Page 17 of Conquering the King of Storms

“Dove’s going to stay with Quake outside the city. Me, Ivy, you, and Harper are going after them.”

“Nice to know I’m invisible,” Margo muttered behind me.

“I’m not taking my mate into that hellhole,” Sirus said, his voice low.

“I don’t want to either, but it’s that or leaving them for dead,” Flame growled back. “My Vriva hasn’t had time to learn her magic. I can’t navigate the caves without you.”

“Fuck.” Sirus ran his free hand over the top of his always-perfect hair as Dove buried her face into his neck, hugging him fiercely.

“We can set a time limit. I’ll come in after and fuck the prison up if you can’t find them,” Quake said, stepping in to join the group. He held his hands out for Dove, flashing her a grin. “Come on, little bird. I’ll find you a treat on the way out of the city.”

Dove peeked one eye open. “What treat?”

“One you’ve never tried before.” His grin widened, and he wiggled his fingers toward her.

She looked up at Storm. “You’re going to be okay?”

“Of course.” He tapped her nose lightly again. “Harper and I will be back as soon as we can. Until then, Quake and Margo will fatten you up. The water fae will make sure of it.” He glanced over at Crest, and the understated threat in his gaze was enough to have the man jerking his head in a nod.

Sirus’s eyes softened before they reached Dove’s again. “You’ll have much more fun out here.”

She sighed, but turned and reached for Quake. He tossed her upward and she landed on his shoulders lightly, with the help of the wind. It clearly wasn’t the first time they had done that.

Dove wrapped her little arms around his forehead.

“I’ll need you to guide me, Velvet,” he told Margo. Despite the seriousness of the situation, his voice was playful.

“I’ve never seen you trip,” she grumbled, though she grabbed his arm by the gigantic bicep and tugged him toward the doors. “Don’t die, Harper. Ivy, we’re still not friends,” she called over her shoulder.

Dove giggled, and Ivy grinned.

Margo, Quake, and Dove left through the large doors.

The room felt much emptier without the three of them—and the shit we were about to walk into felt much more dangerous.

“Show us to the fucking entrance,” Flame barked at Crest.

The man gestured for us to follow him, then turned and headed through a set of large double doors.

Storm’s hand caught mine, and we walked behind Tariq and Ivy. His arm was wrapped possessively around her waist, but for once, he wasn’t carrying her.

“Whatever happens, never release your grip on me,” Sirus murmured, as we walked.

My gaze skimmed the walls of the castle, intrigued by the strange texture, but I nodded in agreement.

He added quietly, “There are many creatures of all different power levels in the Aboa. No matter what you think you hear or see, remember that what’s real is your hand in mine.”

Well, he caught my attention with that one.

My gaze jerked to his, and I found his expression utterly serious. “What do you mean?”

“Some of the monsters below have power over minds. They can make you hear things, or see things. You can’t trust your senses in the Aboa—only your magic.”

“I have no magic,” I whispered, my blood beginning to pump faster.

“You have me.” His fingers slid between mine. “No matter what, you don’t let go. Understand?”

I nodded, though I was suddenly questioning my ability to hold on to him.

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