Page 106 of Blood So Brutal

It only lasted a couple of seconds, but my entire body felt lighter at the gesture. I didn’t realize just how badly I needed this, just how much I missed Wolf and I together.

He pulled away too soon. “Something to think about when you’re wrapped in his arms,” Wolf teased. “You’remywife. Don’t forget that.”

I rolled my eyes and pressed against his chest, pushing him away before turning to Jessiah, who only stared at us with an eyebrow raised.

“Not a word,” I ordered.

He held his hands up in defense. “I wouldn’t dream of it.”

I snaked an arm around Jessiah’s neck before he scooped my legs up under my knees, pumping his wings again and launching us both into the air.

My magic called to me, pushing me to extend my own wings, but I fought the urge. My body wanted to fly. It was the most natural thing in the world for me now, to extend my wings, to soar into the sky.

But Asmodeus was too close to seeing my magic. He wanted it too badly, and frankly, so did Lord.

It only took a few seconds to fly across the river.

Jessiah landed gently before dropping me to my feet right beside Rummy.

Luseyar attempted to help Lord wrap up the wounds on his shins and his torso with extra fabric from his shirt. Hells, he deserved those. He deserved much, much worse. He deserved to have his back whipped over and over and over again after any slight mistake or failure.

Would he think of this as a failure? Would he hate me for who I had become? For the magic I now possessed?

Probably. It would never be good enough for him.Iwould never be good enough for him.

Suddenly, my stomach sank. Memories of my childhood flashed in my mind, memories of Lord taking care of me. Of him feeding me. Of him smiling and even occasionally laughing.

But those were quickly replaced with cruel, nonstop moments of violence. Torture. Hatred.

And the killing.

So much damn blood dripped from my hands. I killed and killed and killed athisorders.

I blinked the memories away and shook my head. I couldn’t go back to that place, not when so much mattered right here, right now.

I brushed Rummy’s shoulder as I turned and watched Jessiah launch himself back across the riverbank.

Hells, it hurt that Wolf couldn’t fly himself across. I knew every single time he had to watch Jessiah fly me instead, he felt the pain of those wings being taken over and over again.

Asmodeus would pay for what he did to Wolf. He would pay for all of it.

The roar of the river drowned out whatever the brothers were saying to each other.

“Hurry up!” Asmodeus yelled.

But the brothers ignored them, turning their attention to the forest behind them.

“What is—” My words were ripped from my mouth as an arrow pierced the air, flying above Wolf and Jessiah, landing just a few paces away from my feet.

Chapter 40

Wolf

“What is that?” Jessiah asked as we both ducked. His wings splayed out, protecting us from the arsenal of arrows being launched across the river. They all missed his wings but landedmuchtoo close for comfort.

My magic buzzed beneath my skin. “Rebels.”

I didn’t have time to answer questions, didn’t have time to explain to Jessiah everything that fucking happened from the time I was sent to Moira until now.

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