Pinpricks of pain exploded across my spine, and I winced.
“Sorry,” he panted as he wrenched himself away from me. “Shit.” He looked over at his twin. Luka shook his head like he was telling John not to say anything.
Weird.
“Did you feel my pain?” I asked John, worry gnawing at my stomach because of the concerned expression on his face.
He waved his hand dismissively. “No. I didn’t feel anything. The kings were right, our bond doesn’t hurt anymore.” His smile dropped. “But it’s you I’m worried about.”
Relief filled me. “That’s amazing!”
John narrowed his eyes. “No, it’s not. You’re still in pain. That’s what matters.”
The dark circles had receded from his eyes and his olive skin looked healthy. Luka also looked much better.
I felt faint with relief.
The six of our souls were really connected. There was enough power flowing between all of us that my broken soul no longer corrupted the twins.
I wanted to cry.
John winked at me, then slammed his shoulder into Scorpius as he left the bathroom.
Scorpius licked his lips sensually. “I heard you got a skull.”
Those same lips had wrapped around Malum’s cock. They’d kissed Orion as he thrust into him from behind.
“Interesting, my little Revered,” he said. “We’ll see what you can do.”
I drew up to my almost six-foot height. “I’m not little. And we’ll see what you can do, Protector.”
He crossed his arms over his chest, the picture of male satisfaction.
Orion whispered, “You look beautiful, sweetheart.”
“You’re our ice queen,” Malum said reverently, like he couldn’t believe the turn of events.
They stared at me with adoration.
“We need to go!” John yelled with urgency, and the demons shouted in agreement.
Minutes later, I RJE’d with the remaining twenty soldiers back to the last settlement location.
Lavender light shimmered as the sun rose over the valley.
The snow fall was mild.
We climbed up the mountain where the X’s had been drawn. A few hours later, we crested the top.
A flat plateau sprawled between the mountain peaks.
Someone gasped.
Dozens of freestanding structures were sprawled across the flat plain. They were wide and low-roofed. Each one could easily house dozens of infected.
The size of the village was shocking.
No one spoke as we all processed the sheer impossibility of our task.
There were only twenty of us.
Angels spread their wings wide and crouched as they prepared to take to the sky. The assassins were shadowy blurs as they darted back and forth like they were preparing to race forward into battle.
Sadie sliced open her palm and her blood levitated into the air. The shifters formed a protective circle around her.
Everyone was ready to die.
“No,” I said.
Sadie looked over at me with confusion.
“No,” I repeated louder.
Not again.
I’d almost lost her once, I would not make the same mistake.
Pushing my pipe between my lips, I turned to the twins and said, “If we lose control, stop us. Use force if you must.” The Necklace of Death pulsed under my clothes. “We’re all connected, and I have a gut feeling you’re the only ones who won’t be entranced.”
“What?” Luka furrowed his brow with concern. “No, we will not—”
I hugged him, and he went quiet.
I mumbled into his neck, “As long as my heart is not eaten, I’ll be fine. Don’t worry. Just don’t let us hurt anyone we shouldn’t. Please.”
Luka hugged me back tightly, and another body wrapped around me.
“What’s going on?” Knox asked.
The twins let me go, and I turned to the leader of the angels. “Everyone needs to stay back and stay out of our way. I advise that you climb back down the side of the mountain and wait it out.”
“Why would we do that?” Rina scoffed.
I rolled my pipe between my lips and exhaled Horse. He settled onto my shoulder in a plume of smoky feathers, his long regal neck turned away from the angels dismissively.
“The High Court ordered us to use our mate powers.” I gestured to the kings.
“And what’s that supposed to do?” Rina asked haughtily, but her eyes gave her away. They flashed with fear.
She’d seen what the kings had done in the Legionnaire Games. She knew exactly what I was referring to.
The kings looked at me grimly.