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“Stay back, or I’ll make you.”
Caleb sneered at him. “As if you could, Blackthorne.”
“Now, now, if it’s a dick measuring contest you want, you should both know Jake and I have you beat by several inches. Stop wasting her fucking time.”
I wanted to volley something about Alek and how he had them all beat, but the clouds parted, revealing a moon so full and bright I had to blink against the glow.
“It’s time.” Moira’s voice was reverent and serious.
“Don’t we need to wait until it reaches totality?”
“Nope. Just for it to turn red. Now get into place, or you’re going to miss your chance.”
I scurried to obey, not keen on the idea of waiting another couple of years to get a second chance. A baby bump was one thing; a full-fledged toddler would be far more complicated to explain. Especially if he ended up a blond-haired, blue-eyed demigod.
“Okay. I’m ready.”
Ash and Moira linked hands, and my eyes bounced between them to the three men standing shoulder to shoulder a few feet away. They couldn’t look more different. Kingston seemed like he wanted a bucket of popcorn, Noah appeared seconds away from vomiting, and from the apprehension in Caleb’s eyes, it was obvious he wanted to throw me over his shoulder and run for the hills.
Soft female voices began murmuring in unison, their words barely discernible over the immediate hum that took up residence in my head. It was unsettling, reminding me of a cat when you rubbed its fur the wrong way. Then the hum built and spread across my skin, lifting the hairs on the back of my neck as the air seemed to sizzle.
I had to blink as the air rippled and swayed in front of me. Faint lights shimmered, almost invisible to the naked eye, and it was as if I was witnessing my very own Aurora show as the colors blossomed in the sky.
My arm burned where the runes were magically inked into my skin, and the tightness in my chest intensified as my connection to Alek pulled taut, feeling like a string just about to break. Since I hadn’t felt anything from Alek outside my dreams, the return of our bond flooded me with hope.
It’s working.
I wasn’t sure if I was imagining it or not, but I swore I saw his ice-blue eyes glowing in the mist.
“Alek.” I whispered his name, hope taking flight after being caged for so long.
Voices echoed in my mind, sounding like they were speaking directly to me.
“Now’s your chance, brother.”
“Are you sure?”
“Go. You need to finish the mission.”
“Holy shit, there really aretwoof them,” Kingston whispered.
“Sunday, he needs to hurry. I can’t hold it open much longer.” Ash’s voice was strained, but I didn’t dare look away from the growing doorway between realms.
Alek and Tor—ithadto be Tor—stood together in the snow. They were identical aside from one having his mane flowing free and the other’s was pulled up and away from his startlingly handsome face.
But everything else, the icy gaze, the well-groomed beards—even the chiseled cheekbones and sculpted brows were the same. Beautiful. Deadly. Powerful.
My gaze was pulled to the twin with the bun, but it was the one with his golden hair spilling down his back that stepped forward, his image clarifying and sharpening with each step.
My lungs seized as adrenaline sent my pulse skyrocketing.
And then he was right there, standing in front of me. Whole. Safe. Real.
“Alek!”
I sprang forward, jumping up and wrapping my legs around his waist and kissing him without giving him a chance to do or say anything else.
He caught me in his arms, his hands grasping me by my ass and giving an appreciative squeeze. It took a second for his lips to move beneath mine, but I assumed that was only because I’d caught him off guard.
