Iburst through the front door like a man on a mission, keys clattering onto the table like a metallic thunderclap. Emily trails behind me, her heels clicking against the hardwood like an angry metronome.
Between dodging traffic and breaking every speed limit known to man, I'd given Emily the highlight reel of our evening's shit show.
"And where exactly do you think you're going, Captain Impulsive?" Emily's voice could cut diamonds as I beeline for the vault. Of course she knows what I'm planning—the witch probably read it off my blood pressure.
"Well, unless you've got a better idea hiding in that cauldron of yours, I'm getting the stone and going full John Wick on that blood-sucking bitch." My fangs drop as I spin to face her. "Or should I wait until she starts gift-wrapping pieces of my angel with pretty little bows?"
"Jesus, Lucian!" Emily throws her hands up, magic crackling around her. "Your half-cocked suicide mission isn't going to save anyone. Since when do you play by the bitches rules?"
I can feel my eye twitching. "Emily, I swear to God, if you don't move, I will move you myself."
She scoffs. "Try it, Fang Face. I'll hex your dick off before you take a step."
We glare at each other, the tension thick enough to choke on. Every second we waste, my Phina is suffering. I can feel it in my bones.
"Emily, please." My voice cracks, desperation leaking through the cracks in my bravado. "I can't... I can't lose her. Not like this."
Emily's face softens, the snark melting away. "Look, Captain Dramatics, I get it. Sera is... she's family now. But we can't just throw a cosmic nuke into Lilith's manicured hands and hope for the best. We need a plan that doesn't end with the apocalypse."
"What's the problem?"
I whirl aroundto find Braxos sauntering in, wearing Tony Stark's face like he raided Marvel's costume department. Because apparently, this demon's got a hard-on for my entire comic collection.
"For fuck's sake," I groan, pinching the bridge of my nose. "Could you not? I'm already dealing with one crisis. I don't need Iron Demon over here giving me copyright nightmares."
But of course, he's only got eyes for Emily, his concern practically oozing through Stark's perfectly trimmed goatee. It makes me want to projectile vomit all over this kitchen.
"Brax, it's... we're handling it," Emily sighs, her voice carrying the world's weight. "Lilith snatched Sera. Wants to trade her for the Soul Stone like it's a fucking Pokemon card."
Sable bursts in like a bat out of hell, her eyes wide with panic. "What? No! We can't let that happen! There has to be something we can do!"
"No shit," I snap, my patience fraying like a cheap sweater. "I was trying to do just that, but Witchy McBitchface over here won't move her ass."
Damon struts in behind Sable looking way too satisfied—like a cat who just found an unguarded canary. His skin's got that post-feeding glow.
And—oh hell no—is that a fresh fang hickey on Sable's neck?
Great. Fucking wonderful. While my angel's getting the five-star hostage treatment from Hell's favorite fashion cunt, these two are auditioning for "The Vampire Diaries."I cannot deal with this shit right now.
I try to shove past her, but Emily slams up a magical wall in my face, making me stumble.
"And what's your grand plan, dumbass?" she snaps, jabbing a finger into my chest. "Hand over the magical nuke and hope Lilith plays nice? News flash, asshole: she's not exactly known for her integrity!"
A snarl rips from my throat, my fangs itching to descend. "You think I don't know that? But I can't just leave Seraphina there! That sadistic bitch could be doing anything to her!"
Images flash through my mind—feathers drenched in blood, golden eyes dulled with pain—or worse. My heart clenches like it's caught in a vice.
Emily huffs. "Yes, because rushing in guns blazing has worked out so well for us before. Remember Leavenworth?"
"That was ONE time!"
"What possessed your stupid ass to leave the house in the first place?" Emily's voice has enough sarcasm to fill an Olympic pool. "Was there some urgent stripper emergency I should know about?"
"Club shit," I snarl, my patience about to snap. "You know, the business that pays for all this and those fancy witch supplies you love so much?"
She scoffs. "Oh, brilliant plan there, Einstein. Let's waltz right into Psycho's crosshairs because ofpaperwork. You knew she was on the prowl!"
"Yeah, in OREGON!" I explode. "Where you said she was playing house. Last time I checked, Oregon wasn't in my fucking backyard!"
