AllFreeNovel
Share Us
“Val, look out.” My attempt at a warning yell comes out weak, the words dragged over the raw burn in my throat.
Montejanus headbutts my mate, forcing her to stumble and run. Shadowvale tugs the floor as if magicking a conveyorbelt to move her faster. The two of them rip her away from the tear between worlds as cyclops rush through it to return home before the portal closes and leaves them stranded here. The last hurries into the other realm as the opening winks to a silvery close, severing the hairy, four-toed foot that didn’t make it through. It falls with a wet thud.
Val gags, lifting her hand over her mouth before seeming to remember it has my blood smeared across it. “Ew, ew, ew.” She drags her palm against her clothes, wiping it frantically while having a complete melt down.
There she is. My mate. Savior of the realm. Wielder of a magical crossbow. Vanquisher of the cyclops. Framed in dragon fire from the fiercest soul guardian in existence. Freaking out at having a little blood on her.
Dupree’s groans steal my attention for a moment. My cousin rises to a kneel, his bent tail tucked between his feet, a wing hanging at an odd angle, and a small arrow sticking out of his shoulder. If he’d known a portal between realms had been about to open, he would’ve found somewhere else to be. He certainly wouldn’t have stuck around for a beating. There goes any legit basis for Gilly’s accusation that he’s been the royal opening the portals. I’d had hope for her theory, especially the way he looks at Val as though he wishes she was his mate. Although maybe not so much now.
Of course, shedidshoot him.
I take petty pleasure in that.
“Val, are you hurt?” I ask, noting Dupree’s gaze has already gone to her. We could leave the arrow in him. Or I could twist it deeper to remind him that she’s nothisdestined mate.
“No.” She raises her shoulders toward her ears and gives a full-body shake. “There isn’t enough soap in the world to wash this away. But are you all right? Oh my god, Dupree, I can’t believe I shot you. I?—”
“He’s fine,” I answer. “Right, cousin?”
With a grimace, he pulls the arrow from his skin. “Sure. I’m only one lowly spare to a dozen other spares to the heir. I’m peachy.”
Ora hurries our way. “Help is coming.” The dwarf tugs a vial from her apron pocket. “I have a healing potion here.”
“Give it to Dupree,” I tell her. “I’ll wait.” I owe him that much for stepping between my mate and one of the first monsters to come through.
I push to a stand and move toward Val. A million things I could say run through my mind.Do you think I’m weak for being unable to protect you? Do you know how hot you are when saving the realm? Thank you for shooting Dupree since I’ve wanted to do that for years. I should’ve been better, faster, stronger. I should’ve stopped the portals before now and you wouldn’t have been in danger. What will it take to make you realize you’re mine forever? I settle on,“You sure you’re okay?”
She stares up at me, not flinching away despite me being in my demon form. I guess after the cyclops, I might not seem like the very worst sort of monster…for now at least. “I don’t know. I mean, for years I thought the paparazzi, viral social media scandals, and constant press scrutiny were the biggest scary things in my life. I had no idea literalmonsterscould come pouring out of a portal thing.” She gestures to the space where the doorway between dimensions had been.
“You’ve had a lot to deal with since we met.”
A bitter snicker comes from her. “Since you snatched me?” She shakes her head. “I thought going to hell was the worst thing that could happen, but it wasn’t, was it?”
I hate the torment in her voice. I’m the reason she sounds so hopeless.Ibrought her into the supernatural world. Sure, the Fates chose her as my mate, but I could’ve left her in the human dimension, could’ve left her friends there but for my ambition.“No.” The truth tastes like ash on my tongue. “The realms hold untold horrors, and until we get the portals under control again, the threat will remain.”
“I’ll help,” she says, so softly I almost miss it. Montejanus nudges her with his snout, his wings fluttering, and she holds out the crossbow for me to take so she can pet him. “I won’t let anyone scare me away. Not whoever’s controlling the portals. Not these cyclops and their godawful smell. Not your mother. I’ll help you figure this out, and then I’ll get my friends and me back to our normal lives.”
I lean so close that our cheeks almost brush. “Nothing about you has ever been normal, Val.”
She holds onto me as if steadying herself, and I bury the pain. I won’t show a single hint of hurt if she’s braving the blood and whatever else the cyclops left streaked across my skin. Val doesn’t even seem to mind I haven’t slipped back into my human glamour. “Are you insinuating that I’m a lot?”
“I like you being a lot.” When she blinks up at me, I press my point, wanting more of whatever this is sparking between us. “I particularly prefer you being vicious. It’s my favorite nickname for you,Vicious.” I swear her sharp inhale taunts me as much as any flirty comment could.
“You didn’t use your magic.”
“And risk it hurting my mate? Never.”
She ducks her head for a moment before yanking her gaze back to mine. “You’ve gotten yourself stabbed…again.” Her accusation comes out breathy.
“But not by you.”
Worry has her brows drawing together.Worry for me.“I didn’t even know they had knives.”
“They didn’t, but they had claws which are just as bad. Yet another reason you should’ve run instead of charging into combat when you didn’t know the stakes.”
“You’re welcome.” Her concern flashes to anger, and I have to fight a smile at the familiar edge. This is the Val I’ve come to crave.
Shit. A churning deep inside having nothing to do with my wounds burns through me. I’ve developedfeelingsfor my mate. I can’t deal with this while I’m steeped in cyclops’ blood.
