I roll my eyes. “It can’t be worse than the monster realm,” I remind him.
I spent a lot of my childhood in the Texas Fringes, but I’ve never been to the Southeast. Rumor has it, there’s a massive population of supernaturals there. Hopefully, that makes it easier for Celine and Riven to blend in.
“We’ll be fine. I promise,” Celine says, speaking in a southern drawl so bad it makes me cringe. She somehow switched from moonshine around a Mississippi bonfire to the Australian outback and back again in the span of five words.
“Nix the accent, baby.” I pull her into my arms. “You suck at it.”
The airport parking lot is nearly deserted, but my basilisk scans for danger anyway, as if he expects monsters to come out of the men’s room at any second. Yeah, maybe Ali isn’t the only one on edge.
Celine kisses me, and I have to force myself to let her go.
This clinginess is intense, new, and I’m not the only one infected by it. Ciprian’s fingers are twitching. He wants to reach for Celine and is only barely stoppinghimself. And Alistair... Shit, I guess Ali is the same as he’s always been—an obsessive motherfucker. He just has company now.
“You’ll check in when you land?” I shoot for casual and miss by a mile, landing somewhere between needy and desperate.Fuck me, where’s that active volcano when you need it?My cheeks heat, and I glance at my feet.
Celine presses her forehead to mine. “I won’t take off again, Luca. I swear. You’ll hear from me multiple times a day, and if the gateway is operational, we’ll make plans before I go through. You won’t have to wonder what’s happening to me.”
I nod. At least Celine isn’t disgusted by this new, clingy version of me.Yet.
She tilts her head. “I’ll miss you, Luca. All the time I’ll miss you.”
I groan and tighten my grip. She’s wearing the blue and black flannel shirt I had on yesterday. She swiped it from my bag this morning and put it on over a tight black tank top. I haven’t been able to look away since.
Car doors slam, and a handful of travelers head toward the airport entrance, the wheels of their suitcases grinding against the pavement.
“The bond,” I whisper, kissing her cheek.
“It wants us together,” she says. “I want that, too. I’ll be back soon.” Her choice to use ‘I’ and not ‘we’ is glaring. Standing behind her with his arms crossed, Riven gives no reaction to being excluded.
I lock eyes with him. “Watch her back.”
He nods, not bothering to respond verbally, but honestly, I’d be more suspicious if he decided to lay it on thick.
Celine says goodbye to Ali and Ciprian and heads for the automatic doors, her backpack slung over one shoulder. Riven trails along behind her as if an invisible rope is pulling him afterher. I shake my head. A former assassin turned reluctant bodyguard is better than nothing.
“I hate it.” Alistair’s fingers clench around the handle of the SUV, and the metal groans.
“Easy on the rental,” Ciprian says. “If we get charged extra, Joshua will yell at me.”
Alistair peels his fingers off the handle, nods, and sighs. “I’m good.”
“No, you’re not.” I clap him on the back. “Neither am I, but this will be over soon.”
“We’ll focus on the research,” Ciprian says. “Then, after she gets Malach back, we’ll beat his ass for this sacrificial bullshit.”
Alistair manages to open the car door without ripping it off, and we load up in silence. I told Ali this would be over soon. I hope I’m right, because I can’t take much more.
TWENTY-ONE
Traditionalnish thatshabetrothal vow:
All I have, body, mind, and soul, is yours.
MALACH
It’s been three days since I’ve seen anyone. Alone in the square white room, I’m talking to the walls. My injuries have mostly healed, and I’m not in pain, but without it, I find myself dwelling on every misstep I’ve ever made.
A key turns in the lock, and Lyklan steps inside, glancing over his shoulder before closing the door behind him. “You must be more careful.”
