Fiona announces, "I bet that's Brax."
I wipe my hands on my apron, fingers trembling. I barely step past the kitchen when Brax barrels into the family room. Sean and Zara appear next, both carrying the twins.
Kirill enters the room, teasing, "Are we having a dinner party?"
Brax crosses the space between us. He tugs me into him as if he's been suffocating for hours, and I'm the only thing holding him to the earth. His arms band around me, tight, almost punishing, but not for me. It's against whatever shadow he's been wrestling.
"What's going on?" I mumble into his chest.
His jaw presses against my temple as he murmurs, "Don't worry. We're going to fill you in. I'm just glad you're safe." He hugs me again, stronger this time, then kisses the top of my head with a rawness that shoots through me like a current.
Safe.
My stomach twists.
A sharp, disgruntled cry pierces the space.
Zara bounces slightly, adjusting one of the swaddled babies. "Aw. I think River wants you, Valentina."
My chest warms instantly. I retreat from Brax's embrace.
River stretches his tiny hands in my direction, his fingers curling and uncurling in soft, desperate attempts to reach me.
"Hey, sweetie. It's okay," I coo, and take him from Zara.
He grips my hair and tugs.
"Whoa! Easy now," I laugh.
"River," Zara lightly scolds, removing his death grip from my hair. She moves my locks behind my shoulders.
"It's okay," I say, offering my pinky.
He grips it just as hard.
Kirill asks, "So? Are we having a dinner party?"
Brax announces, "We're going to burn the Underworld."
The room freezes.
Sean groans. "Jesus, you could have eased them into it."
Kirill's gaze turns sharp enough to cut through bone. "What did you just say?"
Brax repeats, "Every Omni. Every Royal Council member. Every one of them needs to get taken out. They're all involved in something so twisted it makes every ritual up until now look like kindergarten crafts."
Zara shifts her weight, her voice trembling with controlled anger. "They're going to kill all of us."
River lets out a small sigh, unaware of the storm brewing. He leans against my chest.
My heart slams against my rib cage. I kiss the top of his head. "What are you talking about?"
Fiona steps closer to Kirill. He slides his arm around her waist, as if to protect her.
Sean inhales deeply. "We got into one of their hidden databases. There are files documenting plans for the six of us. Execution directives. It'sall been approved, and every Omni and Royal Council member has full knowledge."
The air thins around me. My mouth goes dry, but I stay silent as my brain scrambles to put the pieces together.
