Page 84 of Of Flame and Fury
I try not to laugh and totally fail. “Did anyone capture that moment?”
He huffs. “Shayna managed a few selfies…until Celia slapped the phone out of her hands and told her to get ahold of herself. If we weren’t so desperate, I think the remaining pack would have flipped the vampiresandShayna off.”
“You do have an exceptionally long middle finger, dear,” I agree. As absurdly bad as this whole situation is, I would have made it rain Benjamins to catch that action live.
“Between Misha’s connection to Celia and Aric’s mate bond to Celia.”
“Oh, and don’t forget my connection to Celia as her sister,” I interject.
He rubs his forehead against mine. “Would you like me to finish? Or do you care to tell the story yourself?”
“You’re doing an okay job. Keep going.” I nuzzle closer. “Besides, I’m just reminding you that I’m really here, babe.”
He pauses briefly before passing his lips along my crown. “Yes, you are, my darling.”
I’ve missed you too.
“The feed from Aric’s blood and the connection shared between all of us was enough for Misha to break the circle. Aric was able to grab Celia, and I was able to take her place. Like you, I fell in. My twin tried to follow but wasn’t fast enough.”
Gemini’s twin is slightly faster than Gemini. And Gemini is freaking bionic. “How do you know he’s still with the group?”
He closes his eyes briefly. “I can see through his eyes. It’s not as clear here in this realm, and the words sound muffled, but I hear enough.”
I’m afraid to ask. “And what do you hear?”
“Genevieve reported that the witches have breached the perimeter and are guarding it. They think they can create enough of an opening to break out of the compound.”
“They think?” I ask.
Gemini mulls over his words. “The wards were closer to months, instead of weeks, in the making, love,” he reminds me. “The witch covens, although many, haven’t had long to weaken them. Celia and Aric will likely get through.”
“What about everyone else?”
He shakes his head. “They’re not sure. But they’ll try.”
“If they’re not slaughtered getting there.” My body numbs. I can’t imagine how many witches died simply reaching the perimeter. I think back to the witch with the Australian accent. Is she among those breaking through the wards, or is she already dead?”
“They’re in danger no matter where they are. If the opportunity for Celia to escape is there, Aric has to take it.”
It’s what he says, but I hear the worry in his voice.
“We’re almost out of food in the manor. None of us will survive if we remain, no matter how many Nytes we kill.”
“I get it. But what happens if there are more Nytes waiting outside the compound? Don’t you think Johnny and his buddies have factored that into this screwed-up plan? Aric and Celia are lethal. But they are only two beings, and Fate has created an army.”
“I know. It’s another reason we must find a way out of here. Fate may have an army, but we do, too, however small. We have to get back and assure all of us who remain make it out alive.”
I don’t want to think about how many more will perish. It’s not fair. Neither is the situation Celia is in. She never wanted the responsibility of carrying the savior of the world. She only wanted a baby with the man she loved. I look up at Gemini. Christ, is that so wrong?
Gemini secures me against him. I don’t have to speak for him to know what I’m feeling. But I do say what I have to. “I’m not sure I know how to get back to them.”
“You can’t use your magic in here?”
My fingers dance along his spine. “Sparky seems out of sorts here, except I’m not certain why.”
He growls. “We must be close to his hiding spot. I can’tchange,and my senses are dull.”
“Then how did you find me?” I ask. I tilt my chin when I notice how thick his goatee is. “And how long have you looked?”