“I’m not.”
She sets down her fork and examines the four of us. I wonder if our keeper is running out of comfortably loose clothing stashed in Crane’s invisible pocket because she’s wearing a simple black tank top and dark leggings with Pierce strapped to one thigh.
Her expression is serious. “I cannot fuck this up. This is bigger than me or some oath. And as much as I’ve trained and planned, I know I’m not enough. Not on my own. I’m providing the humans with a way out, and I’ll fight like hell for them, but there’s only so much a semi-undead bitch can do.”
“Don’t call yourself that,” Frost cuts in, irritated.
“What I’m trying to say is, if you four have people you completely trust, and you tell them about this, it may be a good thing. If people are willing to help them, I'll be grateful. But if you tell anyone who puts the humans in danger or tries to stop the exodus, I’ll kill that person without hesitating,” she adds.
“We’d expect nothing less,” Crane nods sagely.
They eat for a moment, and then Maven takes a deep breath, giving Frost a pointed look.
“Okay. In the interest of treating you guys like a quintet the way you deserve, you should know that I believe Natalya is in Baltimore. Engela says her etherium life link is inside a choker necklace.”
I smile, excited at the idea of bringing down the temperamental spoiled bitch who I’ve loathed for so long. “When shall we go after her, darling?”
Maven pushes around the eggs on her plate. “Let’s wait a couple more days. After New Year's, maybe.” She peeks up at us. “Is it silly that I want to spend more time as a quintet before all hell breaks loose?”
Decimus visibly melts, pulling her into his arms with a bright smile. “Fuck, no. That's the best idea I've heard in a while.”
“Because it's mine.”
Crane cracks a smile at her endearing confidence. “Is there a particular feeling that makes you want to spend time with us?”
“Maybe that dreadedL-word,” I hint, grinning as I catch on.
Maven scowls, breaking out of Decimus’s arms to confront us. “Oh, my gods. You know what? Fine. Let's get this over with. Yes, okay?”
“Yes, what?” Frost arches a brow.
“I obviously caught feelings. Happy?”
Crane tuts. “Sangluir,our declarations have been far more romantic. Try expressing how you feel again.”
Maven throws a grape at him. “The way Ifeelabout you four is like…” She pauses, finding the right words. “It's like death.”
Frost coughs. “Ouch. Death? Really?”
She nods, dark eyes solemn. “It's dark, consuming, inevitable, and…frightening, if I'm being honest.”
I smile. What an apt description. I understand the sentiment completely.
Decimus laughs. “Of course, you would make something so cute sound so macabre. Are you saying we scare you, Boo?”
“No. The things I would do to keep you four scare me.”
I think we all melt this time.
Gods above, what an enchanting keeper I have. She returns to eating like that’s the last thing she will ever say on this matter, and the others happily return to their food.
Except, strangely, Decimus.
He goes from looking pleased to looking at me in pained panic, gripping the side of his head. I barely have time to register the blue flames licking at the inside of his skin and how his eyes have shifted before I leap forward, pulling him into Limbo just in time.
Heat explodes around me. I grit my teeth as my skin catches fire. The dragon’s roar is warped, echoing in Limbo as the beast completes its shift and writhes, unable to withstand this plane of existence.
I finish patting out the flames on my arms and stomach before drifting up to grab the shrieking dragon by one of his horns. Thank the gods that the laws of physics in my domain are so different from the mortal realm because, just as the last time he lost control, I'm able to guide the agonized beast through the walls and far out into the mountainous woods.
