“Do as I say, not as I do.” Alexis reached forward to grab Daisy’s hands, and Tarian let her. She helped her up. “Jack, can you carry her?—”
“I’ve got it.” Tarian scooped her up and stood, hugging her close. He looked down at Alexis, ignoring…Jack, his name was, looming close. Thoughts of vicious actions filtered through Jack’s mind. They were justified, so Tarian didn’t pay them any attention.
“Thank you,” he told Alexis. “For saving her. I know you didn’t do it for me, but thank you all the same.”
Daisy tapped him. “I’m fine. Kieran needs your help?—”
“Thane, go active!” Kieran yelled from the hall.
Daisy startled, and Alexis jumped up.
“Thane is…” Daisy let the pure, absolute destruction that was Thane play through her head. He seemed like a darkrend in human form but without the direction. Without a shred of control.
Tarian started to jog toward the hall, but Alexis grabbed his shoulder and turned him. She put her finger in his face, and her eyes flashed. “You keep her alive, do you hear me? As a gift to her, I am not killing you, but if I suspect your ill intentions for one moment, I’ll rip out your soul, stuff it back in, and make you dance.”
It’s her favorite threat,Daisy told him.Also, shewilldo that.
He didn’t need to be told. Various examples of her doing just that flashed through her mind.
She’s scary as hell,Faelynn thought. Tarian had to agree. Daisy had always been in good company. This crew of magical humans seemed more feral than the rest. More unhinged, and a lot closer and more trusting with each other.
He liked them immediately. He could tell Faelynn did, as well.
“Keep…her…alive,” Alexis told Tarian.
“With pleasure, ma’am.” He jogged toward the hall, not putting Daisy down. HisFallenhad their weapons and were hacking at the dead bodies one of their crew had brought in. A woman named…Bria was on the ground, with smoking items and bells, trying to control any spirits left in the bodies. He was fascinated, but he didn’t have time to dally.
“Good to see you, Daisy,” a fierce-eyed woman said. Amber. Concentration and relief flowed over her face. Her gaze slid to Tarian. “Fuck you, fae.”
Fair.
“You won’t be a favorite for a while,” Daisy told him, trying to get out of his arms.
“You’re not well enough to fight.” He firmed up his hold.“How much can I trust your people to lead and look after myFallen?”
“Tell them to follow Kieran’s lead to the letter. He won’t forsake them. He has his people well in hand when it comes to danger.”
Tarian didn’t need to be told twice. He trusted her, and if she trusted him, so be it. He walked forward, and hisFallenfell in behind him.
“Good to have you back,” Lennox told her.
Kayla winked.
“We’re fighting our way out of here,” Kieran called back as the Berserker transformed up in front of them. His body grew and bulged with muscle. In a moment, he gave a mighty roar before his feet thumped against the wooden floor, and he was off. Tarian stalled, never having seen anything like it.
It was then he could see the hallway stuffed with dead bodies animated with spirits. The magic Daisy had helped balance had killed those too far gone to recover. Nvran had used them for his army of the dead.
Cheating piece of shit,Daisy thought softly.
“We can get through this,” Tarian said, pushing past…Boman, Donovan, and Jack.
Knives flew through the air, many bouncing off the Berserker. They didn’t seem to stick. Bad throws? He bowled into the cadavers, knocking their lines askew and tearing limbs from bodies.
Holy shit,Lennox murmured. Tarian had to agree. He’d heard of those types of magical humans, but he’d never seen any in action. They were…something else. Fun to watch.
Alexis ran that way, her hands up. Bodies fell to the ground in front of her. Daisy had made mention of her ripping souls from bodies. It was more effective than Tarian had ever seen.
Fucking hell,Niall muttered, and Tarian had to agree with that as well.
