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A giant grin stretches my face. Our Keepers can’t help us plan the mission, but one look at Valerian’s upturned lips and I know we’re on to something.
If he thought my plan would end in his death, surely he would be frowning instead.
The closest magical weapon is three blocks away, stored inside a three-story home that at one time probably cost millions of dollars.
Once Valerian and Asher leave the safety of the warded apartment, the darklings will be attracted to their Fae magic, so I order Valerian and Asher to stay while we get the weapon.
At first, Valerian bristles at my command, his bowed lips tugging into a frown.
Well, someone doesn’t handle not being in charge.
Breathing hard with excitement, I turn to Ruby, who’s zipping through the air in wobbly circles, singing some terrible song in her native tongue. “Ruby, ready to distract some darklings?”
Ruby’s eyes are crossed as she nods her head.
Mack frowns. “She has no idea what you’re saying.”
I grin. “Not a problem. All she has to do is fly around and make any darklings around the house chase her while we steal the weapon. Easy.”
“And not get eaten,” Mack pointedly adds. “Because that’s important.”
I grimace before throwing Ruby a thumbs up. “Piece of cake, right, Ruby?”
“Cake?” she screeches before lurching happily into the side of the stainless steel refrigerator door.
Dear Baby Jesus, please, please let this work.
As soon as we near the home where the magical weapon is stashed, a pack of darklings descend. Ruby distracts them while Mack and I rush into the basement, grab the glowing crimson weapon’s case, and make it back to find Ruby miraculously unharmed.
Turns out, Baby Jesus was listening, after all.
When Valerian opens the door and spots the crimson case in my hand, Ruby passed out unharmed on my shoulder, a flash of pride sparks inside his silver eyes.
Damn, if I wouldn’t scale the world’s largest mountain just to see that look again.
Get a grip.
I jerk my head in the direction of the city. “Don’t be scared, Prince. Mack and I will protect you.”
Asher bites down a chuckle as he steps out into the unlit corridor.
Valerian just watches me for a moment. His mouth is teased into an amused half-smile, but his eyes dance with an emotion that makes my toes curl and my breath hitch.
“Enjoying this?” he asks.
“Maybe,” I admit. After months of having to take his orders, it feels good to have the roles reversed.
His lips finally commit to a full smile, and it’s glorious. “Someday,” he whispers into my ear as he passes, “I’m going to find a really, really creative way to punish you for that smart mouth.”
Oberon’s beard. Even trapped in a scourge city and surrounded by darkling zombies, the attraction between us is so thick it’s practically a living, breathing thing.
But the moment the door clicks shut behind him and we break into a quiet jog toward the tunnel entrance a block away, I go straight into badass Guardian mode.
And when the first darkling screech shreds the night, the reality of my situation hits me like a bucket of ice water.
From now until the safe zone, it’s up to me to keep the Winter Prince alive. Otherwise, there will be no later flirting, no later negotiating our relationship, no later anything.
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