“When we took her,” Grayson corrected. “She rebounded magic and killed Smit. We had to take her.”
I glanced down at Haven. Since meeting us, the woman had spent too much time unconscious. But it was only then that the stubborn, me-against-the-world expression faded from her gorgeous face. I committed her peaceful expression to memory and wondered what she looked like when she smiled.
“Stop staring at her like that,” Grayson growled.
“Like what?”
“Like she’s the center of the universe.”
The darkness in my soul flared. I tried so hard to keep it contained, but Grayson had a habit of pushing my buttons. I turned my gaze his way, and his eyes widened.
“Sorry.” He waved an apology with his free hand. “You know you can’t allow yourself to care about a woman like her.”
The darkness burned brighter. “What’s that supposed to mean?”
He offered a rueful, almost apologetic grimace. “She’ll die. Probably soon.”
“No.” Shadows swirled through my blood, ready to challenge anyone who dared threaten the woman in my arms.
Grayson wiped the sweat from his brow. “We’re on our way to a war.”
“No.”
“Teal, you know the realities.”
“She will not die.” Not on my watch. I wouldn’t allow it. The darkness roared its approval. For once, we were in complete agreement. I would raze the world to protect the woman in my arms. I blinked to dislodge the disturbing thought. Raze the world? I was in control, not the darkness.
“Remember the last time you cared about a shield?”
Too well. When Anya had died, I let the darkness swallow me whole. I’d become a killing machine. Our enemies had fallen like toy soldiers. Twisted. Destroyed. Obliterated. I’d grown thorns from inside our enemies’ lungs, crushed them beneath the weight of a thousand vines, and opened the ground to swallow men whole. My thirsty sword had dripped blood. When the darkness had finally released me, I was sickened by the carnage.
Now, holding Haven, I could feel those same shadows stirring, already furious at her injuries.This one’s different, they whispered.This one’s worth burning the world for.That was what terrified me most—not that I might lose control again, but that Haven made the darkness feel justified.
I forced myself to focus on the present—the steady rhythm of my horse’s gait, the warmth of Haven’s body against my chest, the endless fields stretching before us, the weight of three stares.
A quick glance confirmed what I suspected—mybrothers were watching me. Grayson’s jaw was tight with concern, Pierce’s pale eyes calculating.
Flynn, who rode next to Pierce, slowed his horse until he was next to me. “I’ll take her.”
My arms tightened at the mere thought of letting her go. “I’ve got her.”
“You’ve had her for hours.” A familiar petulant note crept into his voice.
“And Grayson had her for hours before me. Wait your turn.”
Flynn shifted in his saddle, restless. “She might wake up.”
“You say that like it’s a bad thing.” She’d been unconscious for too long. Long enough for me to worry. But I did understand Flynn’s point. He wanted to hold her, and there was no chance of that if she awakened.
“Please?”
“Don’t whine.” Patient but firm. He wasn’t taking her from me.
Flynn’s cheeks flushed slightly. “I’m not whining. Just pointing out your clinginess.”
“Careful.” The single word carried enough weight to silence him.
Except it didn’t. Instead, his chin lifted in defiance. “I want a tu?—”
