“A present from my father figure,” I tell him honestly, standing so I can attach my glaives to my leathers.
“Here.” Ryker comes up to me and hands me four knives. “I know you’re good with your glaives, but just in case he’s too close, use my knives. They’re laced with poison already.”
“Aww.” I take them reverently, testing the weight, and, of course, find them perfectly balanced. “You sure know how to spoil a girl.”
“Always, Goddess.” He grabs my chin to angle it up, giving me a deep kiss that makes my toes curl. “Now skin that fucker alive,” he says, pulling away and smacking my ass.
I chuckle as I put his knives in my thigh sheaths. Up next are Moni and Chester, who both give me hugs and offer to come to the rescue by jumping in to save the day if they have to, but I can’t have that.
“Come on, guys, we are better than that,” I tell them.
“Yeah, but Captain Brooks sucks,” Moni whines.
“He does, but look, I can easily take him. Of that I have no doubt,” I tell her, feeling confident. “We’ve taken on bigger enemies.”
“Yeah,wehave, but you’re going solo,” Chester mumbles, but I still hear it.
I shoot my brother-in-law a look. “You, sir, are supposed to worry about Moni and makeherfeel better; this isn’t doing it.” The disapproving look I give him makes him cower for a moment.
“Sorry,” he mumbles, and I give him a wink to lessen the blow.
I walk over to Zeke and JP, kissing them both passionately, but before I leave, I look to JP.
“I know you hate doing it, but did you?—”
“You already know what he plans. He’s going to try to kill you. He’s just shocked that you knew how to delay your death.” JP shrugs.
“Thank you.” I squeeze his hand. “I can’t wait to be done with this shit and take a long soak in my tub before sleeping in my own bed,” I admit with a sigh.
“Ditto,” Lynx mimics.
“Don’t you sleep on the floor?” Knots counters.
“Don’t you sleep on a wall?” Lynx replies.
“I love you two,” I tell them as I go over and kiss and hug them both. “Feel free to bicker all you want while I fight, just no killing.”
“No promises,” they each say.
Levi comes up and pulls me over to him, cupping my cheek.
“Why is everyone acting like this is goodbye?” I ask, loud enough for all of them to hear. No one answers that, but Levi pulls me into a sweet kiss and smiles at me, popping that cute dimple I rarely see anymore.
“I just wanted to let you know, I reinforced your leather, since you’re going up against Captain Brooks. He’s known to cheat.”
“Cheat? In which way?” I ask, needing to know this type of information.
“Lynx isn’t the only one that can partially shift while in human form.” Levi gives me a pointed look.
“Got it.” I chew on my bottom lip while I take that news in. “Thank you, Levi.” I give him a deeper kiss before turning and finding everyone standing around like I’m about to walk to my death.
The only one who looks remotely happy is Reaper, and that’s because he’s chewing on a huge ass bone. Now that I truly look at it, it might be the last contestant’s femur. Eww.
“Okay, guys. Really?” I say, my hands on my waist. “Do you really have this little faith in me? Hello? I’m a Fate for fucks sake,” I finally admit it out loud.
“We’re just worried, that’s all,” Knox says, approaching me like I’m a wild animal. Hell, I might be with how on edge I’m feeling. “We’re allowed, okay?”
“No,” I say. “I would like some faith. I’ve taken down a Typhlotic Chicken by myself, I’m trained, we’ve gone through Hell, and I even have Bitch with me,” I say, as Knox envelopes me in his arms.
