I nodded, calling for Brock. He stood next to me while Cho did her miracle magic, chanting once more in rapid-fire Japanese. By the time she’d finished, even when I twirled the selkie skin didn’t budge. It had become lightweight like parachute material, and clung to me like a second skin.
I grinned. “Awesome, thanks.”
“You’re most welcome,” Cho said.
Once more, I reached for her hand and met her eyes. “Thanks for taking care of my dad as well.”
She turned to gaze at him and smiled. “It’s my pleasure. He and I have been through a lot together. He’s a good friend.”
“Ready?” Brock asked me, taking one proffered handgun after another from Ray and slipping them into holsters strapped across his chest, hips, back, and thighs.
“Yep,” I said, admiring his arsenal.
He looked up and grinned. “You’re jealous of my guns?”
“So jealous.”
“If you’re a good girl, maybe I’ll get you a few extra of your own.” His grin was pure sinful mischief.
I winked. “As long as I don’t have to behave too much.”
Brock finished strapping guns to himself and we took off for the gate. Continuing our flirty banter was the only thing keeping me sane right now.
A dozen werewolves, a powerful witch, and a former kitsune trailed in our wake. Even with all of them as backup, we were nowhere near ready for what might hit us once we entered the gate. Still, I couldn’t think about that now. All I could think of was Cass.
With the construction flag still in place marking the crack to the gate, Brock turned to me, taking both my hands. “You ready?” he asked.
To enter the underworld? The birthplace of all demons?Hell to the no.
“Yes,” I said with a deranged sort of smile.
“That’s my girl,” he laughed, then immediately turned somber. “Promise me, no matter what happens, you’ll take care of yourself and the baby first.”
“Of course,” I answered right away.
“Even if it means leaving me behind. Even if it means leaving Cass.” His amber eyes were dead serious, and my heart skipped a beat.
Uh, fuck no, I wasn’t leaving either of them behind.
“I mean it, Evie,” he pressed. “If it’s a choice between you and the baby, or Cass and me, you haul ass and get the two of you out.”
Yeah … no. But I couldn’t tell Brock that.
I didn’t want to lie so I just nodded.
As I turned toward the gate, he gently grabbed my arm and turned me back toward him. “Promise me. You and our baby mean more to me than my life.”
My heart thudded.
“I need to know that you’ll be safe no matter what happens,” he continued. “Promise me you’ll leave me behind if you have to. Please.”
Fuck, he knew me too well.
Staring into his eyes, I knew there was no way I’d ever be able to do that. He must have read it in my face.
“I need this, Evie. I need to know you’ll survive this.”
“Fine,” I snapped, and he sighed in relief, the stray strands of dark hair across his forehead wafting upward. I leaned forward to whisper in his ear. “But you’d better make sure your fine ass ends up back here with me. I plan on making you my husband.”
