Cassian POV
I sent Macy out on her own to the Lycan City. Well, mostly on her own. She has Nyx and several guards with her. It is all for show. No one will touch her. Especially not a Gray Creature. There is too much at stake for them.
Standing on the front steps of the palace, I stare out into the darkness. Something I used to do a lot when I was younger, but that feels like a lifetime ago. Several lifetimes ago. This feels wrong, forbidden even. The last time I did something this foolish, I ended up in the Human Realm for too many years to count.
My heart aches as I think about Lucy. She was perfect. Beautiful and wild. A human that was too delicate for the Immortal Realm and, apparently, too delicate for the Human Realm as well. I close my eyes and remember our last day together.
Leaning up against the wall of the kitchen, I watch Lucy. She has a pickle in one hand and a pint of melted ice cream in the other. She dips the pickle in the ice cream and brings it to her lips. Chocolate drips down her chin as she takes a bite. She moans around the pickle, having no idea what she is doing to me.
"What?" She asks with a mouth full of pickle and ice cream.
"That looks disgusting," I chuckle.
"Whatever the baby wants, the baby gets," she shrugs her shoulders.
"Damn right," I agree.
I cross the floor between us. Any space between us feels like too much. She shovels more into her mouth, ignoring my presence. She doesn't give me a chance to kiss her, so I have to sneak a peck in between bites. The taste of pickles and chocolate lingers on my lips as I pull away.
I lick the remnants off my lips and shutter. I was right. It is disgusting.
"Cassian," someone screams as they bang on my front door.
Lucy's eyes flash with fear. I have done my best to stay low. To not be found by my kind or werewolves. Most of all I have remained hidden from Selene. No one but Lucy knows my name. No one calls me Cassian.
"Go to the bedroom," I snap at Lucy.
"No," she whimpers. "I won't let them take you."
"Not even death could pry me from you," I whisper to her. "Please. Hide."
With a sigh, Lucy runs to the bedroom and slams the door behind her. I can hear her crying through the door, but I don't go to her. I move toward the front door. Looking through the window, I see a blonde woman I have never seen before. She is dressed in rags and thin. Her hair is matted against her head, and her belly is swollen with child, just like Lucy.
Bright blue eyes glow through the darkness of the night. The only indication that she is not what she seems. She is not human, or at least not entirely.
"Cassian," she shouts. "I know you are in there. I have a message from Nyx."
Nyx. I had almost forgotten about her. My most loyal warrior. I knew she would follow me into the realm, but I had no idea she would stay.
I open the door, only enough to stick my head out, but the blonde woman pushes her way inside with a strength that rivals my own.
"Where is Nyx?" I demand to know.
"She lives in here," the woman says. "In here."
She is tapping on her forehead with a crazed look in her eyes. I have no idea what she is talking about. My eyes dart to the bedroom. I need to keep this woman away from Lucy. This woman is unwell.
"She won't live," the woman whispers.
"Are you threatening my mate?" I shout.
"Nara would never," she whispers. "She is harmless."
The woman's voice has changed into something familiar. "Nyx?"
"I don't have time to explain," her words are hurried. "Nara fights me for control. Your mate does not survive childbirth. She will not survive the night."
"No," I hiss, but I know Nyx's visions are rarely wrong. Subjective, maybe, but not wrong.
Lucy screams from the bedroom, and vomit rises in my throat. I push the blonde woman to the side and rush into the bedroom. Lucy is curled on the floor with a puddle of blood beneath her. "It's okay. We will take you to the hospital. It's going to be okay."
"You cannot take her," the blonde whispers. "They are waiting."
"I don't care," I shout at the woman. "I will protect her. I will save her."
"She is already gone," she whispers. "Wasting time. Wasting time to save the child."
I look down at the woman in my arms. My perfect Lucy. Her lips are pale, and all life has drained from her eyes. I cradle her in my arms and cry. The tears in my eyes are making the world blurry. I am so lost in my grief that I don't see the woman ripping the child from her body with unworldly claws. The sound of a baby crying fills the room, but I still don't take my eyes off Lucy.
"A girl," the woman says. "But not Fae. Not this one."
"Leave," I grind out through my teeth.
"The baby," the woman begins.
"She is under Nyx's protection," I growl. "Bring the heir through the portal when it is time."
Rustling in front of the palace brings me back to the present. I wipe my tear stained cheeks and stare into the moonless night. A Gray Creature moves toward the palace. Stopping just short of the runes that are put there for our protection. It tries to take another step, but it hisses out in pain.
"Did she take it?"
"Yes," its voice pierces into the night.
"Good," I reply. "Let them through the portal when they come."
"What do we get in return?" It hisses.
I growl. "Your payment has been given."
The Gray Creature screams in protest, but I do not offer him any more than what has been given. I have already given too much.
I slam the palace door behind me and shake the feeling of unease that travels up my spine.
"What were you doing outside?" My father's shouts from the stairs.
"I needed some air," I reply.
"I taught you how to dodge the truth better than that." Even in his drunken state, my father, the great King Roland, can see right through me. This plan might be harder than I thought. When I don't respond to him. He sighs. "Keep your secrets. I don't want to know."