For a beat, the only thing I hear on the other end of the line is his heavy breathing, then I make out another voice.
“What’s he saying?” I ask, irritated Idris is at Sheena’s side and helping her in a way I can’t right now.
“That you’re right. We’re out of options.” Gideon grits the words out, and I can just picture the stubborn look on his face. “Callum, if she tries to hurt her?—”
“We won’t let that happen. Get ready. I’m twelve minutes out.” I hang up the phone, determination sinking into my bones. If Alina double-crosses us, there will be war.
I pull into the courtyardso fast the SUV struggles to keep all four wheels on the ground. Gideon carries Sheena toward me, her body hanging limp and lifeless in his arms. A shiver rolls down my spine. If I couldn’t see her chest rising and falling, I would think she was already gone.
She promised not to leave us again. Sheena is a fighter.
I leave the key in the ignition and jump out to open the back door for Gideon. He lays Sheena across the seat gently and climbs in beside her. He doesn’t look at me. Idris claims the passenger seat without a word, and I have to resist the urge to demand he fuck right off.
Joshua and Sarah step forward, and I raise my hands with my palms out. “I know what you’re going to say. But we have to try.”
Sarah looks between her son and I before nodding slowly, her face pinched with worry. Joshua sighs, folding his arms.
“Be careful, all of you. I don’t want you boys to repeat our mistakes.” Joshua’s voice is uncharacteristically grave.
I spare him a quick nod before hopping back into the SUV and taking off. It’s time to save the woman I love. If that means every supernatural creature on the fucking planet finds out what she is and comes looking for trouble, then I’ll get my hands bloody. It’s that simple.
“How is she?” I ask, glancing in the rearview mirror.
“She’s still here.” Gideon’s voice is raspy and tired.
“There’s no pain,” Idris says.
Hearing his cool tone reminds me the fae just climbed into my SUV with no invitation. I snap my head around to look at him. “Why the fuck are you here?”
“I’m curious to know if you behave in this hostile way towards everyone you come into contact with,” Idris says, his lips curving into a tight smirk. “Or is it a treat reserved for those trying to help you?”
I tighten my hands around the wheel to resist the urge to smack him. “I save it for people who want to poach my girl,” I spit back.
“You raise an interesting point,” Idris says. “But if someone can be poached, were they ever really yours to begin with?”
The bastard doesn’t even bother denying he wants her.He’s so smug, I want to pull over and kick his ass.
The only thing that stops me is a pitiful moan from the back seat. I twist my head to look at Sheena, but Idris reacts even quicker, his arm already outstretched and reaching for her. Gideon moves Sheena’s head into the fae’s palm, no questions asked. Their actions are familiar and practiced.
I focus back on the road as Idris sighs and slumps back against the passenger seat.
“Idris is here to keep Sheena pain free and back us up if things turn to shit. We’re thankful for his help,” Gideon grits the words out, and I nod reluctantly. “No fighting. No arguing. She’s our only priority.”
Dammit, he’s right. I can’t believe I needed the reminder.
“If Alina tries anything, one of us needs to get Sheena out of there,” I say.
“It should be Idris,” Gideon grunts. “Before you argue, he can glamour her. That’s the best chance she has. You and I will be ready to fight.”
I can’t argue with his logic. Out of the corner of my eye, I assess Idris. He’s as serious as I’ve ever seen him.Good.I meet Gideon’s eyes in the rearview mirror and nod.
Together, we work out a loose plan for when we arrive. Gideon and Idris switch seats, and once that’s done, we drivein tense silence. The only sounds interrupting the stillness are Sheena’s labored breaths and the gentle hum of the engine.
When I pull up in front of the address Alina sent, I’m surprised. Far from the gaudy monstrosity I expected, it looks like any normal house you’d find on an average street in a middle-class suburb. There are white picket fences, carefully manicured lawns, and lots of Hondas and Nissans parked in driveways. There’s absolutely nothing that stands out as supernatural.
I double-check the address of the two-story brick house just in case. It’s the right one, so I take a deep breath and put the SUV in park. Gideon is so tense, I can feel heat radiating off of his body. With one final look at Idris and Sheena in the back seat, we get out.
As Gideon and I approach the porch steps, our hands brush. The brief contact makes me want to stop and wrap my arms around him, but I hold myself back. As if he can sense my conflict, Gideon throws his arm over my shoulder and looks at me.
