“I’m not—”
“But they are. Big men, big feelings, so shut up and let me save you,” she snapped at me and I chuckled surprised.
I let her drag me off. Behind us, the sound of Malakai´s low laugh carried just far enough to reach me. It wasn’t mocking, it was knowing.
And when I risked a glance back, he wasn’t watching Lionel for a fight at all.
Hewas watching me.
CHAPTER
6
“Okay, how far from Darkshire were we in the last attempt?” I asked, as we stood around a makeshift table built from crates shoved together.
“We barely walked an hour past the border, we can hardly call that being on the way,” Malakai said, crossing his arms with a sigh.
“We had reports of demons lurking around the village, not the borders,” Lionel added. “We weren’t prepared to fight them in their environment; they ambushed us so easily… We’ll be more alert next time.”
“We should’ve been the first time,” Ashley muttered, earning herself a glance, but none of us were able to argue against her.
Demon territory was completely unknown to all of us, except for Malakai.
Nate sized me up and down. “How are you feeling?”
“I’m fine.”
“And I’m a princess,” Ashley snorted while rolling her eyes at me.
“Could’ve fooled me,” Jaden smiled at her.
“Really?” Eve almost sounded offended by it.
“Focus,” Nate snapped, and everyone quietened.
Jaden’s eyes slid to Nate knowingly as a smirk spread on his lips. He was clearly enjoying getting Nate riled up.
I cleared my throat in a sad attempt to smooth things over. “Did we take all of them out?”
“Yes,” Eve confirmed, patting her sniper.
“Then I would say we try the same route but change our formation a bit.” I glanced at them.
“Ethalyn in the middle,” Malakai said, his voice firm and leaving no room for arguments.
“Why—” I began but was cut off.
“Agreed,” Lionel said, choking my opinion out of the equation. “She’s still not fully recovered, and this way, we can all protect her.”
I silently glared at them, and for a brief moment wished they would go back to arguing rather than getting along. It wasn’t as fun when they were on the same team after all.
“Perhaps, we could send some soldiers from the reinforcements to scout the border in advance, put them to some use while they’re here,” Nate suggested glancing over at the camp.
“Because your life is worth more than theirs?” Eve cut off.
“No, I just—”
“This is people’s lives we’re talking about,” Eve continued, her words trampling over Nate.
