"Upstairs. Safe." Kiki backpedaled. "Look, it's not personal, Rhyn. You aren't equipped to handle the types of things Wynn can. He's not the man he was before."
Rhyn's head felt like it was ready to explode. Not only was he hungry for his mate, but he was worried about how he'd take care of her, if Wynn decided to act on the threat he'd made about hunting Rhyn down to kill him.
They were better off as far as he could take her from here.
"Fine. I'll leave," he snapped. "But you listen to me, Kiki. That man is a lunatic waiting to fuck up your world. You all have hated the way I did business, but you're about to find out just how fucked up it can get. And if any of you ever, ever come after my mate and hatchling, I will slaughter every last one of you. I'll make what Darkyn's demons did up here look like a fucking picnic!"
"Rhyn-"
Ignoring him and anxious to ensure his mate was indeed safe, Rhyn stormed out of the study, nearly running into Andre, who lingered in the hallway outside.
He stopped short despite his hurry. "I thought you were dead-dead," he said. "I mean, again."
Andre smiled. He was impeccably dressed as usual in slacks and a button down shirt. Rhyn smelled no blood, and Andre appeared well rested. Rhyn's brow furrowed. The battle for the underworld hadn't been over long enough for anyone to have showered let alone healed from his wounds.
"I made it back in better shape than you," Andre said, eyebrow raised as he took in Rhyn's state.
"I don't have time for this shit."
"What's wrong, Rhyn?" Andre's voice was even more soothing than usual, his presence making the tension between Rhyn's shoulders melt.
"I'm leaving. Exiled, thanks to Wynn, the new head of the Council. You vote against me, too?" Rhyn asked with a snort.
Andre's smile faded, and something sparked deep within his turquoise eyes. He pulled his hands from his pockets. Rhyn caught the glint of a ring he didn't recognize on one finger, a brilliant blue-green gem in tarnished bronze.
"I've never voted against you," Andre said quietly.
"You never outright supported me either, except to send me to Hell."
"I'm not your enemy, Rhyn."
Rhyn drew a calming breath. "I know. But this … this is wrong. Even I know that. Not that what you all do is any of my business anymore. I'm taking Katie somewhere safe where we can raise our hatchling far away from this shit."
"Which is …"
"None of your fucking business."
"Very well."