Page 50 of Flirting with Death

A restless energy flowed off of her, making me pretty sure if she thought she had a chance, she would rush back to where we left them and rescue them all.

"Rai, I left my best friend and my brother there," she said. The regret that painted her face made my heart hurt, and I closed the space between us.

Running my hands up her arms, over her shoulders, and to her face, I angled her head so our eyes met. "Brook is the Queen of Fae and, from what you've told me, has some pretty badass powers now. She isn't the mousy little friend you used to have. And Ty, we just witnessed what he could do. He is going to be okay."

"But Lex, Alastor, and Bellamy—" she paused. "I don't think I would survive losing them."

I pressed my lips to her forehead in a soft kiss. "You won't lose any of them. Have faith in the guys you chose. Would the strongest hunter born pick weak partners?"

She sucked in a deep breath and released it slowly. "Trust."

"Yes."

She nodded, some of the tension leaking from her shoulders, while fear still marred her beautiful face. "If anything happens to them, I will become something for the demons to fear."

"I'm pretty sure you are already part of their scary ghost stories," I said with a grin.

"Then I'll become their worst nightmare."

There wasn't more that I could say to that, so I pulled her into my chest, tucking her head beneath my chin. Something about having her in my arms calmed me in a way I couldn't explain. Even during everything that was happening, having her right next to my heart soothed me. And from the way she curled and molded herself against me with a sigh, I knew she felt the same.

To say it was the eye of the storm would have been an understatement because less than an hour later the door to the warehouse burst open, and Ty, Brook, and Lumi ran in. Noticeably missing was Alastor, Lex, and Bellamy.

Sam launched herself off of the couch where we had settled and across the room. "What happened? Where are the guys?"

"They've been captured," Brook said.

Samantha blinked slowly at her friend, the words sinking in one at a time. She shook her head in refusal of the words. "What? No."

"The demon is using them as leverage," Ty said.

"He thinks he can become the ruler of the horde if he has you under control," Brook added.

"I should have gone in with you," Sam muttered.

"No, they were ready for us. We didn't realize how much of a trap it was. They were using Bellamy as bait, but it was for all of you." Brook moved further into the room, eyeing my treasure pile long enough to make my dragon bristle beneath my skin. "Quite the klepto pile you have there, Rai." She turned away from it with a laugh, and Lumi pulled her into his lap in the chair he had taken over, changing it into a small squeal.

"Good news is if they are supposed to draw you out, they won't kill them," Ty said, and I cringed. He had to know that was his sister's biggest fear. I was ready when she headed for the door, and I cut off her path.

"Don't rush in there. I still have the ruby he wants," I said, fishing the chain from my pocket.

She studied the jewel before bringing her gaze back to mine. "He can't get that, Rai. Promise me. No matter what, he can't get it. You heard what my mom said. Destroying it will end the prophecy."

"If you are in danger, I can't promise that, because I will do anything to save you." She knew that already. It's why she wanted me to promise. I wrapped my fingers around the gem and shoved it back into my pocket before she could get the idea of snatching it from my fingers. "A simple jewel doesn't represent our love for you, Sammy. Even if they destroyed it, that wouldn't change how any of us feel."

"You don't know that."

"I do. My feelings didn't just pop up out of the blue. I grew to love you. I'm not going anywhere."

Her brow wrinkled as her nose crinkled up. It would be cute if I didn't know that face meant she had thought of something I missed. "What about the others?"

I didn't give a flying fuck about them and their feelings, but I knew it mattered to Sam. It would hurt her if that happened. "I promise, Sammy, I won't give it to the demon no matter what." It was the only thing I could say to make her feel better. But if it was her life or the ruby, it wasn't even a question, and I would spend the rest of my life begging for forgiveness after I saved her.

"Don't promise me things I know you won't keep," she said with a sad smile, clearly reading me as well as I read her.

"How about you don't put yourself in danger, and we won't have to worry about it," I replied. I dropped a kiss to her nose, and she pushed me away playfully.

"You should have more faith in us, love," Bellamy said as the door pushed open.

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