Blake paced the room like a storm was trapped within him. Each step was a reminder of his failure to get Cassie to agree to return with them. Jace sat on the sofa, watching silently, giving him space.
He hadn't known what to expect when meeting Cassie, maybe shock, confusion, even denial. But not this. Not the icy, cynical wall she'd slammed between them. She hadn't even flinched when he told her about her mother.
And the way she spoke about Ryder unsettled him more than he wanted to admit.
Mr. Therion had warned them. Said she'd begun to transform. That she was probably disoriented and confused. He had considered that she wasn't just dealing with a wolf awakening inside her, but a vampire as well.
But that didn't make her rejection any easier.
"So what's the plan?" Jace finally asked, breaking the silence.
Blake turned to face him. "We can't give her the proof she needs."
"I think she knows that," Jace said with a small smirk, but it quickly faded. "Do you blame her for how she reacted?"
"No. I don't," Blake admitted. "But we don't have time to sit around and hope she warms up to us. We've got a day and a half before Elder Alaric declares war. And Sarah," he paused, jaw tightening, "we need Cassie's blood to save her. I don't know how long it'll take Nyara to do whatever she needs once Cassie's there. Sarah needs to be up before she returns home."
"So, what do we do?"
Blake didn't hesitate. "We'll have to take her by force. Let's be real, Cassie isn't going to agree to come with us any time soon."
Blake ran a frustrated hand through his hair, eyes shadowed.
"I don't like it. But unless you've got a miracle, we're out of options."
Jace's eyebrows shot up. "Cassie already hates us, and you want to kidnap her?"
Blake sank into the chair across from him, rubbing a hand down his face. "It's not like she's giving us a choice, is she?"
He hated it. Every part of it. But he couldn't see another way.
"There has to be another way, Blake. We could talk to her again. Maybe she just needs time…"
"We don't have time, Jace," Blake snapped, then softened his tone. "Do you really think she'll open the door if we show up again?"
"We can try."
Blake shook his head. "There are probably a hundred better ways to convince her. All of them need time. We don't have it. I'm not willing to risk Sarah's life. Are you willing to risk Mira's?"
Jace rose from the sofa and paced as he ran his hands through his hair. "I hate this."
"So do I," Blake said quietly. "But our hands are tied."
"Do you think Ryder's gonna lose it when he finds out?"
"Definitely. But he'll get over it, once his daughter is home."
"You know she'll probably hate us forever, right?"
Blake sighed. "I know. But if her hating us is the price for stopping a war, saving Sarah and Mira, and making sure she fulfills the prophecy and saves the Seven Realms?" He met Jace's eyes squarely. "I'll pay it."
"She'll think that not only did we abandon her but that we just want to use her. For her blood and her tie to the prophecy."
"It's a risk we have to take."
Jace's tone was softer this time. "Do you think that after hearing Ryder's story and why we took her she'll understand why we did it?"
Blake wanted to build a relationship with Cassie, but he knew he couldn't force one.
Sadness laced his voice. "Honestly, Jace. I don't know. I really don't know."
Jace exhaled deeply and nodded. "When do you want to do this?"
"Midnight. We get in, knock her out fast, and get the hell out before anyone hears a thing."
Blake could only hope that, despite Cassie's heightened senses, they'd be able to sneak in and grab her before she raised the alarm, especially with Kai living right next door
Jace gave a reluctant nod.
In the hours that followed, he and Jace rested and prepared for the journey home.
At midnight, they stood outside Cassie's door. The only sound Blake could hear was her steady breathing inside, confirmation that she was sound asleep.
Fenrik stirred uneasily in the back of his mind. He didn't speak, but his unrest was clear. Maybe he disapproved of what they were about to do. Still, he understood better than anyone that this was their only option.
Blake crouched and picked the lock quickly. Then he and Jace slipped silently into the darkened living room, their eyes adjusting immediately.
There was only one door ahead of them. But as they took a few cautious steps toward it, a deep, dangerous growl rumbled through the apartment.
Blake and Jace froze mid-step, and turned to see where it came from.
Sitting in one of the armchairs against the wall was Kai. His eyes glowed blue, like fire lived beneath them.
Well, shit.