Magnus's low and guttural voice reverberates through the office. 'Nina, please don’t ask me again. We are not allowing Alec to leave that dungeon,' Magnus growls, his tone an unmistakable warning.
The fire of determination ignites within me, fueled by the injustice I witnessed. 'If you saw what he showed me and how it all came about, you would see how unjust it is for him to remain in there,' I argue, pleading for understanding.
'Nina, I would never put myself in that position in the first place. Your blood flame made his choice, and he now suffers the consequences,' Magnus replies in a firm tone.
Defiantly, I press on, challenging Magnus's convictions. 'If I were burned at the stake, would you not try and kill those responsible?' I demand.
Magnus stiffens visibly, a heated tension seizing the room. Without uttering a word, he abruptly turns away, striding towards the staircase. The door to the office room slams shut, leaving me standing in the aftermath of our heated exchange.
With Reaper perched on my shoulder, a silent witness to our fight, I sigh heavily and gravitate toward the open window.
'That didn’t go down well,' Reaper communicates through our mind-link.
'Well, it’s a complicated situation for Magnus,' I respond, gazing out into the garden. 'He is my mate, and the Vampire King is my second mate.'
A startled gasp from the garden draws my attention, prompting a quick exchange with Reaper, who swiftly takes flight, circling the garden to investigate the source of the disturbance.
'Who's there?' I bellow from the window. My voice edged with a threatening tone. 'Come out now, and I might let you live.' Fingers cracking, I prepare for a potential confrontation as I climb out of the window and jump down. Reaper's caw signals his discovery, alerting me to the presence of someone or something lurking in the bushes. Without hesitation, I step forward, ready to confront the intruder head-on.
A sudden tackle sends the mysterious figure sprawling, and as the dust settles, the identity of the intruder becomes clear. 'Don’t kill me. Please don’t kill me,' Hank pleads, a mixture of fear and desperation in his eyes.
'Hank? What are you doing in my territory? You were exiled from here. You were never supposed to return,' I growl, my knuckles tightening in anger.
'I came to, uh, apologize—yes, apologize and make amends for my terrible behaviour, trying to blackmail Magnus into a mateship with my sister,' Hank stammers, his voice pitched higher in fear.
The realization of Hank's trespassing hits me, and my anger intensifies. 'You know I have every right to kill you for returning and trespassing?' I remind him sternly.
His response is a quick descent to his knees, bowing before me. 'But you are such a kind, understanding Luna. Would you really kill someone for trying to right their wrong?' he pleads, causing me to think of Juniper and how she would have wanted Alec to forgive the humans. I frown in thought as my gut is telling me to kill him right here, right now, yet my heart weighs the possibility of redemption.
Hank hesitates for a moment before meeting my outstretched hand and using it to pull himself up. 'Thank you, Luna,' he says with gratitude.
Curiosity and suspicion linger as I question his choice to skulk in the garden rather than follow proper protocol. 'What were you doing in the garden anyway? Why didn’t you just knock at the packhouse door?' I ask, searching for an explanation.
Hank shifts uncomfortably, explaining, 'Um, I thought if Magnus or someone else were to greet me at the door, they would not be as understanding as you would be and kill me without hearing me out first.'
'I see,' I respond, absorbing his rationale, though my scepticism persists.
'Now that you have heard what I have to say and accepted my sincerest apologies, I will be on my way then,' Hank declares, ready to swiftly exit.
'Wait, how come I can’t smell your scent? The warriors should have known you were here,' I observe, questioning the peculiar absence of his scent.
Hank's fingers fidget with a symbol made from a precious stone around his neck as he struggles to find an answer. Stepping forward, I reach for the symbol, examining it closely. 'I’ve seen this symbol before,' I remark, recalling its familiarity. Without hesitation, I yank it from his neck, turning my back to him and holding it up for Reaper to inspect. 'Wasn’t this mentioned in one of the spellbooks? I’m pretty sure it hides your scent.'
Reaper validates my suspicion through our mind-link, affirming, 'Yes, that’s an excellent observation.' However, when I turn back to address Hank, he has vanished.
'Something odd about that, Hank,' I mutter, my instincts tingling with uncertainty.
'Are you going to chase after him?' Reaper queries through the mind-link.
'No, I need to check on Magnus,' I decide, prioritizing my mate's well-being over pursuing Hank.
Reaper takes flight, gracefully soaring over me and landing on the railing outside my bedroom window, poised to eavesdrop on our impending conversation. Rolling my eyes at his antics, I enter the packhouse, employing a quick 'Skedaddle Dash' upstairs before gently knocking on the bedroom door.
A grunt from within signals Magnus's acknowledgment, and interpreting it as an invitation, I step into the room. Magnus sits at the end of the bed, an air of contemplation hanging around him like a shroud. Opting for a more comforting approach, I settle onto his lap in the sturdy embrace of his arms. Almost instinctively, he responds by enveloping me in a tight hug, the physical connection becoming a refuge in the silent exchange of shared emotions.
'I'm sorry,' I murmur, my words bearing remorse.
'I know. I am too. I’m just not adjusting well to the idea of Alec also being your fated mate. I’m not sure if I could ever accept it,' Magnus replies, troubled but with a deep sincerity. He sighs heavily. ‘I should finish off the paperwork in the office. It will help take my mind off this situation. Do you want to come with me?’ he asks, his tone a mix of practicality and a subtle invitation for shared company.
A subtle smile graces my lips as I mull over the offer. 'I think I'll go down to the basement and socialize with my coven sisters,' I respond with genuine warmth and understanding in my expression.