“You pretty much told Lucifer which one ofus was you without saying a word,” Magnus said as my face on hisstarted to fade away. He shook back black hair that turned platinumhalfway through the motion in an unsettling sight that caused me toturn away. “You certainly don’t have a poker face. You must learnto keep your emotions guarded.”
I didn’t have the energy to scowl at him,and after what he’d done to protect me today, I didn’t have theheart to either. The guy could be a class-A prick, but he was loyalto Kobal, and had gone out of his way to try and keep me safe. Icouldn’t be too irritated with him right now, but I was sure he’dsay something soon that would push him back into my dislike columnonce more.
“River will never be able to keep heremotions guarded,” Hawk said, drawing my attention to him. “And I’mfine. Being a demon does have its advantages.”
“Next time—” I started.
“Hopefully there is no next time,” Hawksaid.
“If there is, you will remain more guarded,and I will somehow manage to work up a tear or two of sympathy if Imust,” Magnus said with a sigh.
“You’re going to turn into heragain?” Hawk’s voice rose with the question. I was glad Iwasn’t the only one who found it so unsettling to see such anidentical and solid version of me walking around.
Magnus’s silver eyes were unrelenting whenthey met mine. “I will do whatever is necessary to protect myqueen. Even if she would like to choke me most of the time.”
I released a very unqueenly snort. “Notmost.”
“A lot of the time.”
“Maybe,” I hedged.
He grinned at me as he stepped closer. “I dotend to grow on people.”
“So do warts,” Hawk replied, and for thefirst time, Magnus shot him an annoyed look.
Kobal knelt by something near the wall ofthe first seal. “What is over there?” I asked.
“A hound,” Magnus replied.
Kobal lifted the large creature and drapedit around his shoulders. “No,” I breathed as the hound’s head felllimply against his side when he rose.
The other hounds pressed closer against hissides; their whimpers tore at my heart as Kobal walked across thecavern. Magnus rested his hand against my arm when I took a steptoward them. Kobal stopped before us; the tension in his locked jawand amber eyes was unmistakable as he held the hound. When he movedcloser, I could see blood matting the thick coat of the hound’sstomach.
“Was it mated?” Magnus inquired.
“No, she was young,” Kobal replied briskly.“Will you carry her so I can take River?”
“I’ll walk,” I said. I tried not to shed thetears burning my eyes as the hounds cried for the loss of theirfriend.
Kobal shook his head, but my hand on his armstopped him from lowering the hound. “I will walk,” I insisted.
Turning away, I forced myself not to breathetoo deep as the stench of the dead filled my nostrils. I threw myshoulders back and resolutely started picking my way across theremains with the others.
***
Kobal
Without another word, River walked throughthe carnage beside me toward the tunnel. To anyone watching, shelooked unfazed by her surroundings, but the slump of her shoulders,the increasing blue lines around her eyes, and the darkening of thecircles underneath them screamed her exhaustion.
My hands clenched on the paws of the houndwhen the others brushed against my legs. The hole her loss hadcreated in the intricate bond connecting all of us tunneled throughmy chest and into my heart. I’d lost hounds before, and I couldstill feel every one of their deaths within the bond. Thankfully,she had not been mated. I would have lost two today if she had, asmates did not survive without each other.
The hound’s warm blood seeped out from herchest and slid down my back. My fingers patted her thick fur as mygaze fell to River. I wanted to draw her closer against me, to giveher strength, but she remained resolutely focused ahead.
Reaching the tunnel, River inhaled a sharpbreath and rested her hand briefly against the wall when shestopped walking. I went to take hold of her elbow, but she waved meoff and pushed herself away from the wall. We continued forwarduntil we reached the entrance to the Fires of Creation.
Shifting the hound on my shoulders, I wasable to rest my hands against the slab blocking the way. Lightfiltered out from my palms to illuminate the carvings before therock slid away to reveal the chamber.
“Go on,” I said to River before steppinginto the room after her.
