“Might want to put your boots back on before Wallis sticks his pencil dick in it,” Shepherd added, which made the couple giggle.
When everyone gave them a horrified look, Prudence shrugged. “They grow on you.”
The one who must be Wallis nudged a different gremlin. “Did you hear that, Dirk? She called ushersagain?”
Dirk crossed his arms and ignored Wallis. The third gremlin farted, which prompted Prudence and Shepherd to scream, “Marty!”
I didn’t know why flatulence was so amusing, but it was what we needed. Laughter filled the room, and happiness crested over us like someone threw a warm blanket over us. For some strange reason, I wanted to weep as I looked at everyone’s smiles, and I wasn’t sure why. I believed we’d win even when Luke wanted us to lose. I believed in saving all that was good in the world, even if there was only one speck left. So, maybe tears came from the guilt. The emotions swelling and growing inside me like it was its own force for someone I couldn’t—no, shouldn’t care about.
I thought of Luke in Hell, with his dark maze of a home. He had an arsenal of power at his fingertips, but he was still trapped. He was always alone.
It wasn’t pity knocking around inside me. The Devil didn’t need that from me. But whatever burned through my veins had my body yearning to go see him.
Funny, how happiness with my family made me think of him.
“What’s with that look?” Barron said, and I faced him.
“What?”
Before he said another word, his eyes rounded. I felt the absence of my power, and it was like being drained of energy. I sagged forward, watching as the laughter faded, and tension filled the air.
“Got your weapons?” August asked as he looked around.
I spotted my imbued sword propped against the wall on my far right. One of them must have brought it down to the infirmary because I hadn’t.
These moments. They were the worst. Not knowing what would happen while being vulnerable and waiting. Not knowing if Harvest knew and would attack. Worst of all, imagining me being stuck in Hell when my family needed me most.
I didn’t understand myself. How could I both yearn to see someone and despise that same person for making me a prisoner to emotions I shouldn’t have?
I was there with my family. That’s what mattered right then.
“You know what we need right now?” I asked, trying to break the tension.
“What?” Prudence grumbled.
I patted my stomach. “Mom’s chili.”
Mom rubbed her eyes tiredly, but I got her to smile.
Joy arched a brow; lips curved with amusement. “You can’t blame your curse right now.”
My bracelet warmed suddenly.
Payne jumped out of the bed, alert. “Get—”
Something slammed against the castle. Broken stones fell from the ceiling, smacking into my shoulder and head. Crackling filled my ears. My legs wobbled as another loud thwack slammed into the castle. The stone wall collapsed, and a giant tail glided through the room. The breath was knocked out of me as it hit me in the stomach. The force of the attack slammed me to the ground. Stone dug into my back, but I ignored it and moved prone, crawling toward Barron’s bed. The tail was still thrashing wildly through the infirmary.
He was the most vulnerable. There were so many broken stones falling and so much dust, I could hardly see him. “Barron!” I screamed, listening as the thwacking of the tail stopped.
“Here!” he hollered.
The hospital bed was tipped over, and he was still strapped down.
“Someone release Barron!” August shouted.
“I got him!” I called out.
“Everyone okay?” Sebastian asked.
