Page 318 of Halfblood Deceived

Sebastian’s eyes fell on her ass as he followed her. “Too true.”

Kamilla chuckled, shaking her head, and then followed them along with Diana.

Kerian met Isaiah’s gaze and tilted his head toward the jet in silent invitation.

Aella gave her friend an encouraging smile, and he went in, too.

Evan gently helped Aiko inside. Kerian went in after them.

Aella looked back at the mammoth beige building that had been her prison for a few years that felt like a lifetime. Zeydan’s curious eyes were on her face, but Aella didn’t turn to see him as she spoke. “I don’t know why, but I just…”

“Need a moment?” Zeydan suggested.

Aella gulped and nodded.

Zeydan held her tightly to his side. His warmth and solidity were like a blanket to her. “Take as long as you need,” he said.

Aella breathed deeply and stared at the manor… for five more seconds. “I’m done. Now I want to see it burn.”

Zeydan chuckled and winked at her. “That can be arranged.”

He placed a supportive hand in the middle of her back as she went inside the jet and then climbed in right after her, closing the hatch.

They sat and strapped in. Zeydan hugged Aella to his side, and she barely resisted the impulse to sit on his lap and nuzzle his neck. He brushed their noses together and Aella saw the same hunger stirring in her gut reflected in those jade eyes. She bit her lip and settled for pressing herself as close to him as she could, entwining their fingers, and observing their friends.

Kerian was in the cockpit with Dyson, she could see him through the open door. Kamilla and Diana sat next to each other, their heads close as they spoke quietly. Aylana and Sebastian were making out shamelessly. Evan had found a blanket for Aiko. She was snuggled into the blanket and Evan’s side, avidly listening as he told her all about Kamilla and Kerian’s mansion. Andreas and Mari had their hands ever so casually on their seats’ edge and were in contact from elbow to pinky. They did their best to look at everything but each other.

“So, do you know about any Order of the Light’s facility we can blow up?” Andreas asked Isaiah.

The gargoyle blinked. “Er…”

Aella smiled.

A few seconds later, they were in the air, and Dyson was firing at the manor with clear relish.

Aella turned to watch through a window as the onslaught of explosions destroyed the massive structure within minutes. “Good fucking riddance,” she muttered.

Zeydan’s low, satisfied laugh in her ear was the last thing she heard before exhaustion won out and her eyes fell closed.

In his arms, she was home.

CHAPTER 61

Zeydan woke up with a start. It took his beleaguered brain a few seconds to catch up with his surroundings. A white, pristine, carpeted jet with comfortable cream seats. His family and friends occupied most of them.

He took a deep breath. His pulse settled as he looked down to find Aella’s head on his shoulder. She was deeply asleep, breathing steadily, safe—and back to her humanoid form.

His brow furrowed.

“You’ve both been out for four hours,” Mari said. “We’ll be back home soon.”

Zeydan turned his head to look at his friend. She was wearing her usual scrubs and tennis shoes again. Her skin was slightly pale, her green-yellow hair stuck up in wild angles, and there was something restless in her jewel-like eyes.

Andreas was sound asleep beside her, looking unnaturally pale despite Kamilla’s blood and Mari and Aylana’s healing magic. One of his hands rested on Mari’s thigh. Zeydan pretended not to notice and let his gaze wander around. He found Aylana, Aiko, and Isaiah asleep. Someone had found a simple black T-shirt for the gargoyle male to wear. Diana, Evan, Sebastian, Kerian, and Kamilla were awake. They were all, like him, still wearing their armor.

Mari stared at Aella as if she were a complex puzzle.

“What?” Zeydan asked.

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