I climbed out of my bunk.
Clothes rustled and voices swore as my legion mates rushed to pull on their standard-issue military gear that Orion said was all black: insulated undergarments, flexible snow pants, a thin but warm jacket, and heavy combat boots.
I was already fully dressed.
Ever since we’d moved into the war camp, I slept fully clothed.
I was always more prepared than everyone else. Planning ahead for every situation and iteration to make sure I didn’t inconvenience those around me.
My mates never judged me, but the rest of the world did.
I was the blind one.
I’d always be weak, no matter how many times I proved I was strong.
My ears rang as the high-pitched sirens wailed, and a crippling headache pounded against my temple.
“Are you okay?” Corvus asked as he massaged the base of my skull like he always did when I was around headache-inducing sounds.
I nodded at him.
Orion gave me a gentle kiss on the cheek, and I basked in his tenderness, then I pulled away regretfully.
We had obligations.
War.
Adrenaline pounded through my veins, and I cracked my neck back and forth.
Ever since we’d learned how alone we were in this war, I’d been itching to do something. I needed to take action. It was obvious that the High Court was wholly unprepared for what was to come.
Sounds erupted as my teammates scrambled to get dressed.
The voice that haunted my dreams swore softly, and I stalked across the room toward them.
“Do you need help?” I asked, every cell in my body highly attuned to her presence.
Arabella grunted. “I can’t find a hair tie, and my stupid curls are—”
I pulled the band off my wrist and held it out to her.
“Where did you get that?” Her voice was accusing, and she didn’t take it.
I sighed with annoyance. “Take the fucking hair band.”
“Explain.” She snatched it from my fingers.
“I have it on me in case Corvus needs to keep his pretty hair pulled back,” I sneered sarcastically.
There was a scratching noise as my Ignis ran his hands over his shaved head and snapped, “Really?”
Arabella chuckled, then stopped like she’d remembered who she was laughing with. “Tell me why you have it.” Two palms pressed against my chest and pushed me backward.
She was trying to be threatening.
I swallowed down a moan.
My Revered’s hands were on me.
She’d voluntarily touched me.
Ten warm fingers had splayed against my shirt for .2 seconds, and it was just long enough to send streaks of lust exploding across my senses.
I readjusted my pants.
“Tell me!” Arabella pushed me again.
I put my fist to my mouth and bit down to stop myself from giving her an explanation. I needed her to keep touching me like I needed to breathe.
It was fucking crucial to my survival.
She was my survival.
Nobody could understand but us.
Unlike other relationships, devil mates weren’t symbiotes of compatible souls that joined together.
A Revered was a male devil’s soul. Period.
Without her we were soulless monsters.
An enchanted voice boomed, “All legions and soldiers report to the cafeteria in .01 hours.”
“We need to go now,” Corvus barked over the sirens.
“Come on, Aran,” Luka said gruffly, and there was the sound of flesh against cloth as he pulled her away from me.
“Stay calm,” John murmured to her.
As our legion exited the room, Orion and I ran forward in unison and placed ourselves in front of Arabella. A Protector shielded his Revered.
Always.
Orion grabbed my elbow as he jogged beside me and led me down the paths.
I nodded my thanks in his direction.
We were on the same page.
Behind us, Arabella whispered, “Get out of my way.” She pushed gently against my back. “Also, explain the hair tie.”
I grunted from the ecstasy of her touch.
Chilly air slapped my face, and steam sizzled as the pine needles whispered, snow falling gently all around.
I tasted the cold radiating off Arabella; it was like a shot of adrenaline straight into my veins. It was addicting.
The noises of the new realm were foreign and disorienting. The landscape was quietly loud in a cacophony of hushed sounds. I’d never heard anything like it.
Orion and I fell back so we were closer to Arabella.
She huffed and tried to jog faster to get around us, but we picked up our speed and shielded her with our bodies.
She didn’t get it.
We were never leaving her unguarded.