Once most of the group had left, I sat in the chair Stretch had vacated and pulled her down into my lap. I swore I could feel her discomfort while they'd been here. It felt like fire ants under my skin. Not reaching for her, comforting her, defending her, had been a struggle. One I wasn't eager to repeat. She curled her long legs up as she cuddled against me. "I don't like them," she whispered.I smiled, kissed her hair. "Then once this is all done, you don't ever have to talk to them again."She sank into me. "Good.""Goddess Hollyn, we would still like to discuss an alliance with you," Esmerelda said. Stretch sighed, pushed herself up from my lap. "Of course, Elder. As I mentioned previously, we would be honored to have you fight beside us." She looked at the other elders. "But as for the rest of you, this is not a fight you need to be in. There is no guarantee that we will win. If your thunder has depleted numbers, this could prove disastrous."The other elders smiled.
"Honestly, if they're all dead, I'm kinda okay with that." I winced when I heard the words pop out of my mouth. I hadn't meant to share that particular thought. Now everyone was probably thinking that I was no better than the Village assholes. Grumpy pulled me against his chest. "We're all okay with that. But in the interest of making sure they aren't up to any tricks, I vote we go see what's going on."I sighed. At least my men were okay with my bloodthirsty side. I shouldn't have doubted them. Jeremiah nodded, his shaggy hair flapping against his cheeks. "Yes. Do you travel by Gateway or directly?"I shrugged. "I've only traveled out of the Village, so I don't know how to go back in."Thane stepped forward. "She was able to pierce the magic at Center Point Park. I suggest we go back there and try to enter."**Everyone, including the elders, agreed. It took close to twenty minutes to get everyone to the park, but we managed. And since no one wanted me or the triplets
As if greedy fingers tore at my clothes, I was sucked into the wall. Into the Veil. An explosion of memory ripped through my consciousness. I saw myself standing in the Veil not even a handful of days ago. Three gods, a bubbling cauldron, and the inanimate body of Patrick dumped in the pot like he was a cinnamon stick in a mulled cider. Keep going, cheeks. Keep going, Grumpy called out mentally.I forced myself to ignore the memories, to put one foot in front of the other. What had felt like someone ripping and pulling at me before, now felt like I was trying to force my way through a mostly frozen lake. Complete with shivers and shudders. Just when I thought I couldn't take another step, I pushed through some kind of barrier and fell through to the forest floor of the Valley. Jeremiah and Lukas kept their grips on me as my knees gave out. They helped haul me back up as we walked far enough into the Valley to allow the rest of our group to join us. As soon as I felt the
I winced again. Finn, you great bloody beast, take me. Because I swear to all the gods that if you leave me unsatisfied, I'll destroy you. How could you let that bitch spread those lies about you? About her? Drace snarled over the shared dragon connection.I looked up and saw the darting forms of their humongous bodies in the air as if they were arrows from an archer's bow. I shook my head. Now really isn't the time for you two to go on a sex parade, you know. Tagan, shut your bloody mouth. You've got the love of your life, you have. Now shut your trap while I get mine. I'd listen to the lass, mate. You don't want to get between two dragons, Finn answered in his calm tone. If you make me catch you, Dracealina, you won't enjoy the taking. Come back here.I snorted. I hadn't lived with that woman for more than a week, but even I knew she'd take those words as a challenge. Then again, that could be what Finn was going for. He didn't strike me as wanting the lay down and take
Hols' hand clenched in mine so tightly I feared for my ability to ever surf a keyboard again. Damn, she's strong. I tried to wiggle my fingers as I fought to see beyond the trees. Once I squatted down, I squeezed her fingers. Sweet sacred stars. "What the fuck?" I blinked, hoping the images seared into my brain would change. That it was just a really realistic movie or a special effects reel. Another high piercing scream tore through the air. I shuddered. Squeezed my eyes closed for a long five seconds. I took a deep breath. Forcing my eyes open, I watched as robed and hooded figures cut down the missing people of the Village. Men had been hacked into pieces. Arms and legs looked like a child knocked over a Lincoln Log building set.The women though...the women had been tortured. Slices had been cut away. Strips of flesh littered the ground like the molted skin of a snake. Lumps, that on closer inspection turned out to be breasts, dotted the ground like mushrooms. "What t
With my mates surrounding me, our forward progress was slow. But we made it to the edge of the standing stone circle. I encased us in a protective shield as I fired star shine like missiles at the killers. How dare they murder innocents? They forced the children to watch as parents, family, loved ones were slaughtered at their feet. Demanded they watch as if their fear was a spice to flavor the blood when it spilled to the ground. None of them would be leaving. Not alive anyway. I made it my mission. As more balls of star shine rose to my hands, as more damage was dealt to the invaders, I could feel him. He was scratching at the edge of my soul. Trying to find purchase to invade my inmost being. He would not succeed. Not this time. Not ever again. Let me in, Star Mistress. We can rule this world together. We can make all of humanity bend to our will. His voice was raspier somehow. Not quite as strong. Not quite as seductive as before. This time I wasn't alone. I was s
Jeremiah grabbed Jonathan, took the knife from him. "You're coming with us." He waved his hands in the air, making the hole reappear. "We'll see you back at your penthouse. We need to get him out of here before he calls anything else. Be safe." He stepped through the portal, five or six of his men with him. The rest stayed behind and joined us. "What do we do?" Stretch asked. I shook my head as another wave rushed under our feet. I braced myself, my legs wide, my knees soft. I held Stretch against me, gave her something to hold onto as the world fell apart around us. The children's shrieks of fear and panic battered at my ears. The sounds of war would follow me into my darkest nightmares. I had a better appreciation for Tag's horrors and this had only been one day. A couple of hours, at most. How he survived a total of four years of this was beyond my comprehension. Stretch pulled from my arms. She ran to the kids. "Is there no one left?" she asked.They looked up at her,
"What do you want, Merlin?" I asked. We were in some kind of odd shimmering place. Specks of light danced in every direction I looked. I had no idea where I was, but I knew who had stolen me away. "The same thing I've always wanted. I just have enough power to force it from your body this time." He stepped out of the shifting lights. A solid form among the drifting colors and dancing stars. He was a handsome man-if I were to consider average handsome. Medium height, slim build. Quite a crown of brown curls on his head. It was his eyes, though, that made him captivating. A glowing amber hue that swirled with golds and bronzes as the light shifted. His lashes were long enough to make any girl jealous. I crossed my arms over my chest, prayed he couldn't see the terror that sat just below the surface. "And how do you intend to do that?"His mouth twitched slightly. It was thin and pinched. As if it would physically pain him to smile. "In whatever way best suits me, of course." H