Golden flips me off.
I bring his face up to mine, my voice loving but unyielding. “So no, Golden. You stay here. You stay safe. You say ‘yes, Lucero’.”
“Has it even crossed your mind that you might be at a disadvantage? Didn’t you say vampire blood makes them more powerful, right Mr.Ancient-Ass-Vampire?”
“And your lovely human blood still makes them powerful,” I tell him. “You cannot heal. I can. Case closed.”
His glare burns holes into me. I take that heat and suffer its every sting, not once flinching. Let the world burn before I ever—ever—endanger Golden. He’s chewing on words between pressed lips, and minutes go by without another word being exchanged, until finally he looks away.
“Fine, do whatever. Sounds fucking boring, anyway,” he spits, unimpressed.
I bring his head to rest on my chest. Content, even if he’s angry with me.
Then, on an exhale even I struggle to hear, he mutters, “Yes, Lucero.”
My arms cage my sweet mate to me, my every protective instinct flaring to life. “Rurik and I will have to search the places blood mages usually hide, abandoned warehouses and the such.”
“Why abandoned places?” Kai questions.
“Rats,” Rurik wiggles his eyebrows at Kai. “Little bags of blood on scurrying legs.”
“Ew.”
“Wait.” And it’s Ramy’s turn to jump up. “I’m not coming?”
“Someone needs to keep Golden and Kai safe,” I reply, firm. Feeling more like our family’s leader than ever before.
Indignation stiffens his spine. “Get Vidar to babysit!” He catches himself, sending an apologetic look to Golden and Kai.
Kai shrugs, unphased. Golden grumbles something into my chest but stays put.
Rurik snorts. “And what will Vidar do? Die in front of them? He isn’t exactly the warrior vampire anymore, Ramy.”
Steam billows from Ramy’s flaring nose, fists tight at his side. Rurik lounges back in his chair, looking at our youngest as if he’s a teenager having a tantrum and simply needs to wait it out. Somewhat bored by the whole thing.
Ading ding dingchimes and Kai clears his throat.
“Feels like the worst timing for this…” he murmurs and pulls a phone from his pocket. “Yo, Luuk. Sorry mate, but can I call you back?”
But instead of hanging up, Kai’s shoulders stiffen and he slips out of his chair.
“Wait, what?” he gasps.
Golden turns to face him. “Kai?”
“Shit,” Kai hisses. “Jace made an appearance at the tattoo studio.”
Golden goes still. “Is everyone okay?”
Kai repeats the question. Golden leans so close to Kai I have to tighten my hold to keep him from falling.
Kai curses again. “Alright, we’ll be there as soon as we can.” He hangs up. “Jace fucking took Apollo.”
It happens suddenly—a twig snapping or gun going off before impact.
Rurik’s chair topples to the ground and before Kai even finishes, my brother’s face is inches from his. A fist twisting in Kai’s shirt so fiercely, the sound of ripping fills the kitchen. “Apollo?”
Kai’s light green eyes go wide, his phone cluttering to the floor—frozen in place.
