I might have whispered a little warning about what would happen if he ever tried to keep me from a fight again. Judging by how fast the color drained from his pretty face, my mate now understands his first mistake will also be his last one with me.
On the drive to the Horsemen castle, Angel and Harvey briefed me on how Hazel had been secretly feeding false information to the coven spies lurking outside our borders. According to the rumors, the Horsemen are vulnerable, and our kingdom is rotting from the inside.
While Angel said they were expecting an attack eventually, it was still a shock when Harvey found hundreds of warlocks gathering at all our portals, trying to tear down the barriers in the middle of the night.
Still, Angel assured me they were ready. More likeGracewas, because according to Harvey, my mate had been more or less useless since I left.
Oh, how that made my heart flutter.
It’s no secret that the entire supernatural world is holding its breath, waiting to see how this war will shift the power dynamic. The coven is hoping to come out victorious, but Visha has no idea how sick we are of her mind games and her petty backstabbing.
After addressing the warriors and lifting their morale, Angel drives us to the War Castle to armor up before the coven comes knocking.
I thought returning to this place after what happened would be hard, but with Angel’s hand in mine and August in my arms, I was already home.
As Angel helps me out of the car, I remember how I usedto dive straight into action without worrying about anyone or anything. Now, with so much to lose, the mere thought of something going wrong terrifies me.
Angel suddenly pulls me against him and kisses me until I’m breathless, snapping me out of my spiraling thoughts.
“You want to tell me what’s bothering you, sweetheart?”
His eyes hold so much love and concern that my defenses crumble. Before I know it, my verbal diarrhea is taking over.
“What if something goes wrong? What ifeverythinggoes wrong and we lose? Visha will go after August next, and he’s a kid, Angel. He can’t fight. If we die, who will protect him? He doesn’t have anyone else. What if—”
Soft, warm lips press against mine, cutting off my nervous rant. I wrap my arms around my mate, gripping the back of his shirt.
“Everything will be fine.” Angel kisses me again before I can argue. “The coven will fall by dawn, August will be home by tomorrow night, and we’ll be throwing a victory celebration soon after.” I make a face and he laughs, knowing how much I hate big crowds.
“And once we win—becausewewill—you and I will start fresh. Our life together is just beginning, and I promise you, Nevaeh, I’ll fill it with so much love you’ll forget what we endured to get here. Every single day will be spent loving each other in a home we build, chasing after the six little ones you, my gorgeous mate, will bless me with.”
Angel leans in for a kiss, but misses when I throw my head back, laughing until my stomach hurts. Poor man doesn’t know the last part will always be a dream.
“I want that too. Most of it, anyway.” I chuckle and kiss him when he pouts. “But now that I have everything I ever wanted, I’m scared of losing it all.” Resting my forehead against his, I try to steal some of his optimism.
“I think you’re forgetting who we are, sweetheart. We’re the Horsemen of the Apocalypse. A coven is no match for us, and they’ll learn that soon enough. Now…” Angel smirks, brushing his lips over mine. “I need you to summon that unhinged energy inside you and wreck everything in sight. Our people are counting on your crazy today.”
Angel chuckles, and I can’t help but smile back, his dimples flashing. I give myself a moment to admire my pretty Angel, taking in the crinkle at the corner of his eyes and the way his whole face softens when he smiles.Gorgeous.
His smile is my favorite thing about him. My heart skips whenever I’m the reason behind it, and my soul sighs in relief as if making him happy is the sole purpose of my existence.
“There’s that smile I live for.” Angel cups the back of my neck and kisses me, slow and passionate, until all my worries fade into the background.
“Nevaeh!”
Once again, Seiji interrupts us right when things are about to get good. He’s lucky I love him, or I would’ve killed him thefourthtime he did this.
“I’m starting to think he does this on purpose,” Angel grumbles.
“It’s Seiji. Of course, it’s on purpose.”
The second I spot him bouncing on his feet, waiting for Angel to let me go. I break free and run straight into his arms. He catches me with a relieved sigh, tears immediately spilling.
“I’m gone for two weeks and you turn into a teary marshmallow?”
“I missed you, too.” He squeezes me tighter, then grabs my hand and tugs me toward the castle.
“Hey, where’s my hug?” Angel calls after us.
