Page 33 of Caged Love

“Bloody small realm,” she grumbles, turning her head when Rave storms over to us. His shadows are following behind him. At least, that’s what it looks like. He’s pretty intimidating, especially with that scowl on his handsome face.

“What’s wrong?” Astrid asks him, sliding up next to him.

He wraps his arm around her and points his finger to where Soren is standing with Vale. He’s grown since I last saw him, a little taller, a mini replica of his father. “Our son doesn’t listen.”

“Wonder where he gets that from?” Astrid smirks.

Vale runs over, and his grin widens when he spots me. “Milana!” His legs move even faster, and he all but jumps into my arms. “I haven’t seen you in so long!”

“I know. How have you been?” I ask him, kissing the top of his head.

“I’m good! I overheard my Uncle Nico getting the army ready for war, and I knew I didn’t want to miss this one. You know I can help, right? I’m as strong as my dad. I don’t have shadows, but I am a void. You can’t beat me,” he rushes out.

I try to hide my grin. “Well, I guess I’m lucky to have you here then.”

He beams, puffing out his chest. “Damn right.” He eyes my wrists and frowns. “You got mated? Why? I was hoping you’d wait for me.”

August chuckles from beside me. “She’smine, Vale. You’re going to have to find your own mate.”

“But I want that one,” he grunts, his blue eyes narrowing.

“Vale,” Rave sighs, pinching the bridge of his nose. “Milana is taken, and you are a child. You shouldn’t be here. You know if you get hurt, Astrid can’t even heal you because you are a void.”

He shrugs, pulling out his sword from his hip. “I live life on the edge. You know this, Dad. I’m just like you.”

Astrid looks up at the sky as if praying for patience. “Vale, stay with your father. You don’t go anywhere alone, you hear me?”

“Yes,” he agrees.

August’s hard body presses against me. I use the connection to boost his magic, giving it all to him. His head snaps to me, realizing what I’m doing. “Milana?—”

“Take it. You need it more than me.”

Another blast hits, and the earth trembles.

“They’re not going to get in,” Axe comments as he zips in with Zython by his side.

“Everyone ready for this?” Zython asks, pulling out his sword.

“I was born ready!” Vale replies, making everyone laugh.

Pandora and Soren zip in with one of Pandora’s cousins, an attractive wizard named Kainan. He looks like he’d be Halia’s type—dark-haired, tall, strong, and built like a warrior.

I’m surprised when Salem joins us with his triplet brothers, Silver and Sage. Shadow, another of their brothers, appears with his mate, the famous seer, Laurel.

How did we think we could ever beat them?

They have power, connections, and most importantly, loyalty and friendship.

You can’t win against that.

Sage’s long black hair is in a braid, and he’s playing with his lip ring as he studies me. “And what do we have here?”

August steps forward protectively. “This is my mate, Milana.”

“You standing on the right side of the wall, Milana?” Laurel asks, staring at me like she can see right through me.

“Yes, I am,” I say with certainty.

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