Page 70 of Deadly Alliances

Challenge sparked in her eyes, washing away the sadness like a strong wind to a storm. “Nothing is impossible for us. Despite all odds, I came back from the dead and found you. Despite all odds, I formed a friendship with the one person who is destined to destroy Hadrian. Fate is on our side, and it will not abandon us now.”

Hope ignited in my chest at her words. She had a point, several in fact. Fate had led us this far, and I had faith that its ultimate design wasn’t our doom.

“Meow.”

Shea snapped her head to the floor on her right, surprise widening her eyes. “Rainbow?”

The cat hopped onto the bed and, after circling and pawing at my shirt a few times, curled up on top of my chest.

“There you are, boy,” I said. “I was beginning to worry about you.”

Shea breathed a small laugh. “I don’t understand how it happened, but I’m glad he’s here for you.” She lifted her hand and ruffled the cat’s fur, which snorted irritably in response.

She shot an anxious look at the door, then back down to me. “I can’t stay much longer, but I will come back as soon as it’s safe. I love you, Julian.”

She arched over me and pressed her lips to mine. I eagerly opened my mouth, inviting her in and savoring this brief taste of her.

But all too soon, she pulled away. “Stay strong,” she whispered, then scurried out of the room.

Rainbow’s purring filled the empty silence, the sound lulling me into a strange sort of peace. I was glad Caesar was waiting somewhere to jump at Shea’s call, glad we had some kind of reinforcements when the time came. And though I couldn’t see how we’d actually accomplish it, I had to hold onto faith that all of us would make it out.

I just hoped it happened before Shea was forced to shift the balance of this war beyond repair.

Chapter 27

Caesar

The night was still around us, the only sound that of the fire crackling in the center of our camp. Sakura, who seemed unable to shake the cold despite the temperature control of our magical bubble, had pleaded for it. I had been concerned about light or smoke advertising our location, but Janette had insisted the magic would keep both contained.

Hunched on the log, I watched as the smoke wafted up from the flames only to disperse against the enchanted barrier as if against a glass dome. It reminded me of home. Even the light seemed unable to escape its confines, everything beyond our spelled circle was still shrouded in darkness as if we were under a spotlight.

I couldn’t help but marvel at it. The wonderful things witches could do with their magic. Our kind was foolish to hold such a strict prejudice against them. We should’ve allied ourselves with them centuries ago. Perhaps then we wouldn’t be in this war against the vampires now.

Weight settled on the log beside me, and I turned to see Private Peters smiling at me.

“You seem tense,” he said, his tone sympathetic. “Everything okay?”

I furrowed my brow in confusion. Of course, I was tense, and no, everything was not okay. We were camped outside a fortress full of blood-thirsty vampires awaiting some communication from my mate, who was trapped inside said fortress to rescue not only my soul brother but also three of my former students. Whywouldn’t I be tense? In fact, why was Peters so chill?

I offered him a flat smile and nodded. “Just hoping this mission goes well.”

“It’s a lot of pressure, being in command of such an important operation,” he said. “I can’t imagine what you must be feeling.”

I schooled my hostility. Maybe he really was just trying to offer some kind of support or encouragement.

I steepled my hands and rested my chin on my thumbs. “Yeah, it really is.”

“Let me help you with that.”

A pair of hands landed on my shoulders, thumbs kneading into the muscles, and I froze. Was this guy actually giving me a fucking massage? Slowly, I turned my head to look over my shoulder, and the look he gave me was far too heated, sending a chill down my spine.

Shrugging his hands off me, I scooted brashly away from him down the log. “Thanks, but I’m good.”

I glanced up at the other soldiers sitting around the fire to find them all watching us closely, caution blaring in their tense gazes. I felt the sudden urge to get up and sit somewhere else, but a sharp sting pierced into my lower back, and then—

Huh, what was I doing?...

A warm, soothing sort of haze fell over me, and my butt all but melted against the log. Damn, this was the most comfortable log in the entire world! I never wanted to leave it.

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