“You’re the keeper of this quintet, but we’re still a fucking part of it. If you’re going to do shit without telling us and leave us all bleeding and panicked for hours on end, then we don’t owe you a single godsdamned explanation about what we were up to while we were forced to wait around for you.”
Silas’s brows go up. Baelfire whistles low and takes a measured step back from us, shaking his head like he thinks this is it for me. Meanwhile, Crypt is enjoying the show like he can’t wait for Maven to hand me my ass.
Maven goes toe to toe with me, her dark glare caustic. “The reason I left you four here was to protect you while I took care of things?—”
“That you didn’t tell us shit about. I had no idea Del Mar was in Spain or that he was your next target. Did any of you know?” I wave at the others.
“Leave me out of this,” Bael says, raising his hands as if to show he’s unarmed.
Silas shakes his head in answer. Crypt shrugs, absentmindedly spinning one of the life-force-containing etherium pieces on the table like it’s a fancy top.
“No, they didn’t.” I turn back to her. “And you know why? It’s because you don’t fucking tell usanything. You’re so adamant that we’re yours now, and that’s more true than you even realize. But if we’re your quintet, then treat us like a damn quintet and tell us about your plansbeforethey happen. Don’t just run off and let us wonder if you’re ever fucking coming back.”
My voice breaks slightly at the end as my emotions get the best of me. Maven still seems pissed, but she looks away.
“Put yourself in our shoes,” I press. “How would you handle it if the roles were reversed here?”
She exhales slowly, uncomfortable. “I’d hate it. I didn’t mean to upset you by leaving. It’s just…you four needed time to recover, and I don’t have any time to spare.”
“Thenwedon’t have time to spare,” Silas corrects gently. “There is not us four and you. As I told you before,ima sangfluir,tha sinn unum mar.”
Whatever the hell that means, Maven softens further and finally sighs.
“You’re right. I should have told you guys sooner about our next target. I’m just not used to sharing plans or…talking. To be candid, I didn’t talk at all except sparingly to Lillian and Felix for the last few years. I’m still adjusting.” She meets my gaze, hers full of promise. “I’ll be better about it.”
Baelfire’s eyes narrow. “Hold up. Who the fuck is Felix? Is he cute? Did he try to flirt with you? Is he still alive, and more importantly, why?”
“Oh, my gods,” Maven rolls her eyes, cracking a slight smile at his possessiveness that lessens the tension in the room. “Felix is an atypical caster in the Nether. He thinks of himself as an older brother to me. I think he’s a book-horny nuisance, but he’s also gifted. He helped me experiment on etherium in the Nether and figured out some obscure, ancient fae spell to make this work,” she nods at the dark shards on the table. “Once I weaken the Divide enough, he’ll be the first through it to coordinate with me and lead the exodus into the mortal realm.”
We all absorb that, nodding until Baelfire huffs. “You still didn’t answer about whether you think he’s cute, Boo.”
She arches a brow. “Why, are you interested? I’m not sure if he’s into shifters, but you two might hit it off. He is pretty damn frail from his upbringing, so careful not to crush him in bed.”
Baelfire grins. “Raincloud, if he tries to come anywhere near a bed with me in it, he’s toast. You’re the only one I’ll be careful with in bed. Or better yet, let’s ditchcarefuland go for rough and kinky.”
“I’m with the lizard on this,” Crypt announces.
“Seems like you’re back to your usual selves.” Maven’s smirk falls again as she checks each of us in turn. “Although…are you guys really feeling okay? Gideon is…”
Horrific.
I meet Silas’s glance, then Baelfire’s. Even Crypt isn’t open to talking about this.
I don’t know what they experienced, but I’m sure as fuck not talking about what that wraith made me go through, even if it was just inside my head. Knowing that he’s been in Maven’s mind—that he was tormenting her for years…
Bile threatens to rise in my throat, but I take a steadying breath. “How did you get us out of there, anyway?”
Maven fidgets with her bloodied gloves. “I just…transported us away.”
“Lie,” Silas says gently, his red irises as sharp as ever. “Tell the truth,sangfluir.”
“Fine. I stabbed him with the bone knife Everett gave me.”
Crypt frowns, tipping his head. He’s still naked and covered in drying blood, and I’m alarmed to realize that I started to completely tune it out until this moment.
Does that mean I’m getting used to these three freaks being indecent all the damn time? Ugh.
“Only blessed bone weapons can harm wraiths, love,” he points out.
