Page 35 of Blood and Reign

I guess the bromance is back on.

I give them all a look; the others back down realizing how stupid they’re acting but Axel and Jax continue to stare at me with murderous glares, waiting for a reply. I glance over at Soren, finally getting it.

Theyarefucking children.

“Well?” Axel pushes, still waiting for a damn answer.

I don’t bother looking at him, instead I glance back at the gate and wonder how we all ended up here, talking about shit that doesn’t matter when the world is going to hell. Literally.

“Rion? Does the heat damage brain cells while you’re down here?”

Kai and Luka chuckle while Rion gives me a smile. “Unfortunately, not. Whatever damage done was always there.” He gives Axel a look full of humor. Axel does a double take, not used to Rion joking with him before glaring at him.

Jax joins him, the bromance still on for now.

Over their idiotic cave man display, I walk over to them and hit Axel upside his head while Luka does the same to Jax.

“Stop being fucking idiots and let’s figure out how to get into the next realm.” I move closer to the gates and away from dumb and dumber when arms come around me from behind. Jax’s woodsy scent hits me before he places a kiss on my head.

“I will not apologize for being a possessive ass. No one gets to touch or even look at you unless it’s one of the five of us. But I will apologize for jumping to conclusions and thinking you would ever want anyone more than us.” I open my mouth to tell him to just forget about it. I knew signing on to this would involve their possessive asses being idiots every now and again, but the fucker continues talking, not letting me get a word in.

“I mean, we’re fucking perfect, so why would you?”

“You’re a dick,” I tell him, making him smile.

“Yes, butyourdick.” The playful tone in his voice has me smiling for some stupid reason. He catches it, making his own grow. He hugs me tighter before letting up, but still wrapped around me.

“Now, what can we do about these impenetrable gates?” Kai glances up at the colossal thing, frowning.

Jax glances from the gates back to Kai as if just realizing something. “Aren’t you a descendant of Cerberus? Can’t you just…I don’t know…Openthe gate?”

Kai gives him a deadpan look. “It doesn’t exactly work like that.”

“But maybe it can.”

We all turn to look at Soren, a glint of glee in his eyes as he stares at Kai.

“After all, you are a descendant of Cerberus. In theory, you should be able to open the gates.”

“Intheory…should… All things that are justpossibilities. Doesn’t mean I can do it.”

But it was better than nothing.

“It’s all we’ve got right now,” I tell him.

Kai sighs, his gaze moving to Soren. “What do I do?”

“Shift and move before the gates. Then let your instincts take over.”

Kai sighs before rolling his shoulders back and stepping forward. His body quickly expands, giving way to his hellhounds.

I’ll never get used to seeing just how magnificent all their beasts are.

Soren splutters, his eyes growing wide. “He… He hasallthree heads?”

“He only recently grew into his third.” Jax shrugs, as if it’s no big deal.

Soren ignores Jax, turning to the rest of us. “How does he have all three heads?”

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