Page 12 of Legendary

I frustratingly ran a hand through my hair, not really knowing what to say. If I said anything right now it would be a jumbled version of an apology and probably a bunch of variations of how I really, really wanted to kiss her. But I couldn’t do that, not until she was looking right at me, ready to listen.

“Are you just going to hover over her or are you going to sit down?” Alex said, still looking at her sketch pad.

I gaped at her as if she really didn’t just say that. She looked up from her work and widened her eyes, expectantly. “Well?”

I tilted my chin up and looked at the ceiling, mentally counting to ten. I looked behind me and pushed a few items around on the coffee table, making room for me to sit. I let my eyes drift over to Elise. “So, Dani was the next best plan? Why not just take the baby instead?” I hated talking about this with Daya right here, as if we had no sympathy.

“Because you pretty but stupid man, that baby would be missed. Everyone would have raged to find it but killing it would cause chaos and she loves chaos more than anything else. Lilith loves to make one move and watch everyone else destroy themselves. I can’t blame her; it is kind of thrilling when you think about it.” She prattled on a bit, before I snapped my fingers bringing her back to the present. She snarled at me. “Ugh, she didn’t want something that could be taken back. She found she wanted something of her own. Her own pathetic little hybrid baby who needs cute little weapons to make her feel special, so she knows that she’s mommy’s favorite.” Her words cut deep with spitefulness and an intent to hurt.

I scrubbed a hand down my face as I watched my father step between them. Dani had both hands on the back of the couch and from the looks of it, she was about to rip the stuffing right out of the cushion. Elise was still propped on the counter, swinging her legs back and forth as if she simply said things to get a rise out of Dani.

I needed to get it through my own head that Elise operated on an entirely different wavelength than the rest of us. Our wavelength being sanity and hers being the exact opposite.

Reese sauntered over to the fridge. “I say let the cat fight happen Mr. Cassial.”

“You are absolutely no help, Reese.”

Dani let her head hang near her shoulders as she slouched, not fully relaxing, but no longer so on edge. “I’m sorry about your cousins’ baby, Daya.” It almost came out muffled, but the person it was meant for heard it. “I’m sorry about all of it.”

Daya let out a small smile, walking over to Dani and turning her around. “Oh honey. It’s not your fault. Lilith has ruined things for everyone in this room. You want to go and make her pay for what she’s done, then by all means, fight.” She cupped Dani’s chin with her hand and nodded firmly.

Dani grabbed Daya’s wrist and squeezed it. She took a deep breath and turned around catching each of our eyes. “Lilith won’t be the only issue we have in Purgatory. From what Markus said before he died, she’s been experimenting with removing demons’ souls for quite some time now and I hardly think she’s stopped.”

“She always has a contingency plan,” Elise added.

I rubbed my chin. “And you are totally sure that if we dropped down into Purgatory that we won’t just be immediately ambushed on sight?”

Both Elise and Dani shrugged.

“It’s a possibility, but I feel like coming to her is what she wants. An instant kill isn’t what she desires,” Dani explained.

Reese hummed, coming to stand next to me again. “Well, yeah, because it seems to me like what she wants isyou.” He pointed at Dani with an accusing finger. She just tilted her head and smirked at him.

“We aren’t going to just hand her over,” I said, more volume in my voice than I wanted.

Reese rolled his eyes, annoyed. “I didn’t say that. I’m just pointing out facts. I want the dark queen dead as much as everyone else in this room. I’m not trying to satisfy her wishes, alright.”

Natalia cleared her throat, having been silent throughout our entire back and forth debacle. My father handed her another steaming cup of coffee and she nodded her thanks. She wrapped her ring covered hands around the mug and let the steam waft over her glittering face. “She’ll likely have Isabel be her eyes and her scapegoat while you move down there so be mindful.”

“Isabel doesn’t scare me.Sheshould be scaredofme,” Dani said with little puffs of smoke releasing from her fingertips.

Natalia let out a small laugh. “You are quite fearless, which has me putting my utmost faith in you. I will provide a portal for you, but Nicholas—,” she placed her mug on the coffee table and motioned her hand for me to come over to her. Once I was in front of her, she held out her hand, palm up. “Your key.”

I gave her a skeptical look but dug into my shirt and pulled out my portal key without question. Removing it from around my neck, I dropped it intoher waiting hand. Natalia placed her other hand on top, encapsulating the key. A bright orange glowing light peeked out from between her fingers as she concentrated on the task in front of her. The light grew brighter causing me to have to look away.

The light faded until it was snuffed out. Natalia opened up her hand, revealing my key as if she hadn’t just done something to alter it. I didn’t reach out to grab it immediately. I knew something was different about it, but I just couldn’t put my finger on it.

Natalia gave me a wide smile as she placed the key back around my neck. “Don’t worry Nicholas, I just made two simple modifications.”

I raised one of my eyebrows.

“I’m not coming with you, but I want to make sure that I’m there if you need me, so your key now has a direct link to me. It works exactly like how using a normal portal key works, but instead of thinking about where you want to go, you will only have to think about wanting to speak to me and I’ll answer.” She chewed on her bottom lip in a nervous way. “It is a little new for me, this kind of manipulation of portals and their keys, so if you do wish to speak to me your physical body in Purgatory will be out of commission. We’ll be speaking in a more out of body state, therefore I would choose a good time and a safe place whenever you decide you need me.”

She placed her hand on my chest, right over where the key hung. She continued before I could question anything. “Also, I’ve made it so when you do return you won’t have to think about where you want to go. I’ve made this your primary location. Your home. So, whether you are in a crisis or not, you will be led here no matter what.” Her words sent warmth around me. She knew just as much as I did what this home meant to me and if I ever had any choice as to where I felt safest, this would be my first and only option. My eyes cut to my father who gave me a simple nod as if he agreed with my every thought.

The moment was cut short by one of the two people in the room that could ruin this. “Woah! You aren’t coming?” Reese exclaimed.

Natalia moved her dark waves over her shoulder. “Sadly no. I would love to, but there are times when Zane is actually right and this is one of those times. My people can’t afford for me to be gone for however long this adventure will take.”

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