Page 39 of Of War and Realms

He’s crossed the mountains.

He’s here.

I clear my throat, willing the unyielding thoughts away. They do not listen. It hurts because we cannot even enjoy our bonding, or the fact that we’re all whole for the first time in our lives.

The overwhelming peace that I felt waking up in the cave after our bonding was incredible. It was as if we were living on a slanted axis for decades, only to have evened out upon completing our souls. I want so badly to just spend several days alone with them, enjoying this new intimacy we share.

But we can’t.

And even worse than that…my protectiveness of them has apparently increased a significant amount. Upon leaving the cave after the ceremony, poor Leia found us to talk to Cas about something. But she may have looked at him a little too long, and my skin may have sprouted fire that threatened to consume her…that was not my intention, but it’s certainly something I’ll need to work on.

If we make it out of this alive.

Because he’s here.

He’s waiting.

I sigh and look at the exposed part of my chest, where my new marking sits. Cas and Em have the same one, all of us having woke up with them after our bonding. It’s small, four circles that look like a toothpick swept through the middle to pull them toward the four points at the edges. I assume that each circle represents one of us, including Xamira. I’ve wondered if she has the same marking hiding under all of that silky fur.

I run my finger over the mark just as an ominous prick of awareness shoots through my spine. My eyes snap up directly to my mother, who sits on the other side of the table with her hands folded into one fist. She’s glaring at my marking as if it’s the most vile thing she’s ever seen. Heavy satisfaction flows through me at that. Her eyes drag up to mine, darkening when she sees I’m watching her. I smirk, lifting the hand from my chest to flip her off, then dismissing her as if she’s worth nothing more than a fleeting thought.

Maybe that was childish. And maybe I don’t fucking care. I have decades of rebellious behavior to make up for before she finally drags her ass back to Europa.

And we’ll all probably be dead soon, anyway. So what does any of it matter?

My gaze finds Teryn, who watches me with the warmest smile on her face. What it would be to be raised by someone like her…she’s the reason my males are so incredible in every way.

I return the smile, trying not to focus on her sinking features. The graying of her skin. The pronounced lines in her hands.

She’s insisted that Niair join our fight when Andras arrives, leaving her without any support. As much as we need every able body we can get, I do not feel comfortable leaving her here. It feels wrong.

I suppose everything feels wrong to me right now.

“Nell.” Niair’s words snap me out of my consuming thoughts. “Who did you say those sorids were? There are so many that I find I’m having trouble with their names and do not want to offend.” He chuckles, reaching over to run his thumb along his wife’s shoulder.

I open my mouth to answer, positioning myself to point at the sorids as I say their names. But I do not get the chance as the door bursts open, slamming into the wall. I gag, knowing exactly what this is and not able to hold the bile back any longer.

A short fae runs in, not bothering with any formalities as he rests a hand on Casmir’s chair, breathing hard. His red hair is drenched, sweat running down his neck and into the brown vest that’s buttoned to his throat. That has to be quite uncomfortable. His face is crimson, speaking to the urgency of his visit.

“My prince,” he wheezes, holding a hand to his chest. “They are here. They were moving so fast. They cannot be more than a few hours behind me.” His shoulders sag, relief coating his features.

I swivel my torso to lock eyes with my males, sharing the words we each know to be true, but do not dare to say out loud. I couldn’t walk out of here thinking it was the last time I told them how much they mean to me. Maybe that’s selfish, but my main goal is to keep them and Xamira alive.

Not even a second later, everyone is out of their seats and walking to the castle entrance. My steps meet the floor with purpose as I pull on a fitted, black sweater, zipping it to cover the hardened leather vest and bond marking. My hair is tied to the top of my head, and I look down to ensure I have my lace-less boots on, not wanting to find myself dead because of a lace mishap.

Crossing a foot over the other, I spin to face my males, walking backward with no less confidence. I run my hands and eyes over them, ensuring they’re wearing the proper attire and there’s nothing they need before we step through those doors. They let me fuss, knowing that I’m working to solidify an unfeeling mask to hide the catastrophic panic threatening to take control of my body.

Emrys spins me, draping an arm around my shoulder as we descend the front steps. “First to kill Andras gets a blowjob.” I scoff, looking over at him with wide eyes.

“Excuse me? I don’t have a dick. So how would that work?”

He smirks, leaning down to kiss my temple and press his lips to my ear. I shiver as his intoxicatingly dangerous voice reaches me. “All you’ll need is that mouth, love, because I’m going to rip that fucker to pieces for what he’s done to you. I’ll fuck the corpse until his soul begs the fates to obliterate him—because he knows the moment I die, he’s mine. And I will continue fucking him, mixing my cum with his tears and forcing him to choke on it until the taste of my cock is branded into his soul for eternity. He will never taste you again.”

I don’t realize we’ve stopped walking and I’m just staring at Em until Casmir bursts out laughing, sliding his hand across my waist. “I’ll suck your cock right here just to see that.” That gets me laughing, holding my stomach while the males tease each other about who will be on their knees first.

This might be the last time we all laugh together.

The unwanted thought sobers me immediately. I straighten and clear my throat as I walk to Xamira. I mount her, stiffening before checking behind me to ensure the rest are ready.

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