Page 53 of Creatures that Breathe

L Challenger 350 NA83RU8, Twelve Thousand Five Hundred Feet Above the Baltic

“We should’ve left her there. She’s trouble,” Lev says the minute a soft sigh parts Leni’s lips. She’s curled up into herself on the chair, arms wrapped tightly around her body, head shoved between her knees. Her eyes are softly closed, sealing out the world.

Leaving her wasn’t an option. Not since I cut through that Gorgon’s heart and sweet honeysuckle mixed with bitter salt filled my nose and clouded my judgment. I might not have been raised with creatures but even mortals have their myths about blood and fate.

Naturally, the Gods forged it into a weapon. A defense mechanism to stun and disorient.

Who wouldn’t stumble if they smelled their soulmate in the middle of a battlefield, who wouldn’t panic and falter?

The first waft of Leni’s scent shredded my control.

I’m not a descendent of the Gods. I shouldn’t have a soulmate, the laws of nature do not apply to abominations.

But there she is.

Marvelously beautiful, and intent on killing me.

“Really?”

I peel my eyes off Leni to look at Lev. “She’d have frozen to death if we left her.”

“Not if we left her in the water,” he deadpans, taking the seat across the aisle from her, spinning it to face me. “And you wouldn’t be bleeding right now. Wouldn’t be shot.”

“I’ve been shot plenty.”

“And how many times have you had to stitch yourself up? You’re distracted, and it’s weakening you.”

I avoid his scowl. “I overexerted.”

“It’s fucking both, and it’s because of her. You need to be away from her, you need to concentrate and conserve your energy. At least until you heal.”

When Lev looks at Leni, I can see the mess she’s become. Swimming in my smoked out, blood crusted shirt, skinned knees, ash in her hair.

“Her?” he asks in disbelief. “She’s your type? A coward who runs at the first sign of danger? She’s pathetic.”

A muscle twitches in her cheek.

I level Lev a hard look, swatting back a dozen rebuttals to keep from riling him further. “Not everyone craves violence.”

“But we do,” Lev insists fiercely, clenching his fist so tightly his knuckles turn white. “Kadmos created us for it.”

“We were created to instill peace. Fighting was a means to an end, never the purpose.”

Lev leans back, folds thick arms over his chest. “Does she know that you loathe creatures like her?”

She has no idea how I feel about her. “Go punch something, Mikhailov, you’re an asshole when you’re wound up.”

He ignores me, pushes. “A slutty fucking outfit, a couple guns pointed at her, you’re just as bad as Atlas with the hero complex. We’re not heroes anymore.”

“Stop it,” I cut him off with a growl.

But he doesn’t know when to quit. “If you’re so desperate, Sin can get you a Nymph with tattoos realer than those.”

“Enough, Mikhailov.” I’m losing my patience, tapping my foot.

“What do you even know about her?” He’s petulant. A child throwing a fit. “Fuck, just look at her. I—”

“You’re jealous,” I snap.

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