Reign of Blood

Chapter Thirty-Seven

Chronos awoke when he felt a stirring around him. Where once a brunette witch had laid still in his lap, his arms were empty. He grabbed at the air, as though to catch her before she could leave, but she was already gone.

He was lucky she hadn't tried any magical stunts on him. Then they'd really have a problem.

He watched her make her way around the boathouse in curiosity, her fingers gliding along the side of a nearby boat top. He closed his eyes when she turned back to face him, gaging whether or not he was awake.

Deciding he was asleep, she made towards the doors he'd pried open and started to push.

So she'd meant it.

She really planned to leave him here.

He'd sooner take her cells than have her leave him behind after they'd come such a long way together.

"Don't," He warned, yawning. "Don't even bother."

"Ah, Chronos." She gave him a fake smile and dropped her hand. "Good to see you're awake."

"You were going to leave," He deadpanned.

"Hmm. I wasn't going to stick around, so let's make this quick." He crossed his arms and raised an eyebrow. "I suppose it hasn't been entirely terrible knowing you, but our association with each other is coming to an end. Sad, for you, but true. This is the part where we both go our own, separate ways and never see each other again. Now, when I leave this... place, I'm going to find a way back to my own realm, and I assume you'll do the same. I wish you the best of luck with that. Goodbye, Chronos. Good luck with your future endeavours."

"You're not going anywhere."

"I beg to differ."

"You're not going anywhere without me."

"I'd like to see you stop me."

"You've got my mark on your leg. I'll track you by it if you try anything."

"You wouldn't dare."

"We're stuck together now. You and I are already a we."

Chronos planned on wifing her up.

Besides, this was the perfect chance for him and his mate to really bond now that he wanted her.

More importantly, now that she wanted him.

Their royal titles were no longer standing in their way. They weren't a Queen and a Prince anymore. They were a wolf and a witch, relying on each other to get out of this place. Annaliese's work wouldn't bog her down since she could no longer access it. There were no vampires and schemes for him to worry about. She didn't have any cells to throw him into each time he got too much for her either.

They were in this strange world together. If they wanted to get home and figure out where they were, then they were going to be needing each other.

Magic and brawn working together for the first time in history. Well, their history.

"I don't trust you."

"But you did," He reasoned. "Annaliese, you don't really believe that I'd let you break. You know I care about your feelings just as much as I care about the rest of you. Maybe three months ago, but not now. I forgot about that deal. If any one of us has the right to be mad, then it's me. You knowingly killed my people yesterday to prove a point."

"Prove a point? Gods, I can't put into words how much I loathe you right now."

"Then don't. But right now, whether you like it or not, you need me. You don't know where we are and you don't know what we're up against. Imagine magic and brawn working together."