Page 54 of Twisted By Darkness

For the first time in the past hour, I see Cassandra’s emotions overflow. Her jaw locks, and her cheeks turn a bright pink. The glow in her eyes brightens into a flame. For a moment, she’s not only beautiful, but terrifying as she stares at us. And I know what she’s going to say.

“No,” I roar before she can utter a word. She glares at me, but I shake my head. “You are not going alone. Period. If you want to go, then we’ll go with you.”

“No questions about that,” Donatello agrees with me, and it’s not often he does that. At least we’re on the same page with keeping her safe.

Cassandra frees herself of Tristan’s hold, stepping closer, tilting her chin up, but the moment she parts her lips, more steps sound outside the corridor. She stops, snapping her head in their direction.

The hellhound bounces inside, and if it weren’t for the char and sulfur scent and the glaring third eye, he would look like a common dog. With his tongue lolling out of his mouth, he almost looks cute. Ren follows him inside and, some steps after him, Giulia and her mates.

Cassandra hugs Ren close, and he rubs his cheek up and down her neck and jaw. I’ve heard about that. Wolves tend to rub their smell on their females, both before and after the marking. Just a way to guarantee no one will get close to them. I wish dragons had something like that.

“Tell me something good, Pup,” I say, watching the witch and her mates form a circle with us.

Ren’s mouth twists in disappointment, too, but he smiles before I can sigh in frustration. “We managed a little of verbena. Not much.”

I change the weight of my body between my feet, waiting for him to go on. He doesn’t. “How much?” I insist.

Trevor digs a hand into his pocket, then brings out a single bullet. “One.”

My shoulders drop. “Fuck.”

“Merda,” says Donatello at the same time.

“So,” Cassandra starts, letting go of Ren and taking a step back so she can see all of us, “let me get this straight. You’re all going into the Little Palace without a way out. Not if we don’t kill the Collector. And if Kayn shows up, we’re screwed.”

“Pretty much,” offers Trevor. Alicia nudges him with an elbow.

“Any other ideas?” I ask her, and she opens her mouth. “That doesn’t involve you going by yourself?” She closes it, her brows dropping into a frown. “Thought so.”

“Donatello can have another swig of my potion,” Giulia offers. “At least you can rest assured he won’t turn on you.”

I wish that wasn’t a problem. The fact he could hurt Cassandra still haunts me.

Cassandra cocks her head. “I don’t know. He almost died because of the potion last time. Not that it didn’t work, Giulia,” she adds, “but because he couldn’t hear us calling him.”

“He could stay,” I say, not because I hate him or anything, but because this connection he has with Kayn is a liability, both for him and for us. I raise both my hands in a pacifying gesture to Donatello, who frowns. “Not picking a fight, Ninja Turtle. It would be safer, for you and for us.”

Donatello bares his teeth. He looks one-hundred percent insulted at the implication. “I would rather take the potion to guarantee she won’t be injured.”

“But you can die,” Cassandra cuts in.

“It’s a small price for your safety.” And he looks at me. At that moment, I trust him. I trust him with her safety because I can feel, deep in my bones, he would kill himself to see her back to safety.

“Let’s do that,” I agree.

“No,” says Cassandra, shaking her head.

“I think he should have the chance to help, Cass,” Ren says, reaching out to trace down her spine.

“No,” she insists, and gods, this woman is so strong-headed.

“It’s not your choice,inamorata,” Donatello says with finality. “I’m coming.”

Silence weighs down like a heavy blanket. Cassandra’s jaw works, and she gapes down again. She looks almost... Defeated. I hate that sight on her. Walking closer, I try to touch her, but she steps back.

“You sure about this, Cassandra?” Giulia asks. The witch is blind, but she sees more than any of us, and her question is loaded. Whatever she sees in the timelines, it’s clear this moment puts us at a crossroads. Whatever choice Cassandra makes, it will seal our destiny.

Cassandra takes shallow breaths, and I swear the tips of her dark fingers shake. Finally, she looks up, straight at Giulia. Unwavering. Unstoppable.

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