Page 66 of Frosted Torment

“Can we do that?”I asked, trying not to sound too eager. I didn’t want to reveal all my vulnerabilities to him.

As I crossed my arms over my chest, I observed the group getting ready for battle. I had no experience or training in fighting.With any luck, Baz and my friends would be able to defend me.

“For brief periods of time, yes,”Baz confirmed as I fidgeted in place before finally resting my head on his leg.“Remember, the purpose of my fall was to help restore your soul, so our connection should stay open as much as possible.”

Nevaeh continued talking to Dawson behind us. I tried to ignore it, but it was impossible as I reeled from the loss of my best friend.

“Ivy lost faith after waiting so long, Dawson,” I heard Nevaeh say. “Vincent preyed on her for it.”

Dawson huffed, then grabbed a trucker hat from a rack by the back door. After placing it on his head, he holstered his pistol on the side of his jeans, then strapped a tactical knife to his leg.

“Whatever the reason, she sure as shit mucked it all up,” he sniped.

I still felt a sense of loyalty to Ivy no matter her issues, and I made sure to let the others know.

“Ivy was collateral damage and, like Nevaeh said, they used her.” I scowled at them, then turned my attention back to Baz.“Can we go now?”

In that moment, an ear-piercing blast outside rattled the walls of the house, causing everyone to scatter in a desperate attempt for cover. Baz shielded me with his body as another thud echoed through the room, this time near the front door.

We lifted our heads and saw Dawson slouching against the wall next to the fireplace. He wrapped his hand around his ear while crinkling his brows in discomfort.

“I’m all right!” Dawson called out, then took a finger and jiggled the inside of his ear.

He stood up, then stumbled into the kitchen. The sound of running water filled the air as he washed his face with agitation. A fist slammed down on the counter, and I jumped.

“We prepared for this, old man!” Nevaeh called out to him.

“Yeah, yeah,” Dawson groaned.

He walked back out to the living room when another tremor shook the ground beneath us. I jumped up and met Baz’s fierce gaze, a silent exchange of understanding passing between us. He nudged me with a feather touch and bowed down for me to climb up his leg and secure myself to his back.

As I climbed up for the first time, I realized there was enough room for two people, and I prayed I’d stay on.

“What do I hold onto?” I asked, flashing my black eyes at him.

Lex grabbed a thick leather belt from a hat organizer attached to the wall by the back door. He passed it around Baz’s neck and buckled it.

“Grab onto the strap, Noa. You can hook your arms through it and lie down,” he advised.

As I tried to steady my racing heart, Ena tossed me the jacket, which I promptly slipped my arms into backward as O’Neil secured a dagger holster around one of my thighs. He shoved two daggers into it - their wolf-head pommels glinting in the dim light. He placed the other dagger I had left on the table in my palm.

“Hang onto him, Noa,” O’Neil ordered.

As the threat of demons capturing me began to set in, my bones rattled. “I’ll try,” I said, tucking the sheathed dagger into my bra.

“You will do more than try, Noa,”Baz countered with a seriousness that sounded as if he were scolding me.

Lex turned and met Ena’s gaze, his eyes scanning her disheveled hair and stained shirt before asking, “Are you okay?”

Ena nodded, then Lex placed her hand in his, and they stepped through the garage door into the backyard. A sharp, sulfuric stench hit my nose, nearly making me gag. In the distance, Jossy fought fiercely with fallen angels who had once been his family. Nakoma and Lulu turned them to ash from the ground.

As Ena put on her gloves that acted like a talisman to hide her energy, a tremor shook the house. My stomach twisted, a knot of fear threatening to choke me. As I reached for the leather strap around Baz’s neck, my grip tightened with such force that I thought I felt fur ripping out from between my fingers.

“I’m so sorry!” I winced, then loosened my hands to check my palms.

“Hardly felt it. Put your head down, and do not let go,”Baz directed, and stepped one paw onto the patio.

He crouched down, ready to run. I peered into the darkness, then glanced back into the living room one last time.

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