I break our kiss and lay a gentle peck on her lips, then turn to the eight men who’ve approached us with a smile. They were taking a break from the excitement inside or getting ready to join in.
They won’t be going in.
“Damn. Got yourself a nice piece of—”
My sword plunges straight through his throat, and my dance begins.
These moves are burned into my brain, with and without my power. I know where to strike, to pivot, and to plunge. One cut kills.
They have no time to react. Physically or mentally.
My chest heaves as the last body falls, and my undivided attention stays peeled down the alley, waiting for the next wave to come.
“Kyzen,” Thayla whispers as she laces her fingers with mine.
My head jerks and I blink, giving my eyes some relief from my staring.
“Come on. I got you.”
She’s got me.
It’s only when she tugs me toward the back of Seductions that I realize the Elsher Valtrue has already started dragging the bodies behind the other building.
Creed, Amick, Sevryn, and even Yemi give me confident, understanding nods. Mara, Chasin, and Jeremiah have had fear in their eyes since the first group I killed.
Gladian continues to glance at me as if he’s making sure I’m not going to make the other side of his face match what I left behind before.
Losing Thayla’s touch has me clenching my jaw, but I don’t say or do anything since Creed only pulled her away to get her swords situated once more.
While he does that, I glare at the unprotected steel door as the others group around it.
The last time I saw it, I was peering over my shoulder with a smile on my face because I thought we’d successfully tricked everyone sitting inside.
I was so naïve in my excitement, believing we were racing off to our freedom.
“It’s like you predicted, Amick. There’s power throughout the whole structure.”
“Very unfortunate, but not unexpected. So everyone get ready. She’s going to know the moment we pass—”
“Can I try?” Yemi cuts him off to ask.
“Try what?”
“I know I can’t block out the whole structure, but I…” she trails off, exhaling harshly as her eyes map the building. “I’d like to try to bring down the barrier embedded in the bricks surrounding the door and the door itself.”
“How can you do that?” Gladian asks, taking a step forward, but Creed, Thayla, and I stand in his way.
“Mind your business and ready your people,” I command.
He holds my stare until I subtly twirl the handle of my sword in my hand. He does a good job not showing any fear, but his ass does turn around and whisper-yells orders to the others.
“Do you believe you can do that?” Amick asks when he moves his attention back to Yemi.
“Yes. If I can’t, it doesn’t change the circumstances we’re facing already.”
“If you can, though, it changes everything.”
She glares at Amick. Well, we all do.
