Ace’s violet eyes blaze as he stares up at the woman. It’s a good thing she can’t sense his intentions like I can. He would rather drainherenergy than any scurrying animal’s. With a wolfish grin at her, he returns to Ruby’s side.
Malia gives me a quiet smile before she points to the cabin in the middle. “Taniya and I can take this one.”
“I’ll take that one,” Koda says, pointing to the far-left cabin. He has dark rings under his eyes and scratches across his skin. We’re all still wearing our armor and his is the most torn. None of us are unscathed from our journey here, but he’s also currently the most injured.
He edges toward the cabin as if he wants nothing more than to sleep away the nightmare we survived.
His choice leaves the cabin on the far right for me and Roman. I’m uneasy about being separated from my sisters, but I can always head next door to their cabin if I need to.
Haldi clears her throat. “Well, we’ll leave you to rest for now. I’ll have food delivered immediately and left outside your cabins so that you may eat when you choose.”
Her fingertips rest lightly on Angelus Lux, and I’m reminded that she’s about to take the weapon with her, and once again, Roman gives me a nearly imperceptible shake of his head that tells me to leave the weapon with her.
Galvin nods firmly as he turns to leave with Haldi, but Adriel lingers, his focus settling on Malia.
“Once you’ve rested, return to the bamboo path,” the giant angel says to her. “The magic within it will alert me that you need me.”
“Need you?” she asks, her cheeks suddenly flaming. “I need yourhelp. I needyoulike I need another encounter with a centripod.”
Adriel breaks into a sudden smile that makes her blink at him.
“Time will tell,” he says, turning on his heel, but he pauses beside me and Roman before he leaves. “This forest is vast, but it’s also filled with magical securities. Don’t stray beyond the trees without permission.”
I take his warning seriously. We know nearly nothing about the threats this world could pose to us and we have enough problems already.
As soon as Adriel disappears back along the bamboo path, I quickly bend to my wolves. I’m exhausted and the clearing around the cabins is allowing the sunlight to beat down on me once more, but I also need to reassert my bond with my wolves after all that’s happened.
I also need to assign them to watch over the cabins so that we can all get some much-needed rest. I don’t want to be caught unawares while we’re sleeping.
The wolves have already taken a quick tour around the cabins and none of them has raised an alarm that means I should be worried about the housing we’re about to walk into.
Temple is the first to nudge my outstretched palm. My steadfast warrior. She’s as ferocious as Ace but without his volatility. “Grinta,” I murmur, the ancient demon word filling me with peace as I press my forehead to hers. “Will you watch over Koda’s cabin?”
She gives me a soft growl. It’s a little unhappy and I’m not sure how far to push her—until Luca nudges in beside her. He has always been the most affectionate, the one who would volunteer to sit guard over Mom while she was resting.
He was also the one Koda hurt the worst when we were Earthside.
“Grinta, Luca,” I murmur to him, pressing my cheek to the side of his head before he swings away from me.
He nudges Temple toward Koda, staying alongside her as they trot over to the tall demon.
I rise slowly and follow after them while Koda watches their approach with wide, cautious eyes.
“What are they doing?” he asks as he hovers in front of the steps to his cabin.
“You’ve never been officially introduced.” I drop to a crouch between the two wolves. “This is Temple, my fighter. And this is Luca, my tracker. They will guard your cabin while you sleep.”
Koda immediately takes a knee, and I’m grateful when my wolves edge closer to him instead of pulling away.
“I remember you,” he says to Luca. “You were watching over Nova’s mother.” He swallows visibly, his head bowing. “I’m sorry I hurt you.”
Luca gives a firm snarl that sounds like a rebuke, but it turns into a soft howl. He darts forward and drags his tongue up Koda’s cheek in a big lick that makes Koda’s eyes fly open. My brother is clearly shocked.
I give Koda a soft smile and a shrug. “Luca is the most forgiving.” I give it another moment’s thought before I continue. “Either that, or he’s deciding whether or not he’d like to eat you.”
Koda jolts a little and Luca gives him a wolfish grin that reminds me of Ace’s self-satisfied snarls.
“Relax, brother,” I say, planting my hand on Koda’s shoulder. “They’ll protect you while you sleep. As much as I’m relieved that the angels are allowing us to stay, it’s clear they don’t welcome us.”
