat rippled across his features. “You’re right about the Council. They’ll move on her as soon as they think they can.”
“So don’t let them. You’ve got the Argonauts on your side. Use them. If you and those girly men you hang around with can protect a whole realm, you can figure out a way to protect her.”
Demetrius turned to look at him. “Why the change of heart? We both know you want her too.”
Nick’s skin prickled. He could lie, or…he could be honest with…himself. “I thought there was a chance she might one day…want…to be with me. But I can see now that’s never going to happen, thanks to you.”
Darkness filled Demetrius’s eyes. “She deserves better.”
“Than both of us?” Nick huffed. “I’m not arguing with you there. But for whatever reason, she wants you. And no matter what I do, I’m never going to be you. No one is ever going to be you.”
Their eyes held. And in the silence between them, Nick’s chest pinched. He was losing her again. Which was an absurd thought, considering she’d never really been his. But that didn’t make the hurt any less. In fact, if possible, he was pretty sure that made it a thousand times harder to take. To see your future standing in front of you and not be able to reach for it… That was the definition of true misery.
“Go to her,” Nick said before he could change his mind.
Indecision brewed in Demetrius’s eyes, then was slowly replace with hope. He stepped toward the tunnel that ran back to the colony, but stopped and turned back. “What about you?”
Nick tucked a hand in his pocket. Tried for his I-don’t-fucking-care attitude. Knew it came off weak and pathetic. “I’m not soul mate material.”
Demetrius stared at him. Opened his mouth to say something. Closed it.
With one last nod, he headed down the dark tunnel.
Alone, Nick turned to survey the barren room. Kellen and the others had left somewhere in the middle of the conversation, which was the only plus Nick could see. Everything else—his future, his purpose, his reason for getting up in the freaking morning—was bleak. What the hell did he have to look forward to now that he knew for sure he’d never have his soul mate?
He didn’t know. He only knew that he couldn’t stay here. He needed out.
Titus rolled toward Natasa in the early morning light. She lay softly sleeping on her stomach, her back rising and falling with her gentle breaths, her red hair fanned out around her on the pillow.