Macy POV
I do my best to keep my wrist hidden while I speak to the twins, but they are eyeing me suspiciously. They know I am hiding something from them.
"I can't stay here any longer," I try to sound confident. "This is not my home."
Edward and Winston share an awkward look; their eyes glaze over, and I know they are speaking through the mind link. It frustrates me. I should be a part of whatever conversation they are having.
"If you aren't going to take this seriously, I will just leave without you," I hiss.
Edward's eyes dart away from his brother, and he cocks an eyebrow. "What makes you think we aren't taking this seriously?"
"Whatever you have to say, you can say it out loud or not at all," I say accusingly. "No more of this mind link business."
Winston runs his hands down his face but doesn't say anything. It is clear he is going to avoid this conversation like the plague. So, I turn all of my attention onto Edward, and much to my surprise, he squirms a little under my glare.
"We want to stay," Edward finally blurts out.
Closing my eyes, I take a deep breath. I knew this was going to be the response, so why am I so shocked to hear it? Winston reaches out for me, but I take a step back. I don't want him to touch me. I don't want to feel the stupid tingles that come from the mate bond. In fact, I don't even want to look at their stupid faces.
"Were you ever planning on consulting me in this decision?" I manage to ask through gritted teeth.
"We just thought that now Mom is not crazy; you would want to stay too," Winston finally breaks his silence.
"Did you not hear what Nyx said?" I shout. "Once werewolves and humans figure out what I am, they won't stop coming for me. I don't want to live in fear of who is lurking around the corner, desperate to steal me or my power. Why would I want to stay here?"
"We would never let anything happen to you?" Edward interjects. "We are Lycans. They cannot take you from us."
"I don't understand," I groan. "What happened? Before all of this, you two wanted to go to the Immortal Realm. Why have you changed your minds?"
"Mom needs us right now," Edward sighs. "Between what the Moon Goddess did and her pregnancy, she is struggling to rule the Kingdom. We have to stay. It is our duty."
Anger and loathing bubble in my chest. It isn't a feeling I have felt toward the twins in a long time. Just when I thought we were starting to understand one another, they pull this shit.
"It may be your duty to stay here, but it is not mine," I say with my head held high. "I refuse to be subjected to abuse just so I can be with you."
"Abuse?" Edward questions. "Who is abusing you?"
The burns on my arms seem to grow hot. I fight against the urge to tell them the truth. Carefully, I plan my next words, not wanting to give away anything. But what I don't realize is that I am absentmindedly rubbing my wrist. Winston's eyes dart to my hand, and I quickly place both behind my back.
He does not give up. Instead, Edward stands in front of me while Winston inches his way behind me. I am pinned between them. Winston grabs my wrist and twists it back in front of me. Edward looks down at the burns on my arm and growls loudly.
"Who the fuck did this?" He demands to know.
"It doesn't matter," I skirt the question. "All that matters is Nyx was right. I am not safe here. The enemies are coming for me."
"No one knows who you are," he snarls.
"Enough people know," I whisper.
"How did these burns get on your arm?" Winston asks calmly.
"Someone had iron rings fashioned for each of his fingers," I reply. "He burned them with me purposely."
"Who?" Edward growls.
"I told you, it doesn't matter," I reply. "All you need to know is that Nyx was right."
"Macy," Winston whispers. "You have to tell us so we can keep you safe."
"It was Billy," I reply.
"I fucking knew it," Edward growls. "I will kill him."
Suddenly, the alarms in the mansion sound off, and the windows darken. Nyx bursts into the bedroom and stands beside me. She is ready to risk her life to protect me. I don't know what is happening, but I get the feeling that the war between the two realms has begun.
"You stay here," Edward snaps at me. "We aren't done talking about this."
"They are here for me," I whisper.
Winston spins me around and presses his lips to mine. "I won't let them take you."
"You can't stop them," I sigh.
I lace my fingers into his hair, wanting to remember this feeling forever because I fear this is the last time I will see the twins. Winston rests his forehead against mine and whispers softly, "This isn't the end."
Edward is already out of the bedroom door. He didn't even bother to say goodbye. I try not to let my feelings be too hurt.
"Stay away from the windows," Winston instructs before following his brother.
The door slams behind him, and I am left alone. Nyx is inspecting every inch of the room, looking for Goddess knows what. She approaches a window and instantly collapses to the ground.
"Nyx!" I shout as I rush to her side.
Her body is limp, but she is still breathing. I run my fingers through her fur, trying to wake her, but she doesn't respond to my touch. Just as I am about to get up and look for help, a hand wraps around my face and covers my mouth.
I try to scream against the hand, but a voice in my head tells me to be silent. My eyes widen, and fear washes over me. This is it.
'Sleep,' a voice speaks in my mind.
I fight against the darkness that is consuming my brain, but it is of no use. Whatever magic they are using is stronger than mine, and I have no choice but to succumb to my fate.