Page 90 of Death Makes the Heart Grow Fonder

Cal returned, grabbed two more undead in quick succession, one in each hand. He carried them like sacks of bad decisions and dumped them through the portal.

Greyson stood near the rune plate, jaw clenched, hands glowing as he held the portal stable. Sweat beaded at his temple despite the cold air.

Tegan crouched near a cluster of vehicles, tracker in hand, searching while we fought. The needle twitched and spun, trying to catch a signal, then going still like it was sulking again.

Nishi moved with her hunters, guiding the remaining undead toward containment. Her face stayed controlled, but her eyes were intense with worry.

Eve burned only what she had to, small bursts that snapped spirit force without letting flame spread. Her face was tight with fury, but she obeyed the constraints. Hospital first. Pride later.

The rhythm became brutal and efficient.

Hold. Grab. Fly. Drop.

Hold. Grab. Fly. Drop.

Each time Cal returned, his wings beat heavier. His leathery form gleamed under the floodlights, and his breaths became more pronounced. Even gargoyles had limits.

My barrier started to tremble at the edges.

The bond with the egg pulled harder, and for a moment I felt a stab of panic from the baby, like an echo of distress. The dark patches on the shell were not spreading, but the pressure remained. It wanted to return the moment I slipped.

I swayed slightly.

Cal noticed immediately, eyes snapping to me. He landed closer, wings folding partly. “Salima.”

“I am fine,” I said, because I was stubborn.

“You are fading,” he repeated, voice low and firm.

Faith shot him a look. “She said she is fine.”

Cal’s gaze stayed on me. “She is lying.”

Faith’s mouth tightened. “That is also true.”

I held the barrier for another ten seconds, long enough for Cal to grab two more undead and throw them through the portal. Then my knees buckled slightly, and I had to drop one hand to my thigh to steady myself.

The barrier wavered.

Nishi’s hunters surged forward to compensate, pushing the nearest undead back with blades and shields. Faith fired, staggering one that tried to slip through.

Cal landed in front of me, blocking the worst of the movement with his own stone body. His wings lifted slightly, creating a physical wall.

His voice dropped, urgent. “Enough.”

Eve shouted at Greyson, “How many left?”

Greyson’s face was pale now. “Only a few. The portal is holding.”

Tegan rose, frustration on her face. “I cannot get a clean trail. The shield is shifting. She moved something.”

Nishi’s gaze snapped toward her. “You are sure.”

Tegan nodded once. “The signal is not anchored here anymore.”

Faith spat a curse. “She moved the relic.”

Eve’s eyes flashed. “Of course she did.”