Page 26 of Wings of Destiny

A little spark is nothing in comparison to the things I’ve seen and done, Erin.

I pulled her back to me, my arms wrapping around her shoulders as they shook in an attempt to will her to stop shaking.

She blacks out on me and asks ifI’mokay. Go figure.

“Erin, no, I’m fine. Look at me.” I slid my finger under her chin, tilting it upwards so she would look at me. Another tear had escaped down her soft, yet angled cheekbones, matching the jagged outward, no-fucks given facade she puts out. While inside, after everything Erin had been through, her heart beat stronger than she would ever admit and larger than any soul I’ve met. And right now, that heart, its concern, was set on me.

At that moment, as selfish as it was, I wished it were just the two of us. So I could fully wrap my arms around her small—okay, small to me—frame. Hug her close and whisper all the promises I’ve silently made to her over the years since we were kids. Tell her before she learns everything. About Me. About herself, the past. The pain to come. I want to take her and hide away. Tell her…tell her…exactly how much I care for her, always have.

And how I have to do everything I can to keep her safe.

But we weren’t alone. And the risk was too great. I had people, including my band of Nephilim, who relied on me. Who needed me to lead them. Protect them. And Erin, she needed it most. None of us knew what was to come. Between the Demons, the attack in Riverside…the disappearances…I had a feeling that it was only the beginning. And with that, I would do what was required of me; suck it up.

This is so much bigger than us. Than all of us.

I sucked in a breath, forced out a laugh, hiding the thoughts that trampled through my mind.

Erin kept her attention on me, her eyes grounding me. The thought of simply losing myself in the beauty of her gaze gripped me. I swallowed, my throat suddenly dry. My lips parted only to be interrupted as someone cleared their throat across the room.

“Miss Snow, I assure you that Seth is okay. We’re all concerned about you at the moment considering the fact thatyouare the one who collapsed.” She snapped her head in Josh’s direction, her eyes wide once more.

“Oh,” Erin blinked. “I think…I’m good. Just…frazzled.” A reddened hue returned to her cheeks.

Josh took that moment to stroll over to where we were huddled on my hardwood floor. He reached his hand out to help Erin up. I bit my tongue.

Back the fuck off.

She placed her hand in his, her lips forming a smile so beautifully bright I swore I felt my heart scream.

“Thank you,” Erin said, her voice an octave higher.

Josh met my glare, a glint in his freckled eyes. A wave of nausea rushed through me. I caught the faintest smirk before he returned his attention to Erin, both of her feet now firmly planted on the floor, her hand still in his.

I have no claim on her.

Years of firmly planting myself as her protector ensured that.

Josh consistently worked to get a rise out of me with his oldgentlemanlyass bullshit. I get it. Josh was a few centuries older than the rest of us but he irked me. I was unsure what it was about him but it was as if he had this air circling him that screamed, ‘I’m above you. Above this.’ As if we were lesser. It made my blood boil.

Breathe.It’s not worth it.

I reminded myself. I was worked up and without a valid reason. I rolled my shoulders to shake off the little green monster that lingered beneath the surface. Shifting my arm behind my back, I pushed my hand against the floor, propelling myself up to a standing position to match Josh’s towering stance over Erin.

I dusted myself off, for no reason other than to keep my hands busy and resisting the urge to grab Erin from where she was standing with Josh, only a few inches between them. He pulled her closer to himself than I thought.

Too close.

The lick of jealousy crept its way into my chest again.

“So Zeus, any ideas on how you spurted those bolts out of yourself there? Ya know, for research purposes,” Derik said, breaking the building tension between Josh and me.

Erin growled, the fire beneath her surface returning. “First of all, don’t call me Zeus. I’m not some horny-ass Greek god,” she yanked her hand out from Josh’s and threw it on her hip, glaring at Derik. “Secondly—“

“Okay, so Bolty, got it.” Derik smirked.

Atta girl.

My mouth twitched while Erin crackled.