Page 57 of Queen of Darkness
Hope for the best. Plan for the worst.
“You know I’m in,” Fred drawled, finally breaking the silence. “Never could stand that bitch. If this is my chance to help take her down, then I’msoin.”
“Well, shit,” Jaxton said with a fake sigh, glaring at Fred. “Now I have to go. Someone has to make sure you don’t screw it all up.”
“So, does that mean I’m going to do the same for you?” Dave said.
Jaxton, Aaron’s second-in-command, rolled his eyes skyward, then scanned over the rest of the team, receiving whatever passed for affirmatives from them.
“We’re all in,” he said after a moment. “The more, the merrier, right?”
“And the better chance of getting yourselves all killed,” Fenrir pointed out.
“So, you aren’t coming?”
Fenrir exchanged looks with Drakul. The silver-haired warrior grunted something that I didn’t understand, but the head shaking was clear enough.
“This is foolish,” Fenrir said, nodding at his newfound companion. “This group is not enough to get to Elenia. Not now. You will fail. We hope that you don’t die, but more than this group is needed.”
“We could go,” Dani said from nearby.
“No,” I said, shaking my head.
“I amnotmade of glass, damn you,” Dani snarled, rehashing an argument we’d already had.
“But the child inside you is, my love,” Vir said. “Which is why I should go.”
“I willnotdeprive your child of a parent,” I growled at him. “So sit your ass down. I grew up with the closest thing to no mother. It might have been easier not to have had one at all. I don’t know. But what Idoknow is that I won’t be a party to doing that to anyone else. Hate me if you want, but I would rather die and have your child grow up with both of you than me live and one of you have to sacrifice yourself so that I make it out.”
“That’s not fair,” Dani whispered. “We could help. A lot.”
“Of course you could. And if we get trapped and she’s holding us prisoner, guess who gets to play the negotiator for our freedom. If we fail and she does anything but kill us outright, I expect you to come to free uswithouttrying to blow everything up.”
“No promises,” Vir muttered. “If you’re not here to say no …”
“Beggars can’t be choosers, I guess,” I said, shifting my weight around unhappily. I still didn’t like the idea, but it was the best I would get. “Besides, we’re going for stealth. We’re not trying to blow the door inward. If stealth fails, then maybe you two can come along. Fair?”
“No,” Dani said.
“Too bad,” I growled. I knew it was a bit foolish to leave them behind. Vir and Dani were literal gods. Their strength could make a huge difference.
It would also put a massive target on their backs. Everyone would know they had gone to war with another realm. It would open them up to blowback and retaliatory strikes. If they or, God forbid, theirbabyshould suffer because of that, I would never be able to live with the guilt of it. I could deal with Dani being upset with me. She’d get over that. That’s what best friends were for.
“We could really use your help,” I said, turning to Fenrir. “Are you sure you won’t come?”
Drakul spoke up again.
“What are they saying?” I whispered to Aaron.
“Uh, nothing nice,” he said, cringing slightly at a particular word from Drakul. “He thinks your plan is foolish and wants no part of it.”
“Oh,” I said, feeling dejected.
Aaron’s hand found mine, squeezing it. “It’ll be okay. They’ll come around, I think.”
“Maybe.” I watched the pair go back and forth. “They seem … different since we left them.”
“They do,” Aaron said. “Don’t they?”
