“If you gave me no other option, yes.”
His expression closes off, a mask of stone covering his emotions. “I see. In that case, it will be a fight.”
Before either of them lose their head, I step between them, placing a hand on each of their heaving chests. “Down, boys. No need to get physical.”
“He wants to take her from me!” Rhune snarls.
“I don’twantto, I’mgoingto!” Dravik roars.
“You’ll have to rip my heart out first.”
“Gladly!”
“Oh my gods,shut up!” I shout, power thrumming in the palms of my hands, sending a shock wave into my brothers to get them to snap out of it. Luckily, it seems to work.
When I’m sure they’re not going to rip each other’s throats out, I step back with a casual smirk. “Much better. Now we can have a civilized conversation about this.Right,Rhune?”
He growls, but nods. “Yes.”
“Dravik?”
“Fine.”
I clap my hands together. “Excellent! First thing to note: we can’t take her back now. Even if we wanted to.”
Dravik opens his mouth to disagree, but I hold a finger up, silencing him. “Have you seen the state of the weather up there? She would die before we even managed to find the portal to her world. You know it’s true.”
Dravik’s wings flare, the tips bristling, showcasing his displeasure. “Fine.She can stay until the storm lessens. But not a moment longer.”
“Sweet!”
The three of us whip to face the little human, surprised by her outburst. Her cheeks turn the cutest shade of pink, and she lowers her eyes as if embarrassed. I cannot figure out the reason, though.
“Sorry,” she murmurs. “I’m just excited to go home and put on some warm clothes.”
Rhune’s expression crumbles at her words, but he turns his face away from her so she doesn’t see. I do, though. It makes my heart ache.
“So, um… how long until the storm calms? A day or two?” she asks, her eyes hopeful.
“It is unknown,” Dravik says. “It could be a cycle. It could be twenty. Things have been… unpredictable, as of late.”
“I am hoping for the latter,” Rhune whispers to me, his expression brightening once more. “Think of it. Twentywholecycles with her. It would be the most splendid experience.”
I chuckle under my breath. “It would, Rhune. It really would be.”
“It’s settled, then,” Dravik grunts. “Rhune. Nyx.” He jabs a clawed finger at us, his eyes wielding a threat. “If any harm comes to the human, I will personally rip your hearts out and cast you into The Never.”
“We’ll be good. Right, Rhune?”
“Yes! We promise!”
Dravik grunts, seeming unconvinced. “Very well. I need to rest for a while and see where the hell Rufus has gone off to.Be goodwhile I am gone.” He levels me with a glare. “That’s foryouespecially, Nyx.”
“What? I’m an angel.”
Dravik snorts. “Right.” He gazes at Willow, his mouth pinching. “I have to go.”
With that, Dravik storms out of the room—which seems larger now that he’s not taking up half of the space with his hulking body.The grumpy oaf…
