“You ready?”
He had me in the air a moment later. Azazyel was carrying Evie, who had her eyes squeezed tight. Kyla and the wolves would meet us there.
I pretended not to see the ash that drifted from the mattress, dispersed by the breeze. It was as if Samael had already been cremated and we were all attempting to hold him together by sheer willpower.
Several demons entered the portal first, scouting the conditions on the other side before the group carrying Samael’s mattress followed them.
Vas and I left them waiting near the portal and kept flying, until Vas slowly lowered us to the ground outside Scylla’s cave. I could feel the tension in Vas’s body, and he eyed the cave as if expecting the dragons to fry us to a crisp.
“You’re sure Scylla will help with this?” Vas kept his arms around me, ready to launch into the air at a moment’s notice. I wiggled until he reluctantly released me, eyes narrowed on the cave’s entrance.
“Yes. I’m pretty sure she understands that she’ll die, too, if Samael doesn’t make it. And she won’t want to leave Nuri alone.”
I let my voice carry–a nice little reminder for Scylla that she needed to cooperate.
I didn’t need to enter the cave. A shadow darkened the ground in front of us as she stuck her head out, the sun dancing off indigo scales.
She stared at me for one long moment.
“He’s by the portal,” I said. I nodded to Vas, and he gathered me in his arms once more, rising into the air.
Scylla walked out of the cave. Nuri let out a shriek but from the look Scylla shot her daughter, she wasn’t invited to this little party.
I couldn’t blame her.
The portal came into view below us. Vas landed, and I surveyed the crowd. Kyla moseyed over to me, casting a suspicious look at the dragon as she landed.
Keigan stood next to Meredith, who brushed shoulders with Aubrey. My mouth dropped open as I spotted the unseelie Vas had chosen.
“Finvarra?” I muttered, and Kyla stiffened next to me.
Vas merely shrugged. “I went to him and asked him to send a representative to help, mentioning the alliance he signed. He said he had a few words to say to Samael when he awoke, and he may as well be part of this foolishness.”
I nodded at Finvarra. “Your Majesty.”
He sent me a sharp smile back. “It’s a little too late for that, don’t you think?” His gaze lingered on Kyla, and then he scrutinized the rest of my band of misfits. “I believe we are ready.”
Evie stepped forward and smiled at Mere. “Do you mind if I take over? Samael’s basically my brother-in-law.”
Mere grinned back. “Of course.”
I laid the artifact on the mattress next to Samael. Then I took a deep breath.
“I need everyone who is standing for their factions to cut their right palm and allow three drops of blood to fall onto Samael.”
Nathaniel went first. I could see why he was an Alpha. Throughout this entire experience, he’d never once exuded anything other than calm confidence. Except, of course, when he happened to glance at my sister.
Evie was up next, followed by Keigan. He refused to look at me and I swallowed, my mouth dry, but I pushed the pain down. He didn’t have to like me, as long as he helped me save Samael’s life.
Aubrey smiled at me. The smile was sad in a way that told me he wasn’t expecting this to work. That was fine. I had enough hope for all of us. He squeezed the cut over his palm and stepped aside for Finvarra.
The king nodded at me, slicing deep into his hand. He healed so quickly that he had to cut himself open twice more before three drops had fallen onto the husk of Samael’s body.
I turned to Scylla. “I need some blood,” I said.
She must have cut her mouth with one of her teeth, because she leaned over the mattress and dripped blood onto Samael.
“Thank you.”
