His Little Fae

Drawing Near (II)

"And you love him.

Tell me, if he handed you a bloodied hand,

Would you take it only because it was his?"
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Livius' pov:

Alexandria's scent had met my nose for the first time in what felt like years. The wind carried it down from wherever she had stood and my body had immediately gone rigid.

I didn't think I could grow anymore restless or impatient. But with that single inhale alone, I did.

Because I hadn't just caught her scent, I also caught the note of blood that hid beneath it. She was injured. She was in pain. And I had no choice but to wait a few more hours before we moved in.

It was already dark out. But the longer the night went on, the better our chances were at sneaking in unnoticed. And when the time finally came, I swore I could feel my heart in my throat.

This can either go terribly wrong or unbelievably well.

I didn't like the risk. The thought that I couldn't ensure her safety, couldn't protect her. Hell, I didn't even know what room she was being held in. I wanted to be sure. But there was no time and waiting would only make things worse, especially with Gabriel's undoubtedly rising suspicions.

Alexius stood beside me, his back pressed to the side of the warehouse as we moved around it. He was perfectly silent, his golden eyes sharp and seeming to glow in the darkness.

The metal doors to the warehouse were sealed shut as we came to surround it. One of my men peered at me, waiting for the order. We were all armed to the teeth, our weapons out and ready. Ten of us were going in, while four other warriors prowled along the tree line with strict orders to come in only when commanded.

With a sharp inhale, I gave a single nod.

Two warriors moved forward, both of them sharply turning the corner and making their presence known to the guards who stood watch outside. I heard a distant grunt, a sharp jab, and a light thud as two bodies hit the floor.

We moved in almost instantly, Alexius just a step behind me. The two fae on watch laid limply at our feet. The wolf met my gaze, his head tipped towards the doors. I signaled for my men to draw their weapons as he pushed it open.

If what that scout had confessed was true, there should be thirteen fae remaining inside, fourteen including Gabriel.

My attention shifted to the four warriors lingering outside. One of the wolves lifted his head, his ears perked and his wolf form partially obscured by the trees shadows.

"Stand watch at the door," I ordered through our link.

He dipped his head once in understanding before turning to relay the message to his fellow warriors.

It would be best for them to remain on standby. Anything could go wrong, and if it did, the last thing we needed was for every last one of us to be apprehended. Everyone was already under strict orders to prioritize Alexandria's life above all else, regardless of what happened.

If it came down to it, she had to be the one to walk away. And those four warriors had to be there to help her.

We flooded into the warehouse, our eyes immediately adjusting to the dim lighting. I took note of the vast, empty space that made up the first floor, my gaze drifting to the staircase that led up to a mezzanine that ran along the sides of the entire second floor. It overlooked the expanse of the space we stood in and was secured with protective railing, leaving no room for blind spots.