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“I know. That’s why I ordered us food while you were showering.”
“I love you.”
She smiled. “I love you, too.”
I kissed her cheeks before taking her hand and heading toward the bedroom door. Once downstairs, I started a fire. Onuna was frigid cold this time of year.
“Vincent is at Arariel talking with the ambassadors, so they don’t all freak out that we are back.”
“Sounds good,” I said, the flames catching and crawling higher. “What movie tonight?”
“Oh, how about—”
The doorbell rang, and I smiled at her. “Well, that was fast.”
“Grab my blanket, and I’ll get it,” Nev says, smiling at me before disappearing around the corner.
I shook my head and grabbed our bags from where we’d dropped them when we came in. Unzipping hers, I pulled out the large fleece blanket and stopped. The framed picture of her, Imogen, and Dianna was beneath it.
“Nev. You printed this?” I asked, turning toward the hall.
The picture dropped, crashing to the floor. Glass shattered around my feet as I summoned an ablaze weapon.
Neverra stood there, her skin aglow and eyes burning cobalt blue, but it was the man behind her that sent rage and terror tearing through me.
Kaden.
“Knock, knock,” Kaden said, placing his hands behind his back.
My lip curled up as I reached a hand toward Nev, silently telling her to come to me.
“You made a mistake coming here.”
“Did I?” Kaden asked, damn near amused. He took a step further inside, coming up behind Neverra. He leaned close to her neck, and my body froze. His eyes flicked up. “Lovely place you chose. I saw that blasted blue light dance across the sky and knew his precious family had returned. I couldn’t wait to see you all again.”
His hand reached out, moving the small strands of hair at the base of her neck. A flick of my ring and armor draped my body. I took a step forward and froze as I watched his mouth move, and Neverra leaped, her blade stopping mine.
“Nev.”
She pushed off of me, spinning her blade at her side in defense of him.
“What are you doing?”
Kaden walked around her as her eyes burned into mine.
“She can’t hear you,” Kaden said, sitting in the chair near the door. My heart thudded furiously against my breast. Growls and yips followed as those large beasts of his came into the house. Neverra stared at me, unafraid, lifeless, and unmoving. The bond between us was void and empty.
“What did you do to her?” My words leave a sharp cry.
One second he was sitting in the chair, and the next, he was in front of me, gripping my jaw so hard the armor plates near my cheeks cracked. “The same thing I am going to do to all of you.”
Eighty-Three
Samkiel
I snapped my fingers, hoping the gifts appeared as I’d planned. If sleep had found Dianna, she should be deep enough now that it wouldn’t wake her. Either way, it was the least I could do. I lifted the pendant she had given me and kissed it for good luck. I just hoped I was not stuck here too long.
I exhaled and summoned a blade, sliding it across my palm. I drew a large circle on the floor, placing runes around the perimeter in my blood. A few moments and it was complete, the wound on my palm healing.
