Eliza gave her a look. “Is that how you convinced Raijin to stop asking you what you were doing there?”
Flushing Sabina snorted, avoiding all their stares. “It worked, didn’t it?”
“Anyway, weren’t we talking about Lanias’ cool new powers,” Oye said, obviously wanting to change the subject. “The only thing I want to know is what did you change?”
Lanias paused, a picture of dead bodies of those she loved appearing in her mind’s eye. “Not much,” she said before placing her bowl to the side. “Just ended all the fighting earlier. It was nice to be able to get home just a bit earlier than expected.”
“Are you serious?” Oye groaned, coming to her feet. “How boring, I?—”
Before she could say another word a rope-like chain appeared out of nowhere and wrapped around her middle as a hand covered her mouth, her eyes widened in alarm.
Castian’s head poked out of the portal he’d created behind her.
“My love,” he crooned in her ear, his blue eyes switching between black and blue. “Don’t you think it’s time we had that conversation?”
Oye struggled against his hold, shaking her head.
He hummed. “Yes, I agree it’s about time.” And without another word he lifted her up and dragged her back into the portal out of sight.
All three witches stared where Oye had been before they all shuddered.
“I’ll take that as my sign to leave,” Eliza said, the door opened just as she said this. Revealing Malcolm, and Raijin.
Eliza seemed to be struck dumb by seeing Malcolm.
“So, you really didn’t trust me to come here alone?”
“What?” Malcolm’s expression fell. “No, that wasn’t it. I just?—”
“I don’t want to hear it,” she said, as she walked toward him, she looked away from him. “We’ll talk about this when we get back to the compound.”
“Eliza, I swear I’m only here because of Castian. That asshole wouldn’t stop talking about you being influenced by Oye.”
His voice faded as he chased after her.
“I’m here to pick you up,” Raijin said, walking into the room toward Sabina, who flushed when he reached her side and brushed her hair back. “And we’ll talk about why you shouldn’t ignore what I have to say, and why you shouldn’t try to distract me from saying it.”
He placed a hand on her shoulder, glancing at Lanias, and he gave her a nod of greeting. Then he walked Sabina out of the room, closing the door behind them.
Lifting her arms over her head, Lanias released a loud groan as she flopped back. She really loved this bed; it was better than anything else in the house.
“You look comfortable.”
She rolled over and was immediately pulled into a pair of strong arms she’d come to love. She lifted her chin and Alek immediately leaned down, claiming her lips in a deep kiss. After a few minutes, she drew back, and she whispered, “I am.”
He shifted so that she lay atop him. “I am not pleased you risked yourself doing time magic, it’s dangerous,” he stated calmly.
She pushed up and glared at him. “What would you do if I was dying?”
Alek frowned. “Anything.”’
Lanias lifted a hand and pressed a finger to his lips. “Exactly.” Her eyes grew dark. “I would do anything for you. Nothing compares to losing you. I much rather have my heart ripped from my chest or even have my skin shredded. I love you. And while I know you want to protect me. It’s also my duty to protect you.”
He looked up at her silently. Reaching up, he took her hand in his. “As long as you understand that I am nothing without you, I would go mad without you. You’re my heart. My soul. My everything.”
She smirked, laying back down. “Of course, I am.”
“Of course.” He chuckled.
