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We're stopped at a rickety wooden bridge that's little more than a few pieces of old wood stretched across the roadway over a creek. The creek is frozen solid, and ice stands several inches thick on the wood. If we tried to drive over it, we'd slide right off the side into the frozen water.
Reaper's Magn glows brighter as he calls hislyststålto him. A second later, Dax does the same. They jog toward the bridge, their feet soundless over the ice.
"He's one of the strongest warriors we have," Malachi says quietly. "He'll be fine out there."
He will be. He has to be. I refuse to accept anything less. But I still hold my breath anyway, barely daring to breathe as Reaper puts hislyststålto the ice, slowly melting through it. It takes fifteen minutes to melt enough for Malachi to drive over the bridge.
Once the truck is safely on the other side, Reaper and Dax quickly climb back in.
I burrow into Dax's arms, sending up a prayer of gratitude…though I'm not entirely sure who to address it to any longer. It's been a long, long time since I prayed at all. Now, I'm not sure exactly who listens to our prayers. Not even the Fae know.
"You're freezing," I whisper to Dax, shivering when his cold skin touches mine.
"I am well,bittesmå ljós," he promises, pulling me closer. His lips seek mine in the dark, his kiss hot and hunger. A purr rumbles in his chest, sending waves of heat wafting through me. "Nei, I am better than well."
"Dax," I hiss.
He laughs, a wicked, devilish sound, and kisses me again.
I groan, burying my face in his throat. He's a wicked, wicked Fae. And I think I love it. No, I know I love it. The last twenty-four hours have been a whirlwind. But the man standing steady at the center of the maelstrom makes my heart race. He's quickly wriggling his way into my heart, taking little pieces I never intended to give him. And I keep willingly handing them over as if it's the most natural thing in the world to do.
"Faen!" Malachi hisses, slamming on the brakes.
I lift my head to find out what's happening, just as a chorus of howls rip the night apart, far, far too close. Dax goes rigid, a curse rattling from his lips. Reaper swears too.
"Drive through them." Dax orders Malachi.
"I can't. There's another bridge ahead."
"Faen!"
"They're surrounding the truck."
"Then we stand and fight," Dax says, murderous fury in his voice. Even then, his hands are gentle as he lifts me off him. "As soon as we're out of the truck, climb into the front with Malachi, lyseste ljós. I want you glued to his side until I'm back in this truck. Understood?"
"Dax," I whisper, tears welling in my eyes. "Please."
"Understood, Rissa?" he says, shaking me gently.
"Y-yes."
He presses his lips to my forehead. "Hundre riker ville være for få til å inneholde min kjærlighet til deg."
Before I can ask what he said, he pulls free of my arms and flings himself out of the truck, hislyststålblazing to life in his hands. Reaper is a step behind him. I clamber over the console, dropping into the seat beside Malachi, trying desperately to keep my gaze on Dax.
I don't see thevarulvat first. All I see are Dax and Reaper standing back to back, theirlyststålat the ready. And then a thick shadow moves just beyond them. I rear back in shock, crying out.
Thevarulvare massive black wolves, standing taller than any wolf I've ever seen. Foam flecks their muzzles, their teeth razor-sharp and dripping their poison. Their breath steams before them as they pace closer to Dax and Reaper, staying just out of reach of theirlyststål.
"Come,varulv," Reaper growls. "If you want her so badly, come and get her, you mangy mutts."
"Come taste the wrath of the Fae again," Dax taunts. "Just like you did in Valhalla when destroyed your kin."
Thevarulvclosest to him darts forward, snapping those razor-sharp teeth. Dax spins to the right, hislyststålspinning in his hands like a baton. He barely misses the demon wolf. The wolf races out of reach just as the other darts forward, trying to get his teeth around Dax's leg.
Reaper brings hislystståldown.
I cry out, startled as the demon's head separates from his body, rolling into the dark.
