Caleb looked between them, frowning. “It’s not the worst plan. If we’re being followed, we’ll see soon enough which direction the demons take.”
Lionel nodded, though his shoulders stayed tense. “Exactly. Never farther apart so that we can’t see the other group. Eyes on each other. First sign of movement, we regroup.”
Malakai’s voice came low and edged. “And if they go afterher?”
Lionel’s answer was steady, but it cost him. “Then we know what we’re dealing with. And we’ll make them regret it.”
Ashley’s grip on me tightened, not teasing now, but protective. “Guess that means we pack fast.”
Nate stretched, breaking the moment with a forced grin. “Right. Great plan. Split the party in demon infested woods. What could possibly go wrong?”
Jaden rose to his feet and grinned. “Do you want me to hold your hand so you don’t get lost in the woods, pretty boy?”
Nate shot him a look. “If I get eaten, I’m haunting you first.”
Ashley lifted her hand. “Dibs on your second haunting.”
Eve sighed skyward. “This is my life now…”
CHAPTER
13
Mist clung to the dead trees, showing only the black bark and damp air. The world smelled of ash and iron. The absence of sound causing the kind of stillness that made everyone speak quieter than usual.
We’d stopped at the glade, where our paths would divide.
Lionel adjusted the strap on his sniper, eyes flicking between me and Malakai. His voice came even, careful. “We keep each other within sight. No heroics, no stray paths. It’s just distance, not danger. Alright?”
I nodded, my chest too tight for words.
He hesitated, then added softly, “It’s going to be fine. You always make it through.”
That small, steady faith in his tone hit me harder than I expected. Maybe because it was the same way he used to say it when we were kids, right before I did something stupid and he followed anyway.
Before I could answer, Malakai stepped closer.
Close enough that his arm brushed mine, before his hand found the back of my neck with deliberate care. The warmth was grounding, all rough edges softened.
His voice was low enough that only I heard him.
“I’ll know if something happens,” he murmured. “And I’ll come, even if the forest burns between us, Iwillfind you.”
Something in his tone, that quiet, absolute promise, settled the trembling in my stomach.
I exhaled, finally managing a faint smile. “You better, only so that I can show you how to kick some demon ass.”
His mouth curved slightly. “Always.”
“Keep them safe,” I added and he nodded once without looking away.
Ashley cleared her throat loudly behind us. “Alright, lovebirds, break it up before I start gagging on my own singlehood.”
Eve smacked her shoulder. “You’re insane.”
“Correct!” Ashley chirped, then grinned at me. “Come on, sunshine, girl squad this way. Let’s go find some demons before the boys start sulking.”
Malakai shot Ashley a glare that could have turned stone to ash. Ashley only blew him a kiss and tugged me down the other trail.
