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A pit formed in my stomach, and I hoped this wasn't the worst thing I had ever agreed to. When Bellamy stepped back, finally releasing me, I shivered from the chill that ran over my body. I really should have fought his hold, but I would be a liar if I didn't admit Ilikedthe feeling of him against me. It comforted me because I knew he would protect me. How many times had he already proved that? Shrugging off the lingering feelings he always created with his closeness, I pushed away from the tree and back onto the path.
The tomb was on the right and I could see a fire burning brightly past it. We headed in that direction as I pretended as if nothing had happened.
CHAPTER 45
Alastor
This wentagainst everything my father had ever taught me, as well as every feeling thrashing inside me. Danger bled from the surrounding woods, only growing the closer we got to the portal. Yet, Samantha was a warrior. She led the group, ready to take on any evil. Even though I wanted to snatch her up and take her back home to keep her safe, a part of me admired her strength. She could do this on her own, like she wanted. Not that any of us would have relented on that minor detail.
Cerberus trotted next to her. One of his heads begged for attention even as the other two patrolled by swinging their heads back and forth and sniffing the air. Her hand brushed over his fur, and he licked her. It was interesting how quickly he took to her. He didn't like people and usually avoided them. But with her, he constantly went straight for her.
Lex hung back, his feelings clearly hurt by our hunter. Slowing my pace, I walked next to him.
"If you want to rub it in, that isn't necessary." He kept his eyes on her. She was probably the only thing he could see. If he was as in love with her as I was.
"We were friends once," I said.
"Yeah," he sighed. His fingers scraped his scalp as he dragged them through his still damp hair. "But you chose power."
"That isn't exactly what happened," I said stiffly. I wasn't sure that following my father's orders would make him any happier, so I added nothing else.
"Look, I'm not interested in hashing this out right now. I know you love her. I know that if I want her, I will have you too. But that doesn't mean we have to be friends. I may have accepted that future, but this," he said, gesturing between us, "it will never be a thing."
Bellamy glanced back at us, overhearing his heated words. He met my gaze, lifted his eyebrow slowly as if to say, 'Are you the coward we all know you are or are you a man?' The side of his mouth lifted before he focused back on our path. Great, two of my friends from the past were now embedded in my future, and they both hated me.
Releasing a sigh, I shrugged like his words didn't bother me and then picked up my pace. I couldn't comfort someone that hated me. Sam looked over at me as I stepped next to her, Cerberus between us. She smiled, and it was the one she reserved for me. My personal smile, it was like the sun shone down on me and warmed me to my black soul.
"Thank you," she said. The wind snatched up her words and tossed them between us as it picked up. It was then we all smelled it, burnt flesh, not like the demons in the clearing, but singed hairs and blistering skin. We both tensed before we broke into a run, no longer attempting to be silent in our approach. The others followed.
They tied a young girl to a pole in the center of the clearing, her mouth gagged as they poked her with a fiery brand. She had burn marks all over her body, and the smell of her skin filled the air, making me gag.
Without hesitation, Samantha dove into action. Her blade cut them down as fast as they came at her. She made a path to the forgotten girl. Lightning, shadows, and fire joined the mix. Lex's shadows and Cerberus worked together in a way that their owners never could. Bellamy, Tristan, and his twin worked in tandem as if they did this all the time. They had each other's backs, the three of them. Juliana's magic flowed from the trees and over the ground, taking out demons in its path. Gage shifted into a wolf and tore out any throats he could reach. It left Lex and me to fight side by side. We could still read each other and, much like everyone else, we did what we needed to do.
When the last demon fell, Samantha and Juliana focused on untying the girl. Jacob helped them, his hands glowing as he healed the unconscious hostage. He didn't seem to care about the rules. Did Nyx know that her newest God shared his ability like he did? She probably encouraged it. She was so full of love for her children they could get away with anything they wanted.
"We can get her to safety," Juliana said. She nodded at her guys, and Alexander opened a portal. We watched as they disappeared into it, leaving the four of us behind. Not that any of us were leaving Samantha, and she wasn't going anywhere without her mom.
"And then there were four," Bellamy said, shifting his gaze over each of us.
Muffled screams sounded from across the area, and I could barely pick out a struggling form tied to a tree. Sam dashed to the person, tumbling to her knees in front of her.
"Mom," she said, the emotion in her voice broke me as she tugged the gag down. "I knew we'd find you."
"You can't be here, sweetheart. It's a trap. They knew you were coming," her mom said as Lex worked on the knots holding her to the tree.
"Of course they knew I was coming, taking you ensured that."
Her mom worked her hands over her now freed wrists as she surveyed the area. Her shoulders went stiff as her gaze landed on each of us. She moved cautiously, her fingers pausing as her eyes widened slightly as she caught sight of Bellamy. She looked as if she was ready to launch herself across the space at him. His tail thrashed the ground behind him as he contained his emotions. "A demon?"
"This is Bellamy, the Prince," Samantha said. "He saved my life."
A frown creased her brow, but she said nothing in response. She pushed to her feet, and her backbone clicked into a rod. I wasn’t sure if it was for show because she was uncomfortable with that revelation or if she was actually going to fight the people that saved her.
"And Lex, he owns the club." She gestured at him.
"The demigod?"
"Nice to meet you," Lex said with a bow of his head.
