Page 76 of Dark Souls Academy: The Sacrifice

I gasped and shot up from a prone position. All my senses came back in seconds, making my heartrate spike to impossible heights. My whole body ached and cracked as I moved. I needed… A glass of water was shoved in my face immediately. The nectar was the best thing I had ever tasted.

Slowly, I blinked my eyes open. My four loving mates were there hovering over me. Four?

“Where’s Kain?” my voice cracked as I gave Alaric the glass back.

Their gazes went to my side. I think I knew before I asked. The warm body next to me was one of my mates.

I put my hand on his bruised, bare chest. If it hadn’t healed yet even with healing balm, I must have done some damage. But his chest moved up and down, so I couldn’t be too mad at myself.

“He’s in a coma. One of our trusted healers came to check you guys out. You were fine. Rest would help bring you back. He didn’t know about Kain, though.” Dex explained as he sat next to me and grabbed my hand, petting it.

“Come on, we need to get going. Take all the potions I have for you to help you function. You’ll have to get ready too. Hurry. We’re running out of time,” Trigger complained, which made my forehead scrunch up. He usually was a lot more chill than this. He stormed out of the room, saying something about bottles in the fridge.

“With both of you two out, Trigger has had to lead the faction. Let’s just say, he’s not a fan.”

Bones snorted at Dex’s words. “The grumpy shit has something stuck up his ass and won’t let us help him.” Trigger came in before Bones had finished speaking. His glare was murderous.

“Whatever. You just don’t seem to care that Lucifer is here and has been constantly attacking her dreams. He almost got her last time. I’ve been fighting him off. I’ve been doing everything to keep him away from you. He won’t get what he wants this time.”

My dream couldn’t have been real. Right? I kept my mouth shut just in case it was all my imagination. It would only distract them.

“Come here,” I opened my arms for him, but I wasn’t expecting him to do a swimmer’s dive into bed on top of me. I wrapped my arms around him, tightly. I could tell he needed it. I knew I did.

“Watch it, you ass. She hasn’t taken any of your potions yet,” Alaric grumbled and handed me a jingling bag.

Trigger groaned like I was the one who just belly flopped onto him. “Let’s get ready. We have an attack to lead and a king to kill.”

I gladly took the first potion out of the bag and stood. Every part of me was sore. I didn’t even hurt this much when I jumped off the roof.

With an un-lady-like groan, I lifted the vial up before uncorking it. “Cheers.” The bitter liquid splashed down my throat. My muscles instantly loosened like they did after a massage. One by one the potion healed the wreck my body had become until they were gone. The relief of being able to move and breathe normally again put a smile on my face.

“Fuck it feels good to be back,” I whispered to myself, but of course, my mates heard me.

“We still have a few more minutes until we have to leave. Get your shoes on, my Queen.” Dex kissed my cheek. “I’ve missed you so much. Thank you for coming back to me. I wish there was time for me to show you how much.”

I leaned in and gave him a proper kiss, feeding him at the same time. He moaned into my mouth. “After?”

“Nothing could stop me,” he whispered and walked away.

Bones was next to get his hug and kiss. Then, my vampire. Alaric sliced my tongue to feed as well while kissing me. It was one heck of a way to motivate me. I’d win this fight just to enjoy the touch of my mates again. It soothed something inside of me that the potions couldn’t heal.

My eyes drifted back to Kain, and the moment soured.Please, Goddess Nyx, help him.

Everyone was close to being finished, but still had a few things to do, so I turned to the bed. Closing my eyes, I called for my uniform like I would a dog. “Here clothesy, clothes. Be a good magical leather suit and come home.” I heard several snorts.

There was no magic in the air or a sound of wind to let me know the clothes arrived, but when my eyes drifted to the bed, a small bundle of leather sat there. Damn, it worked. I half expected the outfit to choose Piper over me and refuse to come back.

“Oh, good idea, beautiful. That outfit will be the best to fight in.” Bones gave me a peck on the cheek and walked away. Trigger was on his communicator, yelling, and the others were still getting ready. I needed to hurry, though. A paper floated to the ground when I unfolded my uniform.

They did promise me a note. I ignored the paper, so I could get dressed first. The leather suit hugged my body. It covered all of me, except my hands and feet. The V shape see-through at the neckline for my cleavage was unwelcome, but flattering. The important part of the suit was that it would heal itself and keep most spells and potions from hitting my skin. The fact it regulated my temperature would also help a lot today since we were going to be outside.

I braided my hair into two long twists and, and sat down to put on my boots. The note silently screamed at me from the ground. I was dying to read it, so I moved quicker. Finally, once I was done, I scooped up the note.

My hands shook with adrenaline as I unfolded it.

Did you know time in Hell is slower? So, we’ve waited two weeks before the seer said it was time. You missy don’t follow directions well. That makes two of us, though, so I’m not complaining. Anton does, however, expect an earful from him. He’s an old grump.

Marnie is still with us in Norway. She’s being a pain in my ass. She’s a city girl through and through. She’d like me to tell you that she is suffering through all this Earthy shit—her words—for you. I guess we all must do stuff we don’t like in war.

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