“Ronen’s not allowing us on patrols. MJ told us before you arrived.”
I dug my nails into my palms.
Sure, I understood why Ronen would leave us out. My squad didn’t listen to me. More than that, they didn’t know I had power, so if we ran into trouble, I’d have to expose myself. He was protecting me. I knew that. But it pissed meoff.
We weren’t useless.
We’d all trained hard and had the skills necessary to protect each other on patrols.
And…
I cared about Hell.
I didn’t know when it started.
Maybe the moment I stepped foot in the frozen land. Maybe after I met a certain general or befriended Ichi, Alexei, and MJ. Could’ve even been after I met my father and his grumpy librarian.
Earth wasn’t my home. Nothing was left there but ruins of a tumultuous past.
Elora I felt nothing but disdain for.
But Hell…
Somewhere along the way, I’d decided this was my new home, and I wanted more from it.
That explained the disappointment after coming here and failing to lead. That explained the itch growing in my stomach, demanding I do more.
I didn’t rule Hell. Hardly anyone knew I was the princess.
But I cared, and that had to be worth something.
“I want to be in the patrol rotation. I want to help search the forests for infected Damned,” I said at last.
Aspen had been walking over from his squad and caught my words, stiffening.
Oliver laughed.
Ichi bowed her head, unsheathed her massive sword, and placed it in her palms as an offering.
Dusty and Matt gazed at me like I’d grown a second head.
But the rest of my squad perked up.
“We fought and killed Lilith,” I whispered harshly in retaliation to Oliver’s disbelieving cackle.
Ichi’s sword clanged against the sand.
“The cause of your absence,” she murmured, bowing lower. “I apologize that you did not find me worthy enough to follow you into battle.”
Ifrowned. “That’s not?—”
“We were on a time crunch,” Oliver cut in, crouching to grab her sword.
Then he yelped and dropped it.
“Fuck-a-duck! What is that?”
“It’s a bonded sword. Only she can hold it,” Aspen explained.
