I swallowed, determined not to let Martin see just how much he frightened me. “I miss it, but I like it here.”

He smiled condescendingly. “You never really move on from the place you were raised.”

Levi glanced at me. “You can ignore him. He isn’t worth your time.”

“Ignore me? I think not. Change is brewing little cousin, and if your mate wants a chance, she should know the truth.”

Levi slammed his fist on the table, knocking over several shot glasses. “Shut up.”

“What’s going to happen when you go down? Hopefully, I’ll get to have her first—that is unless something happens to her before then…”

“You son of a bitch.” Levi was out of his seat, his eyes solid black as he lunged at Martin. Levi punched him, launching him through the air and into a table. The impact caused the solid wood to split into two. “I told you to shut up.”

Levi walked back over to me, grabbing my hand. “Let’s go.”

“What the hell was that all about?” I stopped short when we reached the sidewalk.

“Nothing.”

“I want the truth.” I reluctantly let him pull me along, too shaken up to fight.

Levi shifted uncomfortably.

“She deserves it,” Owen said from behind us.

Levi let out a deep breath.“Fine, let’s go back to our place.”

I looked at Hailey and she nodded. I needed answers.

***

Settled on a couch with a cup of coffee, I got ready for what I figured would be some seriously heavy information. Something felt almost humorous about the situation. I was sitting around with a bunch of paranormal creatures drinking coffee. Levi paced around the room. I knew he didn’t want to share this stuff with me, but I was done being left in the dark. If he wanted me in his life, he was going to have to start keeping me informed.

“You don’t have to worry.” Levi stopped pacing long enough to kneel down in front of me. This was going to be bad—really bad.

“Spill it, Levi.”

He put his hands on my legs, looking me right in the eye. “You heard what they talked about at the meeting. The Blackwell’s are trying to usurp us.”

Usurp? I’d never heard Levi speak so formally.

“Aren’t they always trying to seize power? This isn’t new, is it?” When I’d been kidnapped over the summer, my captors made it seem that way.

“Yes, and no.” He looked away for a moment before turning his attention back to me. “They’ve always wanted power, but they’ve never actually attempted to take it before. Or at least not in my lifetime.”

“We think someone on the inside is leaking information. It seems like the Blackwell’s are going to strike soon.” Jared took a seat on the couch next to me.

“And you think they’re going to come after me, right?” I said the words I knew Levi didn’t want to say.

“You’re safe, Al. I swear.”

“Only if I stay with you.” I said it quietly, but knew everyone in the room could hear.

“Yes.” His eyes never left my face.

“What does your cousin have to do with this?” No longer wanting my coffee, I set it aside.

“He hates me for being the heir to the throne. He’s power hungry.”

“Do you think he’s working with the Blackwell’s then?”

“Maybe. I don’t know what he’d have to gain though.” Levi still made complete eye contact. I guess he was trying to let me know he was telling me everything.

I reached out and touched his shoulder. He was trying to put me at ease, but at the moment he also needed comforting. He was worried. “Maybe it’s not to gain anything, but to hurt you. Jealousy can be a powerful thing.”

“Yes, it can.”

“I assume by the fact that you’re on your knees that you really think someone might come after me again.”

“Yes.” The one word answers should have annoyed me, but at least he was being honest.

“That’s why I have you guys in all of my classes. I’m always being watched, aren’t I?”

“Only from a distance. And no one violates your privacy. Hailey lives with you so it isn’t necessary.”

“But if Hailey wasn’t living with me…”

“If you weren’t living with Hailey, you’d be living with Levi.” Jared always spoke so bluntly.

“What if I don’t want to be watched?”

“You have no choice. You’re too important.” Levi stood up. Jared moved, letting Levi sit down next to me.

“When can I see my mom? Will it ever be safe, or will I be putting her in danger?” I’d been looking at things in the short term, but I doubted anything would be resolved anytime soon. I wasn’t sure how I felt about it. Part of me wanted to go back to New York, but most of me didn’t.

“We’re going to take care of it. My dad already has some serious leads. It’s just a matter of time.” Jared’s voice sounded a little distant. I knew he wished he were a bigger part of the effort.

“They don’t want to kill me though, right? I mean doesn’t that defeat the purpose? If they kill me, you can just take another mate.”

Levi put a hand under my chin and made me look at him. “You make it sound like a business dealing. Do you realize what losing you would do to me?”

“I’m just saying that they probably want to kidnap me but not kill me.” I couldn’t believe I was saying it so matter-of-factly, but in some ways it made things easier.

“Don’t. Just don’t. If anyone took you from me again…I can’t even think about it.” His voice sounded scratchy.

“Trust me. I’m not letting myself get kidnapped again.”

“We’re going to keep you safe.” Hailey put a hand on my arm. “Remember that.”

“Are you going to start telling me stuff? Keeping me in the loop?”

Levi searched my face. “Do you really want me to? Do you really want to know more?”

“Yes,” I said confidently. “I need to know.”

“Okay, I will.”

“You can’t be serious.” Jared kicked a game controller that was lying on the floor.

“I am. If she wants to know, she deserves to know.”

“Good.” I leaned my head back. Between meeting Martin, and hearing Levi actually say I was in danger, I didn’t think I could take much more. “Does anyone want to take us home?”