But I was proven wrong.

They gave me more than I had ever been given before.

A warm place to call home…and a family to rely on.

The grip on my arm loosens, pulling me from my thoughts.

My gaze trails from the old scar to his eyes, worry and unease furrowing his dark brows as he continues to stare at me.

“Isaac—”

“You need to be careful.” A grim look spreads across his face.

What did he mean? With the Interitus?

I thought that's what I was doing.

“Those men hanging around you. I can see the way they look at you, Rhys.” His eyes pinch together.

“And the way you look at them.” He raises a brow at me, a question in his look.

I could understand Jace, but who else was he talking about. I’d only been around a few others for longer than a few minutes; Cole, Lucien, and Ilyric, and he couldn’t possibly be talking about them, right?

I mean, Ilyric was an arrogant ass, only recently showing a softer side, but an ass nonetheless.

I didn’t really know much about Cole, but he seemed dependable, his eyes unreadable like stone most of the time, with small and soft expressions when least expected. And Lucien…he was a mystery, always looking as if everything going on around him was boring and trivial. His eyes dark and deep, as if peering into your soul, and his gaze always finding me.

My brows synch together. Maybe Isaac was confused about what was going on, probably only seeing me with them when he’s around and jumping to assumptions.

I also haven’t had the time to tell him about Jace and the mate bond yet. That’s going to be an interesting talk. But one for when all this is done and we have the time.

“Rhys, I'm just saying…you need to be careful.” Isaac lets out a shaky breath, pulling me from my wandering thoughts as he scrubs a weary hand down his face.

“We don't know these people or what they’re capable of.”

Maybe not all of them, and not fully, but they hadn’t shown me anything to worry about or doubt yet. They have only given help and shown that they were dependable, more than even I thought they would be.

“There might be more than just one traitor. We have to take that in as a possibility. We trust no-one but ourselves.” He gives me a firm and commanding look.

But we already dealt with Gregori…

Just as I’m about to tell him that, he cuts me off before I can speak.

“The Prismaloct was destroyed.” My eyes widen.

“How?” It was in Isaiah's office. Who could’ve done that?

A dark mask hardens his facial features as he continues.

“I found it smashed to pieces on the office floor, just as I brought the last fragment from the storeroom.”

My shoulders drop as I drag a shaky hand down my face. It feels like we take one step forward to be thrown three steps back. “Wait, but it was fine earlier when I was in the room with the guys.”