Chapter 484: Z
Penelope and Zagan appeared at the back door of the castle, and everyone turned to see them walking back out. Nedra ran to where they were before the vampire could see them as well.
"What is it?" Penelope frowned when she saw Nedra approaching with wide, alarmed eyes.
"He doesn’t remember Zagan," she whispered even though they were quite some distance from the cage. "And he doesn’t remember why he is here either," she told them, trying to block the view of them from where the others were.
Penelope’s frown deepened. Why would that be the case? They didn’t know his name, so he had not been included in the enchantment. She turned and urged Zagan back toward the castle. "Are you sure?" She asked Nedra. "He isn’t faking or anything?"
"I am positive. Zagan shouldn’t be out here then, right?" Nedra asked, breathless from having run to where they were.
"Right. No, you’re right," Penelope replied, following Zagan back inside. "I don’t know how that creature was included, but apparently he was," she said as they entered the dark castle once again.
"Do we just... let him go?" Nedra asked, looking back over her shoulder.
"No," Zagan and Penelope both said in union.
"There is no knowing what he will do, regardless of whether or not he remembers me. His character has not changed, and if he finds something interesting here that he wishes to take advantage of, he will," Zagan explained. "It was hard enough getting him under control the first time."
"Right. We will just proceed as planned, but you will have to stay here. If he sees you, it could break the enchantment. It probably won’t, but we don’t want to take any chances," she said, giving Zagan an apologetic look.
He sighed and looked over her shoulder in the direction of where the vampire was caged even though the castle walls blocked his view. He wouldn’t be able to watch in case something went wrong. The thought of that made him very uncomfortable.
"Is there a... window that faces that way?" Penelope offered, feeling the discomfort that swelled within him. He shook his head, the troubled expression remaining on his face. "Then I guess you will just have to trust me," she smiled.
"After I saw what you were just able to do, there is no way I doubt you," his eyes slid back to hers that were gazing at him with adoration. The way she was so open to him even with those deep brown eyes made his chest flutter unexpectedly. He had never felt any of these things before, and it was one surprising sensation and emotion after another.
"Breathe," Penelope leaned toward him and whispered, a coy smile playing on her lips as she rested her palms on his chest.
Zagan let out the breath he didn’t realize he was holding when their eyes were locked. "I am not used to this," he said softly, wrapping his arms around her.
Nedra left out the side door again, a crooked smile on her face.
"Not used to what? Breathing?" Penelope chuckled, tilting her chin up as he pulled her in to his chest that was now so warm with the beating heart it held. The physical contact was instantly comforting for both of them, and Penelope sighed, resting her head against him where she was tucked safely under his chin.
Zagan ran his hands over her back, finding confidence in how to touch her lovingly despite his lack of experience with it. He felt her reactions to him, which made touching her natural somehow.
"If something were to happen to either one of us, it should be me," he choked out, unable to mask the vulnerability that he now felt—another alien sensation.
The unnamed book on his desk upstairs was mocking him with its verses that he did not understand. He would have to show her one day when the time was right. Maybe she would be able to decipher the mysteries it held better than he could.
"Nothing is going to happen to either of us," she said against him.
"Be careful. Please do not risk yourself for that creature. If it does not feel right, then stop," he said, swallowing with some difficulty as his mind ran wild with potential scenarios in which the vampire escaped and attacked them and Zagan was oblivious to it until it was too late.
"I will be with Nedra, the architect of this entire island who is newly healed herself now that she has realized her union with her own mate, and August who is somehow turning more fae with each passing day. You saw her arm," she chuckled, pulling away from him. "We will be fine, Z."
"Z?" He repeated, an amused smile blooming on his face.
She shrugged. "It’s cute, isn’t it? Like Pen."
He chuckled and groaned at having to let her go out there alone, pulling her closer one last time and kissing the top of her head. "I know you three will crush him—no protective vampire or lycan males necessary."
"You are right about that," she agreed, pulling away from him with a confident smile. "So I’m just going to go do that really quick, and then we can talk about the rest of our lives. Does that sound good?"
He nodded silently, offering her the smile that he couldn’t contain from her mention of a future together. He was worried, but she was right. She was incredible, and not only that—she would be with Nedra and August. They could handle it without him.
"Hurry back," he said, grimacing at how ridiculous and weak he sounded.
"There is nowhere I would rather be than back here with you. It will not take long," she winked at him before disappearing out the door where Nedra was waiting for her.
When she was gone and he was left alone in the dark hallway, he groaned again and raked a hand down his face. How had he gone from a formidable vampire to someone who had to be healed by alyko and then was left helpless as his mate went to face a terrible threat without him?
