I leashed my shadows before they could rip apart her brain, but just as I left her mind, she gave me one final thought:Her time’s about up, General.
Her words slithered into my chest, coiling tightly and squeezing. I glared into her smiling face, then stormed out of the dungeon.
“Don’t get attached,” Anya called after me.
She didn’t have to tell me twice. There were only two people in this dimension I cared about. Who I trusted with my life. Two people I knew wouldn’t betray me, use me, or die because they had no choice but to step in front of a sword to protect me.
Two people… and another slithering beneath my skin.
But it’s not like it meant anything. It was only self-preservation. I didn’t want Lucifer condemning me for slacking on his daughter’s protection, and I sure as hell didn’t want to feel the physical pain of her death. It was nothing more or less.
And yet, if she was just a charge to watch and train, why couldn’t I control my emotions around her? Why was she always on my fucking mind? Why did my chest ache with worry?
Seven Hells, I didn’t want another useless bond. But no matter how hard I tried to push her away—to remind myself she was nothing but a job—she snuck through my barriers like a stealthy shadow. She looked at me with those agonized, breathtaking eyes, shared her story,her scars, and turned me into a male who wanted to comfort her and torture every sick bastard who’d been a part of her trauma.
I strode through the dungeon door, finding Rune waiting where I’d left her.
“Meet me at the Shard Field.”
Immediately, Rune raced down the hall. I luscelered to the roof by my rooms, manifested my wings, and shot into the sky.
I wanted to say Anya’s words, and those controlling Ni, didn’t affect me. I wanted to say the worry clenching my chest was an overreaction. But after this morning’s run—seeing Lucille so distracted, feeling her growing distress, and then hearing that from Ni’s mind—it felt orchestrated, not coincidental.
Dropping my shields, I let some of Lucille’s emotions through. The coiling in my chest turned into crushing. But the excruciating pressure couldn’t be physical pain. If it were, she’d be dead.
She was with Lucifer. They were most likely undergoing an extremely difficult training regimen that put strain on her chest. She was safe with him.
I sped up, despising the fact that Lucifer never wanted Rune around. In his position, I understood not wanting to be spied on by your equal, but fuck if it didn’t drive me insane right now.
Gritting my teeth, I slammed my barriers back up, flying as fast as I could. Even if I didn’t want to be bonded with her, I still needed to keep her safe—for Lucifer, and for my sanity.
Staying low, nearly brushing the treetops, I reached the edge of the Shard Field. I dove into the forest and weaved between the trees.
I spotted her through the trunks. The tightening in my chest eased as she stood on steady legs. Then I laid eyes on Lucifer, hunched on all fours.
Seven Hells, what happened?
I landed behind the tree line, dematerializing my wings, unsure if I needed to intervene.
Lucille’s hand flickered purple as Lucifer collapsed. She gave him a quick, panicked glance, then raised her arm, showing off a glinting icicle in her palm. Before I could comprehend what she was about to do, she twisted back and threw it with precision. The icicle sliced through the air and into the Veil Forest. Seconds later, a male fell out of the foggy woods, landing on his knees. A deranged laugh croaked from his lips.
A deadly calm sluiced through my veins as I eyed the horns protruding from his scarred face. I unsheathed my Soul Swords, my lips curling at their satisfying shing.
“Good luck, Princess.” The impaled male laughed. He dug his hands into the ground as his eyes flashed green. Vines erupted through the snow, wrapping around Lucille’s ankles. Then five more stepped out of the forest.
Shadows pooled out of my body, carrying my chuckle and filling the clearing with darkness.
“She doesn’t need luck, demon. She’s got me.”
Chapter
Thirty-Six
LUCILLE
His voice vibrated through the darkness, and the tension in my shoulders melted.
He was here.
