For an entire minute nobody moved. They scarcely breathed.
Audrey couldn't completely understand the severity of what Nickolas had done. She felt it in the trembling silence. She saw it in the panic Damon's face displayed.
If the Alphas were enraged, they hid it well. Deckard without expression. Tristan actually laughed.
"Is there no end to your stupidity, Nickolas? I thought you had a brain before today."
Nickolas did not flinch. "I've made my challenge. One of you has to accept it."
That brought a pitiful yet mocking smile to Tristan's face. "We heard you the first time, didn't we?" He glanced at Deckard. "I'm not exactly certain you know what you're asking for."
Damon shoved Nickolas aside just as he opened his lips to speak.
"No, he doesn't. Pardon him for this madness, alphas. Love has made him blind and careless."
Leslie grabbed Nick's hand as started forward. "Stop Nickolas! You're better than this."
Tears blurred Audrey's eyes. All this because of her. Because of her terrible destiny.
This should've ended already.
She threw herself before the Alphas. " I begged him to save me. It's not his fault. Don't punish him on my behalf."
Tristan stared down at her. His face unreadable. Gently, he gripped her arm to pull her up.
"Stealing you away is terrible enough. Your ex took things a little too far when he challenged us."
"And sealed it with his blood." Deckard spoke for the first time.
Tristan cocked his head at his twin. "See what I mean? It's so bad broody Decks is forced to comment."
Nickolas struggled out of Leslie's grip. Audrey had never seen him like this. No, he didn't look unhinged. Not fueled by passion or rage. A man on a mission he believed right with every iota of his being.
Damon moved to intervene but Tristan stopped him with a motion of his hand.
"Too late for damage control. The challenge has been made. Blood has spilled. The oath can't be broken until one of us surrenders in either defeat or death."
Nicolas looked between the Alphas. "Who accepts my challenge?"
Tristan offered Audrey an apologetic smile. "I prefer dialogue to punches. Big bro's the muscle."
"I accept."
Audrey's blood chilled. Deckard didn't speak often. He hardly talked at all. But when he did, even hell's temperature dropped a notch.
She watched in horror as he collected the dagger Nickolas presented. The blade sliced across his palm. Blood glistened like rubies under the pale moon as it dripped down.
The cuts on their palms would heal without a trace before the turn of the hour. But this blood oath would remain hungry until one of them dropped. Dead or defeated, as Tristan said.
"No, please. Don't let this happen, Tristan." Of the two, she had better chances reasoning with the friendlier twin.
"I'm sorry love, but it's happening. And we'll have front row seats of the action. We haven't had this much excitement in years." He nodded at Damon. "Get the word out. Tomorrow night's perfect because of the full moon. Foden!"
The silent werewolf pulled free of the surrounding darkness. His face remained taut as if he gave no care whatsoever of what was happening.
"See to it that our potential alpha gets nice and comfy in the dungeon."
Numbness overwhelmed Audrey. She was useless. Powerless. Nickolas had done all this for their sake. And she could do nothing but watch as Foden led him away.
His eyes lingered on her face. He didn't appear worried or scared. His sad smile broke her heart all over again.
She wanted to call out his name. She wanted to scream in frustration. She wanted to grab him and run until her last breath.
But she was powerless. Weak. Broken.
Leslie's glare burned over her. "It's all your fault. You caused all this, hollowborn."
Tristan found her aggression amusing. "Eh, Damon, control the unrequited vixen or she'll loose her tongue."
"Let me go! She pushed Nickolas to madness. What would her punishment be?"
Tristan didn't skip a bit. "She gets to watch her heart-throb die in the most painful way. I believe that's punishment enough"
Weak and breathless, Audrey didn't resist as Tristan practically airlifted her into the house. The warm interior wasn't unwelcomed.
She would've preferred to retire to her cell and sleep forever. But Tristan had other ideas in mind.
He carried her into the dinning area and deposited her into a seat.
"Don't move."
If she had that much strength to move her limbs, she would've screamed.
He returned with a tray of food. Rice, chicken sauce, salad, apples, even eggs. It smelled tantalizing. Her stomach growled.
He wasn't smiling. "Eat or you'll force me to force something into you somehow."
"I'm not hungry."
"You're a minute away from feinting. Devour."
"I don't want to."
Tristan sighed, lifting his hands in surrender. "I'm not built for this. You're up, Decks."
Audrey had not heard him enter the room.
She watched in anticipation as he settled into the seat across from her, a chilled bottle of coke in hand.
"Oh, he hates alcohol," Tristan explained. "Well, he despises music, movies, parties, and all things deemed fun and revelry, so nothing against the bottle. That said, I need a beer."
Tristan slipped out. Leaving her alone with him.
She managed to hold Deckard's gaze despite the sizzles to her nerves. "Please don't fight him."
He took a long drink of his coke. "I have to."
"Why? You're going to win. Nickolas is not the roguish type."
"He made the challenge. Not me."
Audrey sighed, the weight of her fears almost unbearable. "You wronged him when you disrupted his wedding and kidnapped his bride. No man would accept that no matter the consequences. The fact that you're werewolves changes nothing."
Deckard took a moment to reply. Audrey found herself waiting for what he would say. He had that effect on everyone.
Setting his now empty bottle aside, he leaned forward, eyes sharp. "Being werewolf means there are certain laws of nature we have to obey. Nickolas is aware of that. I didn't make the rules. We didn't choose you as our mate, either. We have to deal with the fallout as we see best. Nickolas chose to be reckless about it."
"Have you ever been in love?"
She regretted her question immediately. It sounded cold and manipulative even to her own ears.
Deckard said nothing. He held her gaze, forcing her to look away.
She felt him move. Silent his footfalls, but her mind was attuned to every slight gesture he made.
He soon stood so close that her shoulders tingled from the sensation of his proximity.
She gasped when he took her hand. His forearm, speckled with fine hairs, brushed her own as he coaxed her to pick up the spoon.
"Eat."
She couldn't ignore her screaming stomach anymore. The food was delicious, but her mind couldn't appreciate it.
With him watching her like a hawk, she took a little of everything before giving up.
She couldn't stop worrying about Nickolas. Dungeon sounded dank and dark. Would they put him in chains? Would he be fed or left to starve?
As if reading her thoughts, he added over his shoulders as he left.
"Don't worry about him. At least until tomorrow night."