“Yes, I…”I think I might love you.The words were on the tip of her tongue, but they stuck there, held back by the shard of fearthat lingered. By the part of her that knew it wasn’t the time or the place for such confessions. “I want to go home. Please.”
Damned if she could settle on where that actually was, though.
After tendingto the Fae and tethering her with magic, Luna hadn’t made it ten steps from their makeshift camp before stumbling, pain in every pinched line of her face. Hedda hadn’t fared much better.
The rage had come easy, giving Brand a boost of strength—along with renewed ire that his mate refused to feed in mixed company. Ire that had quickly swelled into concern when he’d scooped her up and she hadn’t even tried to argue.
The Fae was worse than they’d thought, and Luna was hurting because of it.Badly.
He hated it.
Mag and Thad had shifted with him, and it had been the work of a moment to tie the sleeping Fae around Pet’s neck in a makeshift hammock. Convincing Hedda to mount Thad—Sorcha—had been another story, but she’d finally given in when Brand had threatened to carry her instead.
Apparently, it was far more dignified to ride on a Wolflord’s back than in the arms of another Demon when she was unable to make the change herself.
Brand didn’t give a fuck how they made it home, so long as they did. His mate needed blood and rest. Warm food and walls surrounding her. Safety.
“Not long now,” he murmured. “Two more hills, and the meadow between them.”
Solyrian beat down on Brand’s bare shoulders. With the soft brushing of verdant leaves in the breeze, the sweet smell of wildflowers in its wake, he could almost convince himself the last few days had been nothing more than a nightmare slowly settling into a dream.
Luna gifted him with half a smile, though she still didn’t speak.
“We’ll find you the biggest bowl of strawberries in Straelon.”
Only a soft laugh in return, when what he really wanted was to hear the melodic husk of her voice. Wanted the anchor of it as the Montrealm loomed closer. To distract both of them until the last possible second.
Maybe he could shock her into responding.
He hiked her up and ran his nose along her jaw. “I’m hungry too,” he whispered, brushing the shell of her ear. “Starving. Perhaps I’ll eat some of those strawberries myself, right out of your?—”
“Brand!” she hissed, clapping both hands over his mouth. Her eyes were wide, cheeks flushed. “The others will hear you.”
“—hand,” he finished, nipping at her fingers. “What did you think I was going to say?”
Handhad been the last thing on his mind, and they both knew it.
Her teeth sank into her bottom lip as she darted a quick look towards their companions. Answer enough.
“Hmm. Noted.”
She managed an even deeper blush, the color stark against the paleness of her iridescent skin.
“Tell me, little moon, how do you feel about?—”
Sorcha whimpered, and the high, keening sound had Brand’s head snapping in her direction.
His cousin’s wolf was writhing beneath Hedda’s white-knuckled grip, fangs gnashing at thin air and trying to buck heroff. Hedda was ashen, heaving, violently shaking her head as if to clear it.
Before Brand could reach them, the ground rumbled beneath his feet and a familiar chorus of roars sounded in the distance. His heart lurched at hearing it, resignation seeping in.
“What was that?” Luna struggled to sit up in his hold, looking all around them.
“Demons,” he answered. “Here, for some bloody reason.”
His most trusted, no less—a company of warriors from the First Legion. He’d know that war cry anywhere.
“Why won’t this fucking dogmove?”Hedda shrieked. “Ugh!”
