“Itishow I hear it,” he stepped closer, shadows curling against the floor. “You’re ours.Weare yours. And you think we would let you walk into the den of the man who has tortured countless Aurathions? A man whom I know has killed more men and women than any other, even Ubel and Selene.”
Zane gasped dramatically. “OH, MY ANCETORS! SHE DOESN’T WANTYOU—” He leans in and whispers to Zeke, but of course, we all hear him. “Cause I know how much she wantsme.”
Zeke cuffs him on the head, “Now's not the time.”
“Guys,” I brush my hair back and take a deep breath. “This is my father we’re talking about. He could die.”
“And WE ARE YOUR HUSBAND-ISHES,” Zane declared, waving his arms. “Your Faction… we are IMPORTANT.”
“Are you on something?” Jet asked him.
“No,” Zane glared his way. “I’m making a point, Jolly.”
I facepalmed.
Zeke ignored his brother. “Reverie, listen to me. I love you. Iadoreyou. I wouldkillfor you. But the one thing I can’t do is let you walk into Trent’s presence without backup. I won’t allow it.”
Zane slapped Zeke’s back. “Exactly what I meant.” He turned to me, “Now that that’s solved, how about a repeat of last night? Shadows activate… or however you got them to work before.”
“Zane,” Jet snapped, “shut the fuck up, or I’ll null your vocal cords.”
He pouted but then winked at me. I knew he was trying to lighten the mood. I also knew that if I even thought about heading toward the door, he’d be on me before I moved.
Oren grabbed my chin, eyes burning, shadows swirling like storm clouds. “You walk in alone,” he whispered, “and Trent will kill you just to break the bond.”
“I won’t let him?—"
“No,” he cut in sharply. “Wewon’t let him.”
Shadows wrapped around my waist, soft as silk, firm as iron. “You go,” Oren murmured, “and we go with you. Trust us to help you with this.” His voice dropped into a dark, hungry growl. “I’ll get to your father and keep you safe, even if I have to kill every last one of the DF to do it.”
It was the first time since we met that he scared me a little.
It was hot, in a shadow-daddy, being firm kind of way.
Zane leaned in. ‘Tell her, Oren. Tell her about the plan.”
“What plan?” I wrinkled my brow.
Nathan teleported out of the room, then came back seconds later, handing Zeke and Jet something.
Zeke held up a rope. “Plan Rope.”
Jet held up what I assumed to be sedatives. “Plan Sleep.”
Nathan lit his hands on fire. “Plan Force.”
Oren’s shadow brushed over my cheek. “Plan Don’t You Ever Say ‘Alone’ Again.”
My voice cracked. “You’re all insane.”
Zane gasped. “We’re in love.” He winked again, “And maybe just a little insane.”
“I love y'all too! So very much, but that’s not the point. I really believe if I’m alone, Trent will listen.” I tried to reason with them, but the room became a hurricane at my words.
Zane lost all his playfulness and started pacing in circles, with Drakk clearly in charge, smoke billowing from his nostrils. Zeke was muttering curses in three languages I didn’t even know he spoke. Jet was staring at me so intensely that I could feel the heat on my face. Nathan had that look he wore before I admitted my feelings to him, and Oren looked like a living shadow.
“Please listen to reason?—”
