Page 128 of The Bonds of Indigo

“I’m not concerned about me, Kayn. I was going to ask: and if you’re wrong? You’ll leave him there?”

I swallow, press my lips together, and focus on the road ahead. Once we reach the central and eastern regions of Achien, traffic will thin out, and fifty or so miles into Demour we’ll hardly see another soul. The trip will last another five days, and two more to cross the state as a straight shot with no stops.

Her elbow nudges me gently.

“Don’t worry, little slayer.” I smile down at her. “I’ll be leaving the Beyond with him.”

She’s trying hard not to push, I can tell, even as I turn my eyes back to the highway.

“Alright.” She rests her head against my chest. “What is he, anyway? You said he wasn’t dead, right? Remember… I can’t bring people back to life, and I refuse to turn anyone into a Necroth.”

I chuckle. “No. He’s not dead. And what he is… is in trouble. You’ll find out when I drag him out.”

“Remember, I’m going in with you.”

My entire body tenses. That’s right, I totally forgot.

“Right… and you’re sure you’ll be fine?”

“Should be.”

“‘Should’ and ‘will be’ are two different things. No. I’ll go in and come out quickly.”

“Actually, you won’t.”

Her hand glides up my chest, slipping under my shirt, her warm fingers tracing across my pecs. “They say time works differently down there. Seconds there are hours here. It’s actually more dangerous for me to wait outside than to go in with you.”

“And what if you’re obliterated on entry, Amarah? No. That’s too risky.”

This girl actually pinches my nipple.

“That’s not how that works for me. It would just push me back out.”

She cups my chest like it’s a tit, and my brows pinch.

“What are you doing?”

“How’re you so big?”

I roll my eyes. “You’re making something big, that’s for sure.”

She gasps. “Oh my Gods, Kayn, I am literally pinching your nipple—why is your cock hard?”

“My nipples like stimulation, but I’ve been stiff anyway. Now we’re getting sidetracked. Not that I think you’ll ever meet my friend, Kairhyse, but… don’t ever mention he could go through the gates and not get obliterated.”

“Why?”

I groan. “His girlfriend might kill a Fallen.”

“A Fallen?! You’ve met a Fallen?!”

“Unfortunately.”

She giggles slightly. “Let me reiterate something. I said that’s not how it works for me. I won’t get obliterated.”

Humming, I shrug my shoulders. “Moot point, I think… Anyway—the timing thing. I forgot time works differently down there. And if you’re certain you won’t be immediately killed if it doesn’t let you through, then we can try.”

I tighten my grip on her and drag her into my lap. She yelps but thankfully doesn’t squirm. The truck is big enough for this, but with her hips, she’s barely an inch from the steering wheel.