Chapter 0433

Athena

"Wake up, it's happening." Alexander's lips brush my cheek as I stir.

I blink sleep from my eyes. "What's happening?"

"The exchange."

I sit up abruptly. Confusion clouds my mind. I'd fallen asleep on Alexander, yet now I was in our bed. And I'd only asked him to move the trade forward last night.

Nyx's voice echoes in my mind. "It's happening now? You moved it up?"

"While you slept," Alexander says. "You wanted it sooner. But there's a problem."

"He's not bringing Theodore, is he?"

"He claims he is, but Theodore has vanished from my senses. I've been searching for our connection for the past half hour. Nothing."

"Could Levi have blocked him again?" I ask through another yawn. "After learning Theodore could communicate with you? You don't think he's..."

Alexander shakes his head. "More likely Theodore discovered something. Levi is preventing him from warning us."

I frown and slide out of bed, peeling off yesterday's clothes. Strange that Alexander hadn't undressed me. Perhaps he'd been exhausted too. Or preoccupied with planning this.

"So what's our move? This needs to work in our favor. Not his." I mutter.

And we get to kill him, right? Nyx demands.

'Not yet.' I tell her.

She mentally scoffs. Killing Levi was her sole objective, but would he even come close enough? He wasn't stupid.

"Nyx talking?" Alexander asks.

I nod. "She wants to know when we eliminate him."

Alexander grabs my hand and pulls me against him. His warm skin presses into mine. One hand settles at my throat, holding me in place as his mouth claims mine. I feel him hardening against me, and it takes visible effort for him to step back.

"When this is over, I'm keeping you to myself." He growls and disappears into the closet while I head to the bathroom.

He emerges dressed in a simple black tee and jeans. In his hands are clothes for me. His crimson eyes sweep over my naked form. He doesn't speak, but his smile says everything. I think he secretly loves that I do things backwards, because it gives him more time to watch me.

Alexander stays silent as I dress, but he turns the large armchair toward me and watches intently.

As I pull on the sweatshirt, I frown.

"You don't think we should bring Evelyn from the dungeons, do you?" He asks.

"Not until we confirm Levi actually brought Theodore. That this isn't a trap."

"Agreed. Zachary is already waiting at the dungeon for my signal."

'He knows us too well.' Nyx murmurs, almost annoyed at our predictability.

'He can read our minds.' I retort.

She rolls her eyes as I pull on my boots.

"Ready?" Alexander extends his hand.

We check on the twins first. Evrin had shifted back but now wore a diaper. Alexander squeezes my hand. "After I put you to bed, I checked on them. He was human again."

"We can't leave them." I mutter just as footsteps sound on the stairs.

Brianna appears carrying Luca. "That's why I'm here. Now go bring Theodore home."

Alexander and I walk hand in hand across the grounds. No one is visible, but the scents of wolves and Lycans are strong. They're hiding. Waiting for Alexander's command.

We reach the gates where Caleb is already on duty.

"No sign yet." He tells Alexander.

Alexander checks his watch and links me, 'Four minutes.'

I nod silently. My eyes remain fixed on the road leading to our gates. The view is clear. With four minutes remaining, Levi should already be approaching.

At two minutes, rustling comes from the trees. Theodore is shoved forward. Chains bind his wrists. His usually deep green eyes are now a dull grey. He moves uncoordinatedly, feet scuffing the ground, stumbling as if in a trance. It reminds me of how Seraphina described the prison nurses.

Levi steps from the trees, cheeks puffed. "Sorry, we almost didn't make it. Harder to walk with this one than I expected."