Nomin took a step closer and Arc’s arms tightened around me.
“I need to check her wound,” he explained himself before Arc reluctantly loosened his hold.
Nomin crouched closer to me and turned my head to the side softly, exposing the Dragon’s bite to all.
“I’m fine,” I lied.
“You’re not,” he answered quickly. “You should already be—”
“What’s going on?” Arc asked as Carter inched closer. They both looked at the wound before I had the time to push my hair over it. “Dimitri freaked out when he saw it. What is it?”
“Dragon Venom,” Nomin explained. “And as Dimitri told you, you’re one of the reasons she doesn’t have an Astral soul anymore, so she’s not immune like you are…”
So Arc knew…Great. That meant I didn’t have to have this awkward discussion with him either.
“What does this mean?” Carter asked, visibly on edge.
Nomin didn’t answer right away, staring at the wound some more. “She’s—”
“I’mfine. Dimitri said my blood kept some Astral properties and that was why Carter’s issues were solved with it,” I defended. “I’m just tired because it’s been a long night. In case you haven’t noticed, I just stabbed my mate in the back, cut me some slack…”
None of them believed a word I said, but they all kept quiet as we made our way out of the Hell of a place.
Marcus offered to help me back to the car, but Arc’s and Carter’s growls settled the issue quickly; he hurried to help Nomin with Arc as Carter came by my side, supporting half of my weight.
“Don’t be mad at me,” I said softly after we’ve been walking in silence for a while.
“I’m not mad at you, I’m mad at myself. I should have told you about the weird visions I’ve been having. I’ve been upset with you for hiding things and I’ve done the same. I’m just—I’m a hypocrite.”
I forced a smile, lifting my head weakly. “Trials and errors, right?”
He let out a soft scoff just as we reached the cave and the hundreds of people piling inside. “This particular one almost got you killed.”
My throat bobbed and I blinked, trying to chase the blur and dizziness away.
“Let’s get you and Arc home and put you into a warm bath,” he said. “You guys deserve a little break.”
A bath sounded like a dream. I closed my eyes, imagining the warm water surrounding my weightless body.Yes. A bath, and I’ll feel better. “Can we stop and get some coffee at Aymeric’s too?” I asked,
Carter let out a soft chuckle and shook his head. “Anything you want.”
I smiled and opened my mouth to answer but no sound came out.Just a little sleep.
“And we should…Lola?”
Yes? I turned my head slowly, but couldn’t open my eyes. Soheavy. Tired. A nap and I’ll be all better.
“Lola?” he repeated, but the sound felt farther away, echoing in my ears and empty mind.
A sharp pain registered as my knees hit something.
Was that it? The death Amyntas promised before I’d end up in the Hell Dimitri described?
After all, the only part of Hell I’d ever seen was Lucifer’s office…I wondered what the whole realm looked like. Was it a huge fiery pit? I liked fire, but I didn’t do well in the heat…Hopefuly, it was cooler than this damn state.
I guess dying now was fine…The prisoners were out. Arc was free.
The betrayal in Dimitri’s eyes made my heart ache. I wish it had gone differently…I wish—
