“Why you?” Logan asked.
“Because I’m the only one not mated,” he answered evenly. Although he did keep trying to rectify that. “It’s pretty simple, Kyllwood.”
Logan sat back and crossed his arms. “Your mate is currently meeting with the other Keys, and I believe you organized that get-together. You have a mate. You can’t die.”
“I won’t die,” Garrett snapped, the marking on his hand burning fiercely. He’d trained for this his entire life. “If I die killing Ulric, then she’d need to be free, anyway.” He’d do anything to save her, and killing Ulric was the first step. How was this not obvious to everybody?
Benny sighed and spread his mammoth hands on the table. “What is it about this fuckin’ group where everyone wants to sacrifice themselves? How about we kill Ulric and all live? Hey, good plan, Benny.”
Quade cocked his head, looking so much like Garrett’s dad for a moment that he could only stare. “How do you plan to return to hell?”
“I haven’t figured that out completely, but I’m thinking I’ll have to undergo a ritual much like the one that made me part of the Seven.”
“That’s a stupid idea,” Benny muttered.
Logan nodded. “Amen to that, brother.”
They just didn’t get it, but Garrett would do what he had to in order to protect his family, and that now included Dessie.
Even without the blessing of the entire Seven.
* * * *
In the guest lodge, Dessie sat at a table with Grace and Mercy, the other two Keys. They’d all had blood drawn, and now the queen and Faith Kayrs, Ronan’s mate, were working furiously at a bank of medical equipment on the far wall. The only device Dessie recognized was a simple microscope. Everything else buzzed or whizzed or spun.
She swallowed. How was she going to remember everyone’s names and who had mated whom? It was a bombardment of new information. She couldn’t help but study the other two Keys. Both women seemed kind, but they couldn’t be more different. Grace was quiet, with a gentle nature, brunette hair like her sister, hazel eyes, and a sweet smile. Mercy, on the other hand, was all energy. She had one green eye and one blue, elfin features, and dark red hair.
Grace patted Dessie’s hand. “Are you all right? We can be rather overwhelming all together.”
Dessie exhaled and tried to calm herself. “I am. It’s just a lot, and I’m not enhanced. Or maybe I am but don’t know it.”
Mercy blew hair out of her eyes. “That sucks. I can’t imagine how strong you must be to have survived the Kurjans messing with your head. We have a complete dossier on the situation. You’re impressive, Destiny.”
How kind. She hadn’t felt impressive in the slightest. “Thank you.” She studied the vibrant woman. “Logan seems like a good male. You were an enhanced human?”
Mercy snorted. “I’m a fairy. We’re a million times tougher than any demon.” She winked.
A fairy? An actual fairy? “Can you fly?”
Mercy chuckled. “No. I used to be able to teleport and travel to other worlds, and I’m hoping that skill will come back soon. Once we set everything right and destroy Ulric’s hell world.”
“Oh.” Good plan. Dessie looked at Grace. “You’re a fairy, too?”
“No. Enhanced human.” Grace shrugged. “I see things, especially in photographs, that others don’t.” She sat back and ruffled her hair. “So. We’re the three Keys. Do you ladies feel any different being in the same space?”
Dessie tilted her head and turned her attention inward. “I guess I feel calm? Like a sense of peace.”
Grace nodded. “Me, too. Almost like things just clicked into place naturally.”
Mercy hopped on her chair. “I guess that makes us sisters, right? I mean, Haven is my half-sister, and Faith is Grace’s sister, but the three of us share a sisterhood as well. Tell me you agree.” A smile filled her eyes.
“I agree.” Dessie choked up. She’d been alone for so long that having sisters warmed her in a way she hadn’t realized she needed.
Grace smiled. “Sisters it is.” She rubbed at tiny puncture marks on her neck. “Adare didn’t want to come here and things got a little wild last night.”
Mercy chuckled. “We all have bite marks, sister.”
Dessie barely had a scratch. “Does it hurt?”
