Page 19 of The Bonds of Nyx

“What do you need to feel safe?” I asked quietly, leaning my elbows on my knees. “What can we—canI—do to make you feel better about sleeping?”

Her mouth opened then closed, her lips forming a thin line. I let her think about it, but I had a feeling she already knew what she needed: her mates. But she’d be thinking about Kingsley, not me, not yet. And I’d put up with that so long as she finally slept through the night.

“I don’t think it’s fair to put that on him yet,” she whispered, closing her eyes. “What if something happens? I just—”

“He’s your mate. He’ll take that risk.”

Her eyes opened. “I know. That’s the problem.”

I sat back and considered her for a moment. I wouldn’t question her on it, not while she was vulnerable. But eventually, I would. Especially if she truly believed she was a danger to her mates, of all people.

“Give me a minute, and I’ll get you something to help with tonight.”

I didn’t give her time to respond and instead stalked up the stairs to the second floor, where the bedrooms lay. Kingsley’s wasn’t far from the room Ivy and Thea had chosen, which, for the most part, should give her some ease.

I knocked twice and waited for the prince to open the door. “I need something from you.”

He blinked up at me with bleary eyes. “What?”

“I need something for Ivy.”

The last moments of sleep disappeared from his face, and his eyes became alert. He stepped back, letting me into the room. “What happened? Is she okay?”

I stepped around him and waited until the door was closed before crossing my arms and leaning against the frame. “She’s trying to exhaust herself because of the nightmares. I think she’s too embarrassed and afraid to ask for your help with them, so I have an idea.”

Kingsley rubbed his chin, unease wafting from him. “She’s not letting me,” he replied quietly, almost forlorn. “So, anything I can do to help, I will.”

“Your shirt,” I said. “Scent should help her when she’s not with you. She knows exactly what she needs but isn’t sure how to ask for it. So, give her some part of you to at least help that.”

The prince stalked into his walk-in closet and rifled through the contents. My wolf paced within me, territorial and possessive. He wanted it to be our scent she wore to scare off thenightmares, and he didn’t care that she wasn’t aware of our mate status.

Kingsley emerged a moment later with the shirt he’d been wearing earlier. “Will this work?”

He threw it, and I caught it, barely needing to bring it to my nose. His scent was all over it, deep in the fabric’s fibres, and it was overwhelming.

I grimaced. “Yeah, it’ll be good.”

I turned to leave, opening the door with the intent of returning to her, but he spoke again, forcing me to pause in the doorway. “Do you think she wants to see me?” he asked quietly.

“You should probably ask her that,” I replied, suppressing the need to roll my eyes, but I sighed when he made a strangled sound. Looking over my shoulder, I found him running a hand through his hair, looking all kinds of nervous.

“You’re her mate. You are one of few people who can help her, yet you’re acting like a kicked puppy.”

His head snapped in my direction, and his eyes narrowed. “You have no idea—”

I snorted, cutting him off. “You could have figured this out yourself if you’d bothered to take control. Sheneedsyou to be in control for her own sake, Kingsley. Figure it out.”

Instead of giving him a chance to argue, I stalked out, leaving him standing alone in his bedroom. Hopefully, he’d step up without needing to be told again, because I sure as hell would be.

8

IVY

I WATCHEDthe dark forest as I waited for Eliasto return with his miracle. I wasn’t sure about it, but I also trusted that maybe he had a temporary solution to this problem. Because until Maeve delivered the potion, I was out of other options.

Footsteps sounded on the stairs, and I looked up as he appeared carrying something in his hand. Actually, it looked like he wanted to strangle said thing, considering how tight his fist looked.

“Did you have to fight someone for that?” I asked, offering him a half smile as he stopped by the couch.