To call the transporter, Daniel planted his boots into the ground and I felt the buzz of fire power start to spread under his skin. There was a tingling in my feet, even through the soles of my shoes. Lights slowly appeared, one by one, intertwining with each other to form the familiar ball of a transporter. Daniel took my hand, Lexen took Emma’s, and then we stepped through, reappearing on the metal platform between the three lands.
A group was already waiting there for us, gathered near the section with all the trees. I recognized a few of the Daelighters: Chase and Xander, along with Star, who was with two tall, dark-haired men who looked a lot like Lexen. Those five broke away from the main group and hurried toward us.
Star threw her arms around me, letting out a happy cry. “They found you! Oh, my Heralda, I was so worried.” I returned her hug, allowing myself a moment to rejoice in the fact that there were people in my life to care about now.
When we pulled away, a beautiful guy with crystalline blue eyes, dark hair streaked with gold, and a scar on his face – which only made him more devilishly handsome – stepped in front of me. He wore a perfectly-fitted dark blue suit, open-collar shirt, and shiny dress shoes. He looked like a billionaire playboy, which was only cemented when he opened his mouth.
“Well, hello there, cupcake. Who do we have here?”
Emma snorted. “Her name is Callie, not that I expect you will use it.”
He winked at her before turning his attention back to me. He took my hand, holding it almost intimately. “Jero Darken at your service. I heard Daniel had tied himself to a delectable human, but I have to say, you should leave him immediately and join your soul to mine.”
With a chuckle and shake of my head, I removed my hand from his. “Perfectly happy being an Imperial. Thanks for the offer though, Darken.” Then I mimicked the wink he’d given Emma.
Jero threw his head back and laughed, before he straightened. “I really need to find a human of my own. You’re delightful.”
If Emma rolled her eyes any harder, they’d literally be in the back of her head. “How about step one: remember their names. Step two: stop flirting with everything that breathes. Time to stop hiding the worthy Daelighter you are.”
He just laughed again, crossing his arms. “I’m never changing for any woman, you know that.” He then spread his arms wide open. “Besides, the ladies love me just as I am.”
Emma and I exchanged a look, but before we could laugh in his face, the other guy stepped forward. He was a little shorter than Jero but still taller than me. His face was very masculine, not pretty like his brothers, but there was no denying their similarities. Lexen was a brooding prince, Jero was refined and suave, and this new guy was ruggedly handsome.
“I’m Marsil. It’s really nice to meet you, Callie.”
We shook hands and I marveled at how calm he was. His tone, stance, and manner of speaking was miles from the uber-confident Jero.
“They’re Lexen and Star’s brothers,” Emma explained, even though I’d already figured that out.
“You’re all going in this hunting party?” I asked, looking between them.
Everyone nodded, except Chase.
“You as well?” I said to Star.
She squared her shoulders. “Of course, I’m not letting my brothers go out there without me.”
“Actually…” Marsil interrupted her, “I was thinking that maybe you and I could stay here and help guard the secret keepers. It’s just as important a job, maybe more important. We know Laous has multiple Daelighters working for him, so it’s critical we don’t let him get his hands on the girls again.”
That reminded me of the skin-wearing weirdness, which I’d filled Lexen, Daniel, and Emma in on during our walk here. Who knew how many “suits” Laous had been growing. We’d all have to be careful of strangers.
Star let out a sigh. “I know you’re guilting me into staying.”
Marsil’s full lips twitched, but he shook his head. “I’m Lexen’s admiral major and should be protecting his back, but Father is going … along with all the other overlords. They’ll have plenty of power. It makes more sense for me to stay.”
“I second this notion,” Lexen boomed from his spot, worried gaze locked on his sister.
Star closed her eyes and scrunched her mouth up as she breathed in deeply. “Fine!” she snapped. “I know you’re overprotecting me again, but I do agree it’s important to keep the girls safe, so I’ll stay.”
She stormed away then, stopping to speak with another tall, dark-haired man, who was clearly the daddy of the Darken clan. He looked just like his sons. They all had that same handsome, scary vibe. I wondered what Daniel’s parents had looked like, if he took after his mom or dad.
I felt eyes on me and I twisted my head to the side. My heart jumped at the intensity on Daniel’s face, the sort of look he’d been shooting my way ever since he pulled me out of the tank. His eyes, which had always been sad, broken, and lost, seemed a little different now.
“You won’t lose me,” I murmured, leaning closer to him.
Daniel’s hands tangled in my messy hair, his thumbs caressing up and down my cheeks as we stared at each other. “Don’t get hurt or kidnapped again,” he finally said. “I won’t be able to control myself if you do. And I have a lot of power now that I am the overlord.”
“I’ll keep her safe,” Marsil told him.
