I struggle to stand, until somebody grabs my arm and helps me. I glance up.
Asch.
I smile. “Hey, boyfriend,” I say, but it comes out strangely garbled.
I hear a commotion not far away, and I glance aside to see River in close quarters with Bobbi. Every time she tries to aim her gun, River finds ways to redirect her arm.
“Here, let Blaze help you,” Asch says. “I’ll help River.”
He lets go of me, and for a split second, I feel like I’m falling through the concrete floor.
Blaze gets his arms around me and catches me.
“Fuck, Pandora.” Blaze’s cologne penetrates the smell of blood. It’s not a bad blend. Veryus. “I’m glad we made it in time.”
Samantha rushes up to us, her frozen tears shimmering on her red cheeks. “Are you okay?” she asks, her gaze darting between us and where Asch has engaged with Bobbi alongside River.
Am I okay?
My face is a mess, my vision is a blur, my chest is tight, and it still hasn’t stopped snowing blood.
That doesn’t even cover all the rest of the ways I’m messed up.
“Yeah,” I answer. I try to smile, but for some reason that hurts.
The look on Samantha’s face tells me she doesn’t believe me. “We need to get you to a doctor,” she says. “You’re bleeding.” She glances back at Bobbi, Asch, and River. “And call the police.”
“Nope,” Blaze says immediately. “No cops. Not unless you want to risk getting locked up and staying there.”
I nod in agreement, which was a mistake because my head only gets woozier. “No cops. Snitches get murder, Samantha.” I remember something through the pain. “Sorry I called you ‘Sam’ earlier.”
Samantha lets out a strained laugh. “Yeah, somehow, that was the least of my worries.” She hesitates. “Do I even want to know what she meant about—” She cuts herself off and shakes her head. “Never mind. What do wedo?”
“Asch and River can handle themselves. We need to get Pandora to safety.” Blaze places a hand on my back, and I’m about to tell him off about trying to start something while River and Asch are busy.
Then he scoops me up, bridal style.
Oh.
I rest my head against his shoulder. “Blaze, I’m fine. Go beat up a woman.”
“Nope. You’re the priority,” Blaze answers. “For Asch and River, too. They can’t fight if they think you’re in danger.”
I scoff at that. A bloody snowflake lands on Blaze’s cheek, and I cover it up with my finger. “I was never in danger. I’m invincible. Immortal.” I frown. “Wait, Pandora wasn’t a goddess. Papa didn’t think that one through.”
Samantha shakes her head. “Let’s go,” she says. “Back to the dorm? Is it safe there?”
I laugh and shake my head. “There are rats in the walls there. Or bobcats. Lynxes. Same difference.”
Blaze grimaces. “My place.”
I hear Asch cry out. I whip my head in that direction to see what’s going on. If Bobbi hurts them, I’m going to have to murder her properly.
But Blaze turns and carries me off, away from the fight and toward the parking lot.
I slap Blaze’s chest and try to escape his hold. “Blaze! We need to help them!”
His grasp is strong, and he doesn’t even stumble when I hit him again. “I’m helpingyou. Now stop making your injuries worse.”
