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Jacel.
Jacel has been injured, and he’s nearby.
I owe the male nothing. He made a false deal with my darker self, handed me to the Queen to be brutally purged, and then left me to be eaten by a slithering snake of darkness.
And yet all of those things could also be considered gifts. Jacel saved me.
My fingers trace up my mate's spine. “He’ll be just fine.” I say, thoughts distant.
The male was desperately in love with his mate. He wouldn’t give into the nothingness without knowing she was safe. He’d return to his body to make sure Maggie remained in hers.
I could track him down and make sure he recovered completely, but I’m not ready for Thea to know how familiar I am with his clan, and leaving her alone at a time like this is out of the question.
I rock Thea in my arms until her shoulders stop shaking and her tears dry. Slowly, the swelling in her face disappears. Her fingertips thrum over my chest nervously. “Do you think she fears me now?”
“No.” My reply is immediate. “You’re the least scary creature on this planet.” I glance down at her, gazing over the petite form in my arms. “Not even a human could dispute your purity, my love. You’re beautiful. What did you tell me? That humans thought of you as a goddess? An angel?” I stroke her round cheek with my thumb. “It was probably a shock for her, but I’m sure she could see your kindness.”
Thea’s mouth turns up. “You’re too nice to me.”
“Nonsense.” I gently set her beside me, reaching around to grab the bowl of her untouched breakfast. “You deserve much more than I can offer. I only hope you’ll take pity and keep me by your side, anyway.”
After delicate prodding, she takes the bowl from my hands. Instead of eating as I hoped, she simply holds the meal on her lap. “It’s you who deserves more than I’ve offered.” She sighs. “I’m just a clueless incarnate who’s failing at her job.”
I narrow my eyes. This oppressive self-talk doesn’t suit her. “Thea, everything you’ve done has been the best choice with the knowledge you’ve had at the time. You’realive.Things change. Situations change. You’regoodand you will continue to be exceptional. Trust yourself.”
She stares at me, expression shielded. “You’re right, but I’m seeing faults where I hadn’t before. Things need to change.”
“Change how?”
She licks her cracked lower lip. “I want to master cleansing the sick without destroying them entirely.” Her gaze hardens, a flame growing in her eyes. “You’re going to help me build an army of human protectors.”
15
Thea
Meetingthehumanhasgiven me insight into this new world they’re living in. It’s a world of brutality and danger, and if I had been more perceptive, I would have come to this conclusion a long time ago.
Love and protection are all that matter now. These things go hand in hand. Without one, the other suffers.
If what Ren has told me is true, and his species really has this primal mating bond with their ideal partners, then the fate of Maggie has been set in stone.
It’s becoming more likely this is a trial, one even I hadn’t seen the big picture of until now. What if this societal collapse is intentional, and the remaining humans like Maggie are key players? What if these creatures weresenthere by the divine on the highest level, and this story is one of grave importance?
Even I could be a moving piece of the puzzle. The decisions I’m worrying over could have been planted all along.
I feel like a crazed person, floating from one theory to the next, and yet I can’t shake this feeling of certainty. Everything is lining up at exactly the right time, painting a picture as clear as day.
If I can learn to save Ren’s species like his dark Queen, I can en masse an army of loving guards for the remaining survivors on Earth. We can rebuild the future with love and safety as our blueprint, forgetting the old ways of strife and humility.
Every bone in my body tells me this is the correct path for me to be taking. I’ll save instead of kill. Build instead of treading over ashes.
“An army?” Ren asks again, his fangs glinting as he stares open-mouthed.
“Of protectors, yes.” I nod my head, assuring both him and myself.
“And what if those you save don’t want to join your cause?”
I hadn’t thought of that yet. “Then they can do whatever they wish, as long as they vow to cause no harm to humanity. They’ll owe me.”
