Page 93 of Tortured Soul
“If you’re going to be picky about his help, you can both shove it up your asses.Heoffered to go. If you don’t want his assistance, we’re done here.”
Dimitri’s hand let go of mine to settle on my hip and bring me closer to him. Arc’s expression was unreadable under his careful masked features.
“Don’t you find it strange that your friend won’t disclose the extent of his powers?” Arc asked, his eyes not leaving the place over my head where Dimitri’s face was.
My hands tightened into fists by my sides.
“I don’t. I know what his powers are, and you haven’t earned that right yet. The device said he was to be avoided at all costs, that should be enough information for you to know he won’t fail, nor need any weapons to carry out his task.”
The air around us shifted, the hairs on my arms and the back of my neck rising.
“Huh, guys—” Ann’s voice said from her spot next to the door.
A loud crash echoed all around us and the room shook under our feet. I forced myself to stand unmovable under the pressure around us, to fight the need to cower and hide at Dimitri’s outburst.
Jeremiah and Arc took defensive stances, looking around the room at the sudden carnage, searching for the threat.
Every piece of glass except the windows were shattered on the floor. The table and chairs that were moved to the side had shards of wood sticking out in awkward angles. The couch I had spent a few hours on when I first got here was destroyed beyond measure, feathers and shredded cotton flying around it.
Dark red smoke moved slowly on the ground, circling everyone menacingly.
After a couple of seconds, Arc and Jeremiah’s focuses were back on us.
“What’s that?” Ann asked, her voice shaking.
I turned to glance at her. She was pushing her back against the wall, eyes wide toward the living smoke moving around her feet. And I understood her fear. She was an Earthwalker, after all. Not a human, but still fragile and killable.
“A party trick,” Dimitri crooned.
Jeremiah sighed and turned around, picking the few weapons scattered on the floor. Arc kept his cold eyes on Dimitri’s form.
“Fine,” he conceded, albeit reluctantly. “But you keep the clothes. If you don’t, you might get attacked by our scouts.”
And that was it. The argument that must have started well before we arrived was over with just a few words.
Dimitri grunted in my back as Jeremiah left the room without a word, followed by Ann who gave me an apologetic look.
“Carrie will be here in a minute to escort you outside,” Arc said, walking toward the door as well. “Lola, we need you at the archives today. Kai will probably drop by to request a few files.”
Our eyes didn’t meet once as he followed after them.
We went from having a nice meal and nicer conversation back to a cold and awkward interaction.
That damn man was going to be the death of me.
“I know I defended you here, but are you sure you want to go?” I asked, turning to face Dimitri.
He circled me with his arms, hugging me tight.
“If I find that place and destroy it, I can make sure this camp is safe enough for you. So I will, no matter how pissed I am about their actions.”
I pulled back just enough to lift my eyes and study his face. My pout must have been an amusing sight to behold as he grinned, bringing one of his hands to cup the side of my face.
“Your love is my sole reason to exist,zhizn moya,” he said softly. “But if one of your mates insists on chipping me like a dog again, I don’t care how powerful he thinks he is, he’ll be a rotten vegetable stuck in a useless piece of meat when I’m done with him.”
The air shifted again and goosebumps erupted along my spine. He would do it. He wasn’t one for making empty threats.
Dimitri dropped a soft kiss against my forehead.
