Crypt's weight disappears as he moves into Limbo. I take a deep breath and turn back to the others.
"Everett, watch Baelfire's back while he's getting Silas to the catacombs."
"I'll be watching your back," Everett insists. When he folds his arms, I see frost encompassing his skin just past his wrists. "Baelfire can protect Silas on his own, away from you."
Gods, his bare upper half is so distracting.
Bael snorts. "At least you're admitting how capable I am."
"This isn't about capability, Lizard Brain."
"Yeah? Then what's it about, Ice Prick?"
"It's because you're a godsdamnedliability. Accident or not, the second you lose your temper—which is inevitable since you desperately need anger management training—you'll fucking burn her to death," Everett snaps, the temperature around us steadily dropping.
The dragon shifter snarls back, enraged now. Before it can come to blows, I shoot Kenzie abear with melook and step between them.
"You're both wasting time. Who's the keeper here?"
Baelfire's golden gaze drops to me. "You are, Mayflower, but?—"
"But fucking nothing. You two will work together to get Silassafelyto the catacombs, and if I fall behind while I'm ripping out the hearts of anyone who gets in the way, leave me be because you'll only be ruining my fun otherwise. Got it?" I look between them.
It's like bartering with petulant toddlers. Neither is happy about it, but they don't argue.
I turn to Luka and Kenzie. "Stick with them. I'll follow behind you, but not too closely. If there's more fighting, there's a high chance I'll start…you know."
Kenzie's eyes widen when she catches my meaning. When I told her all about what they turned me into, I explained the berserking. She knows that I'm not myself when I lose it incombat—I black out, driven by bloodlust and the monstrous urge to take life. I won't be able to differentiate between friend or foe.
"Uh, no, I don't fucking know," Luka pipes up impatiently. "There's no need for this stupid drama. Just stick with us, asscaster."
Baelfire growls, but I speak to Luka in a saccharine voice. "If you don't want drama, get a head start before I join the fray, or I may accidentally pull your spine out of your ass."
"Fuck," Luka shudders. "She's scary sometimes."
"Yes, yes she is," Kenzie nods sagely, looking back at me. "Ready, May?"
"One moment," Everett grumbles, going to get a shirt while Baelfire gets whatever he'll need, plus Silas. I hurry to my room and grab the remaining nightshade root powder in its tiny bottle, a few more knives, an extra pair of gloves, two vials of kraken ink, and anything else I can reasonably stash in my pockets. When we reemerge, Kenzie sees Silas slung over Bael's shoulder, dirty, unconscious, and drenched in feverish sweat. She catches my eye.
Is he okay?she mouths, brow furrowed.
I nod because I really fucking hope he's fighting through the fever. As they move to leave the quintet apartment, possibly for the last time, Baelfire adjusts Silas on his shoulder and leans down to kiss the side of my neck, inhaling my scent.
"Be as safe as fucking possible, hellion. I know you love a good fight, but avoid one now if you can help it, okay? Please."
His gravelly plea does me in. I'm such a sucker for him saying please for me.
But he's right that I'm also a sucker for a good fight, and I doubt we'll get out of here without some bloodshed. It's deliciously unavoidable.
I kiss his cheek as reassurance. Once he steps away, I'm surprised when Everett leans down and pecks me right on the lips. It's chaste and abrupt, mostly because he pulls back immediately. When I arch a brow, the professor blushes profusely.
"I just wanted… I'm still not used to…sorry," he fumbles, adjusting his sleeve repeatedly.
Aww.
Kenzie alsoawwsfrom the hallway, reminding me we have an audience and are on a time crunch. They leave the apartment. I watch my fae, who is fighting just to breathe, until they round a corner.
Then I stalk into Everbound Castle.
