“Tell me what?” I said again.
“Your precious World Ender doesn’t need the ring for Oblivion. HeisOblivion.”
My mind whirled as if a part of me had known that already, but I hadn’t known how to put it into words. It fit with what Gathrriel said about his untapped power. It also explained why Samkiel was so desperate to have a new ring made for it. He was looking for something to help him contain the destructive power. My fingers tightened on his arm in reassurance. I understood why he hadn’t said anything, but I hated that it was Kaden who had told me. It hurt.
“We take care of each other. Don’t hide something like that from me again.”
“Dianna, I wasn’t hiding,”he all but growled down our bond. I knew his anger wasn’t directed at me, but toward Kaden, who had told me here, of all places.“I was worried about you.”
“I meant what I said,”I demanded, tightening my grip on his arm before letting go. Kaden and Isaiah watched our silent exchange. Isaiah’s face was screwed up in an expression of disgust, as if he smelled rotten eggs and couldn’t get rid of the scent.
“Let’s go.” This time, I led the way out of the abandoned and damaged brothel.
No one had bothered to clean up or repair the wreckage, and I knew they wouldn’t. Killium and his rebellion had brought Nismera to their doors, and they had suffered. None would dare to undo the damage she had wrought. They would leave what remained of him to rot.
“I’M SORRY ABOUTyour friend,” I said, dropping the branches and logs we’d found down in our makeshift woodpile.
Samkiel glanced at me, offering a small smile. “I should be used to losing people by now. I’m not.”
“I don’t think it’s something you get used to, even for us. Moreover, I don’t think we should get used to it. They deserve to be mourned.”
He said nothing as he strategically placed the wood, propping it upright in a triangular position.
I went to his side, helping to arrange the broken logs on top of each other. Samkiel had built the pit deep to protect the flames from the melting snow. I couldn’t take away his pain and grief, but I could stay close in the dark and help him battle the demons that plagued him in the wake of his friends’ deaths. I wished I could give him a moment of joy or victory, but it seemed everywhere we turned, we ran into more shit.
“You don’t have to do anything. Your existence alone is enough for me. You at my side, that’s what I need.”
I smiled, bumping his shoulder.“I keep forgetting you can just sneak into my head.”
“Oh gods, I thought I was going insane! If I have to hear your thoughts, I am going to lose my fucking mind.”
That wasn’t Samkiel’s voice. We stared at each other in shock, and I shook my head. Samkiel stood so suddenly he damn near toppled me into the snow as Isaiah and Kaden came out of the trees, carrying more wood and three rabbits.
“Absolutely fucking not!” Samkiel all but roared.
“It’s not my fault,” Isaiah said, dropping the wood.
Kaden didn’t say anything, but he watched me, his gaze intrigued. My stomach dropped.
Samkiel pointed at them both. “If you think for one second that either of you is allowed to be in our heads, I’ll drag you back to—”
“Calm down.” Kaden sneered, pushing past Samkiel with enough force that I was afraid Samkiel was going to rip his head off and kill us all. Kaden dropped the wood near the fire pit before kneeling in the snow. Fire ignited on his fingertips, and he formed it into a tiny ball before tossing it into the pit. Flames danced in his eyes as he looked at me, then Samkiel.
“It doesn’t sound like the bond you two share, at least not from what you’ve told me. Whatever Death did to tie us together seemed to extend to this connection as well. It binds the three of us, but not you,” Kaden said, his tone smug, and Samkiel bristled. “Don’t worry, your precious thoughts are safe. However, Dianna’s are not,” Kaden said, smirking at me.
Samkiel lunged, and Kaden surged to his feet. They stood chest to chest and face to face. I pushed between them, resting my hand on Samkiel’s thundering heart. Honestly, I’d forgotten how big they both were, two clashing giants ready to destroy the other and the world in the process. Life be damned.
“Stop it,” I said. “All of you. No one likes this, but we have to work together or we all fucking die. Anyone in favor of living, please raise your hand.”
I raised mine, waving sarcastically. Samkiel ignored me, as did Kaden, but Isaiah shrugged and lifted his hand.
I leaned harder against Samkiel and looked up at him. “Just so you are aware, my ass is pressed against him. You might want to step back.”
Samkiel snarled and wrapped his arms around me, hauling me back a few steps, but he never took his eyes off Kaden. “You’re going to shield yourself from her, block her out. Do you understand me?”
Kaden’s teeth flashed, and I knew him well enough to know he was just like his brothers. He hated being told what to do.
“I already did,” he snapped. “When she started screaming your name in that damn palace.”
