Yep, so while it was clear that these power items increased energy, they definitely did not help with snappy comebacks.
"More than I could convey in this short conversation,” he said, sobering up. "But this is not the time or place. First we have to survive our battle."
I was on my feet in a flash, the burning inside assisting both speed and agility. "How can I even trust that as soon as we’re done here you won’t go back to the same old Reece? The one that ignored and hated me for goddamn centuries.”
Fuck. My mouth was out of control, and even knowing I was acting irrationally, I couldn’t stop myself. I had to get out of here. Before he could respond, I spun and started toward the exit. Of course, in my quest to escape, I stupidly didn't take into account that all of the other idiots at the table had partaken of the seeds and elixir, and some had even less tolerance than me.
Len was lucky that I felt his energy right before he wrapped his arms around me and dragged me away from the exit. "I will stab you if you don't let me go," I snapped, reaching for my sword in its scabbard.
"Come on and dance with me," he said without a moment of worry that I was heavily armed and not in my right mind.
As he, once again, started to drag me toward an open space where a few Guardians were already dancing, my head felt even fuzzier. "Have you lost your damned mind?" I said loudly. “There's no freaking music."
Someone must’ve heard that observation because in my next breath, a low, steady drumbeat filled the air. Len and I were soon surrounded by laughing, joking, drunk-as-fuck Guardians. Even Galleli ended up swaying nearby with a very beautiful brunette Guardian. She was almost as tall as he was, with light brown skin and prominent golden eyes.
"Everyone here had better hope Galleli doesn't decide to talk, thanks to the elixir," I said in a jumble of words.
"Relax, Angel-faced sweetheart," Len crooned. "You’re too tense, and it's best to release those worries the night before a battle."
His hold on my hand tightened as he pulled me closer and wrapped one arm around me. In the same instant, there was a deep, low rumble from behind us. Recognizing the sound, scent, and energy that accompanied that sound, I wasn't surprised to turn and find Reece standing there, his eyes filled with midnight.
Len, appearing unconcerned, didn't loosen his grip, and Reece's next growl was even deeper... more animalistic. Judging by the look on his face, I wasn't even sure he could speak. Before I could make a move, Reece all but disappeared in a flurry of sand, and then both Len and the desert god were gone. No one else followed, letting those two work their shit out once and for all. Len was famous for stirring the pot with his broody friend, but there was only so far Reece could be pushed.
Deciding I was done with dancing and drama for the night, I was about to exit the tent once more, when a strong energy crashed against my shields. Shadow appeared in the doorway looking pissed and ready for a fight. Flames sprinkled his skin, and I knew him well enough to sense that after leaving his pregnant mate in another world and walking into what looked like a dance party, he was pissed that we weren’t taking the dangers of tomorrow’s battle seriously.
When Shadow was pissed, beings died.
Without Reece, there were few in here who would risk his wrath by getting any closer, so I took one for the team, half-stumbling my way to where he stood. "Shadow," I said with force, hoping to snap him out of his fury. “They’re under the influence of the fae seeds and a desert elixir, which we all took in preparation for tomorrow’s battle. These items will help boost our energies, but it has some short-term intoxicating effects."
He slowly lowered that gaze to meet my eyes, and I wasn't at all surprised to see flames burning in his red and gold depths.
"You should have some too," I said, not giving him a chance to argue. "Restore what was lost by taking Mera back so close to the Delfora."
In return I got a low rumble, eerily similar to Reece’s. Shadow was a being of few words normally, and without his mate, he was walking death—very similar to the Death we were trying to stop from rising tomorrow, with just a touch more humanity.
"Come on," I said, jerking my head to indicate he should follow. "There's one waiting here for you."
Surprisingly, he followed me to the table and shrunk his height so he could sit on a cushion. I handed him a seed and a drink that hadn’t been claimed, and he threw both back without question. Shadow had been around for a long time, and neither of these items would be a new experience for him. Even as they settled into his aura, there was barely a change in his energy levels.
"How is Mera," I asked both needing to know and needing the distraction. "Her energy feels steady, but there was a twinge of pain when she left."
Shadow turned and lifted another elixir, throwing it back just as quickly. "She’s okay." His voice was a husky rasp, but speaking at all was a good sign that he’d dragged himself back from the beast. "The baby is close, but we have time. Sunshine is mostly annoyed that she’s being excluded."
He fell silent after that, and I didn't speak either, content just to sit and allow the effects of the elixir to wear off before I did anything stupid under the influence. Like…
"Dance with me."
Darin stood before me looking kind of nervous as he held out a hand. Shadow let out a rumble at my side, and I had a sneaking suspicion that he was annoyed at this Desertlandian for stepping into what he considered his best friend's territory. I'd known these males for a very long time, and they were nothing if not predictable.
“She has a mate,” he said, sounding somewhat casual, but I knew him better. “Move along.”
Darin stepped back, as did every male when faced with the wrath of Shadow, but I gave him props for not turning tail and running. “Just a dance. I’ll ensure it’s in no way romantic,” he spluttered out. “We’re having fun before our battle, and Angel is an amazing dancer.”
I really loved to dance. I’d missed it, and since Reece was off being a moron, why the hell shouldn’t I have a fun dance? Darin knew the score now, so there was no issue. "Sure," I said, deep in the midst of making a bad decision. "Why the hell not. We should live while we have the chance."
Shadow dropped one of his oversized hands on my arm, and I immediately shook him off. "Don't overstep," I warned him in a hiss. "We do not want to go to war, Shadow."
His expression softened, and it was so unexpected that it halted me. "Mera loves you like a sister, which makes you my sister. I'm looking out for you. Don't wave a red flag in front of the bull; he will charge."
