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I kicked my feet up on the table and leaned back, balancing my chair on its back legs. Chris was right. We needed a name. “I got nothing,” I said. “My mind is all mushy with relief. I’m just so glad Astaroth is gone.”
“Is he really though?” Claudia asked.
I shrugged. “He’s in Hell, where he belongs. He might find a way to come back, but we should be good. At least for a while.”
The bonds that connected us were two inches thick, glowing braids of magic. They weren’t gold like my mate bond or the pack ties. Or white like Eli’s magic. But they glittered with so many colors. All the different types of magic together were beautiful.
I should’ve still been tired—I had a short trip to Hell after all—but I wasn’t. It took about an hour for the bonds to really settle in, and with every second I felt like I had more and more and more energy, until it was all I could do to sit still.
I wasn’t sure what benefits we’d get from the tie. It could be that we just all had more power, but maybe other types of powers would be shared within our group. Only time would tell.
“Is anyone else feeling like their heart is racing?” Claudia asked as she leaned into Lucas.
“You, too?” Chris said.
“It’s a high from the magic,” Cosette said. “We should get used to it soon. I hope.” I figured Cosette would leave after the spell, but she stuck around along with her fey friends. She’d gotten Kyra and Elowen settled in the dorms and then met us here without them. Apparently they were feeling unsocial. Which was fine. We had plenty of time to get to know them.
The Alphas and the Cazadores had mostly cleared out. Mr. Dawson and Dr. Gonzales were seeing to the ones that were hurt. Raphael was still gone. I hoped that his tie was gone, but if not, Samantha would take care of it. And I was going to have to call her. I had so many questions…
Blaze was settling in with the group as was River. Beth was sitting beside River, keeping quiet as she watched the conversation flow around her. She was being more stoical than the fey, so that was a start. It might take some time, but she’d grow more comfortable with us.
Adrian and Shane were sitting with way too much room between them, but I wasn’t going to meddle. Dastien and I had enough to deal with.
I wanted to laugh at the fact that I was getting used to yet another magical thing, but oddly, I was okay with it. This was my new normal, and even if it kept getting weirder, I loved it.
You’re amazing, Dastien said, and I did laugh.
I’m really not. I’m just me. I—
Eli popped in and I lost my balance. My chair slipped out from under me, but Dastien reached out, grabbing me before my ass could hit the ground.
“Jesus, Eli. Give us some warning before you do that,” I said. Dastien set me on my feet, and I pulled my chair upright. This time, I kept all four legs safely on the ground.
“And ruin the surprise? Not a chance.” Eli’s grin was hot and wicked.
“What do you want?” Cosette’s tone was laced with annoyance, and I was glad she wasn’t talking to me.
“Be nice, cousin.” Eli wasn’t bothered by Cosette’s ire, and I wondered if it was because he was powerful, stupid, or insane.
“I’m not your cousin.”
“Are you not? Hmm.”
My gaze darted between the two as they stared each other down. This was getting interesting, but eventually, someone had to break the tension and ask the important question. When no one said anything, I guessed that was my job. “What do you want?” I asked. “Do you need my blood?”
“Do I need to have a reason to be here?” Eli asked me with a positively evil grin, one I didn’t trust at all.
Eli was an archon. By nature, archons didn’t show themselves unless they had a reason. It’d only been a couple hours since we’d sealed our plane from the one beyond. Everything should’ve been fine and dandy, but he was here. He definitely had a fucking reason.
“Eli.” I hoped he felt every ounce of annoyance I’d put in that one word.
“Fine. But yo
u’re taking all the fun out of it. We’ll deal with our tie once you’re recovered from today. For now, I have a situation, and I’d like some help.”
I glanced at Dastien, whose eyes were glowing amber. I don’t like it either, I said. It’s too soon. We haven’t even gotten a chance to breathe. He can’t make us go off on some other stupid quest.
He might want just you.
