“What about Gerick?” Zara asked.
Myanin sighed. “I sort of thought that was understood. Gerick, cotton candy, and fighting are life. Not necessarily in that order. I need a shirt. Someone make me one.”
Heather raised her hand. “I vote the next portal we come across, we push Myanin into, and she can figure out where it goes.”
“I’ve already told you I’m an equal opportunity killer. Disabilities don’t matter to me.” Myanin glared at the blind healer, as if Heather knew she was being stared at.
“Prove it,” Heather taunted. “Throw your blade.”
“Umm, what?” Kale stepped in front of Heather immediately. “Do not throw any blades,” he warned the djinn female.
“Kale, move your fine ass and let me deal with this.” Heather pushed him aside, then took a big step to the left, away from her mate. “Throw it.”
Myanin didn’t have to be told a third time. The blade was pulled from its sheath and thrown so fast that Jacque felt like it happened in all one motion. Her head whipped around to look atHeather. The healer shifted to the left a second before the knife would have hit her in the head with the handle, not the blade. Had Myanin planned that? Did she know how to throw a knife so that it rotated the exact number of times to keep the blade from hitting the target?
“Holy crap dragon.” Zara breathed out. “How did you do that?”
“Myanin!” Kale bellowed and took a step toward her.
“The blade wasn’t going to hit her.” Myanin sounded bored. “At best, she’d have been knocked unconscious for a bit. I’m impressed, Sightless.”
“No, really,” Zara repeated. “Heather, how’d you do that?”
Heather reached up and tugged an ear. “You sighted people rely too much on your ability to see. Your other senses are dull. But I’ve only seen the world with my other senses. I could hear her moving, the blade flying, and even felt the breeze as it reached me. I might have used a little of my gypsy magic, too.” She grinned sheepishly.
“If we’re done trying to impale one another on our own daggers”—Fane folded his arms across his broad chest—“can we move on to the next target?”
“Cain.” There was a bite in Lizzy’s tone.
“Yes.” Fane nodded and held out his hand to Jacque. She immediately took it and let him lead her over to Disir. “Let’s get about a mile away and put up a sound barrier.”
Disir and Dain nodded. Once everyone had a hand on the fae, they flashed. The darkness surrounded them, and Jacque felt Fane’s lips briefly against her neck.“Don’t leave my side, Luna,”he told her through their bond, his voice both stern and loving at the same time.
“Where you go, I go,”she reminded him.
She felt another kiss.“Always.”
Eight
“I am learning that being a leader doesn’t just mean expecting people to follow you. It means serving the ones you lead. It means giving your time, energy, and resources to others, often before yourself. To lead is to sacrifice.” ~Maxim
“You didn’t haveto ruin all the fun, Adam,” Jen grumbled as Maxim’s pack crammed into his home, the largest in the pack. Its open living area boasted vaulted ceilings adorned with exposed wood beams, giving it a rustic charm. Maxim had always loved the impressive stone fireplace that served as the focal point of the room, radiating warmth and comfort. Cozy furnishings filled the room, inviting anyone who entered to sink into their plush cushions and stay awhile. Currently, those furnishings were occupied by pack members and the supernaturals Maxim had brought with him. They’d pulled in chairs from around the large dining table to make room for everyone to have a seat.
“First.” Adam held up a finger. “I have no desire to be surrounded by a bunch of naked males. No offense,” he said tothe surrounding men. “And second, your mate would have had my neck if I hadn’t clothed them.”
Maxim met Adam’s eyes. “Thank you, sir.” He hadn’t liked Alice being surrounded by a bunch of unclothed males any more than Decebel had. “It’s handy to have a fae around.”
“That’s what she—” Adam started, but Crina slammed a hand over his mouth and slowly shook her head.
“Please, don’t.”
Stella and Jen both snorted with laughter as Maxim’s pack stared at the newcomers as if they were animals in a zoo. He couldn’t blame them. The members of the Romania pack were quite interesting. Alice shifted next to him, drawing his attention back to her. He rested his hand on the back of her neck, running his thumb back and forth over her racing pulse. He could smell her anxiety and fear.
“Relax, Malishka,” he told her through their bond, feeling her jump slightly in surprise.
“I’m still getting used to this mind communication thing,”she responded, her eyes darting around the room and then to the ground.
“Look at me,” Maxim said quietly. He ignored the eyes of his pack and kept his entire focus on his mate. She turned her head slowly and tilted it slightly to look up at him. “You are my mate. You are strong, smart, capable, and beautiful. My opinion is the only one that truly matters.”
