Don't Let Me Go

Don’t Let Me GoA Whisper in the Dark, #3Chani Lynn FeenerALSO BY CHANI LYNN FEENERThe Underworld SagaUnhingedUnleashedUnboundUnabatedThe Xenith TrilogyAmid Stars and DarknessBetween Frost and FuryWithin Ash and StardustThe Roses Red TrilogyTitheRevelryAccordSeven DeadliesBad Things Play HereThe Goblin PathTwo Worlds DuologyAcross From YouUlalumeA Bright Celestial SeaGods of Mist and MayhemA Sea of Endless LightAbandoned ThingsBetween the Devil and the SeaDon’t Let Me GoA Whisper in the Dark, #3Chani Lynn FeenerThis is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, and incidents are the product of the author's imagination, and any resemblance to actual events or persons, living or dead, is entirely coincidental.Don’t Let Me GoCopyright @ 2023 by Chani Lynn Feener.All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced, distributed, or transmitted in any form without written permission from the author.Front Cover design by QuirkyCirce.Printed in the United States of America.First edition—2023To Amy. So grateful to have you on the team! Chapter 1:“I don’t think you quite understand the gravity of your situation.” Altz, the Emperor of Sanctum, barely going on twenty-two years of life, pointed the tip of the dagger he’d been idly playing with directly at Odin. And followed that up with the most preposterous thing ever said in the history of ever. “We’re love rivals.”A sound escaped from Wren’s lips before he could stop himself, and he shrugged apologetically when Odin sent him a sideways glare.The two of them were seated on a leather couch across from a desk set on a short dais. The high-rise they’d been told to meet the Emperor in was made of glass and sleek black metal, with enough security to make both Dominus hesitate at the entrance. The only reason they’d shoved those nerves aside had been because this meeting was too important.The room appeared more like a corporate CEO’s office than a royal throne room, but Altz sitting in his leatherback chair on the other side of the desk didn’t seem to realize that. He kept his head tipped, peering down at them with enough indecision in his gaze to make it obvious where he stood even before they’d started speaking.The plan had been to come and gage just how far into Isa’s pocket the Emperor truly was. So far, it wasn’t looking good. The other part of the plan seemed like a waste of time, frankly, but there was no other choice but to stick with it. If they didn’t it would be too obvious they’d come to test the waters, even to someone as dense as Altz.“I’d hardly call us that, majesty,” Odin said, tacking on the title even though it made his stomach churn. He was the Head of the Snow family. He bowed to no one. But if he had to give up one step in order to gain two? So be it.“Oh?” Altz lifted a thin brow. “What would you call us then?”“There seems to be some misunderstanding here,” Wren cut in, holding up both palms when the Emperor sent him a dark look.Neither of them had been allowed to bring any of their men inside the building with them even though the Emperor was surrounded on all sides by his own guard. They’d been given the room, but it was as much of a false display as Odin pretending to acknowledge Altz as his ruler was. At the first sign of trouble, Imperial guards would flood in and attack in order to protect the Emperor, whereas Odin and Wren would be on their own if roles were reversed and Altz chose to strike against them.Hunter wouldn’t like this.For some reason, the thought had the corner of Odin’s mouth tipping upward, the idea of his Huntsman worried for him soothing some of the disgruntled anger in his chest.“For one,” Wren continued, “Odin isn’t interested in Frost. For two—and forgive my bluntness—neither are you, majesty.”Interesting angle, one that even had Odin tilting his head in curiosity. They’d discussed going out of their way not to piss off the Emperor and he wasn’t quite sure where the Head of the Hail Brumal was going with this.“Terra cashed in a very old favor in order to convince me to meet with you,” Altz said, referencing his cousin whom Wren had gone to, and who was currently standing out in the hall. “I hope it wasn’t so you could ply me with bullshit, Dominus Shen.”Despite the wording, Odin couldn’t help but catch a hint of something else in the Emperor’s tone.Wren seemed to catch it too, for he settled more comfortably against the couch, lounging in the way he did when he was visiting the club and trying to attract a bed partner. The thin material of his practically sheer dress shirt tugged open at the move, giving a clear view of half of his chest and the coiled muscle of his upper body. Resting an elbow on the armrest to his left, he lifted his hand and ran two fingers lightly across his bottom lip, all while eyeing Altz down.“I can certainly think of a few suggestions I could make, none of which you’d find bullshit,” Wren drawled.“We should probably stick to the business at hand first.” Altz was staring back at Wren like he wanted to eat him up, a clear indicator that this approach the Dominus had chosen was working, at least to some extent.“That’s the best part,” Wren said. “In this case, the business and play are one in the same.”It was taking everything in Odin to keep from interrupting, but he was annoyed that his friend had so obviously come here with a plan that he hadn’t bothered to share prior to their arrival.Things hadn’t gone as expected since the moment they’d stepped foot in the building. There was still no sign of Isa, and while that could be a good thing it might also be the opposite. If Altz hadn’t informed Frost of this meeting, that meant they stood a chance of convincing him to turn. But if he had and Isa still wasn’t