Page 237 of Dark Haven Omegaverse

“Is that possible?” I looked at Monty in horror. If they could turn humans somehow... well, it didn’t look good for the world.

“No. The most they could do was use their influence. Think of it like mind possession. With enough strong demons pushing at weak minds it could seem that way.”

“That’s where Crew is.” Stravos’s words hung in the air, and I looked at Layne who looked horrified. “I’m sorry, Layne. I saw him last night and didn’t know how to break it to you.”

She sniffled softly. “I already knew in a way. Where else would he go?”

“Then we’ll add getting Crew back to the list,” I vowed. “The ever-growing list I don’t have a clue how to manage. But there’s no other option.”

“Can we even leave the grounds?” Kol asked. “I’ve never been able to before.”

“The gargoyles were bound to the grounds,” Monty said. “You, Roman, and Stravos may have to stay behind.”

“I can’t leave,” Stravos confirmed. “I watch from the rooftops.”

“Then we separate,” I said, shaking my head. “There’s no other choice. We have to get to Crew, and we have to figure this out.”

“At least you’re saying ‘we’ instead of ‘I,’” Kol said with a laugh.

I gave the gargoyle a smirk. He was right. I relied on them more than ever now. One person may lead a kingdom, but they never worked alone.

Helheim was connected to me, but it had claimed them as its own as well.

“I’m going to the portal,” I said as I turned. “I have to try before we go any farther. If we cut off the demons, they’ll lose their power. Right now, it’s unstoppable.”

Monty whisked me away again, leaving the others behind.

“Really?” I deadpanned. He let out a low chuckle and caressed my cheek with his shadows. It was a rare, loving moment with him. I cherished those, my omega swooning for her alpha.

“They’ve been around too much lately. They’ll find their way here in time. You can do this, little human,” he pointed out. The old nickname had a bit of my worry fading as I faced the portal.

The fires pulsed with Helheim’s presence, and I reached out with my mind, trying to hold tight to that feeling and separating it from Dark Haven. Maybe it was the wrong approach, but I was trying to manifest ripping them apart and closing the portal.

The power never shifted. It didn’t react to my will at all. In Helheim, I was using it to create and adjust things it had already created or claimed. Here, it was unwilling to budge. The hold on the realms ran deeper than any powers I might have.

“Well, that failed.” I sighed. “I guess we get to figure out what exactly an even exchange is.”

“One thing at a time. You’ve always loved biting off more than you could chew,” Monty countered.

“I’m not the sit-around type. And now, not only is the fucking world depending on me, so are people I care about.”

“So, what do we do first?” he asked.

“We go into the city, find Crew, and kick his ass for being stupid.”

Harlow

Dark Haven Institute

“Government officials are speculating that the economy is to blame for the downfall of society, but nearly every American citizen disagrees.”

“I’m not sure which officials are saying that or how they’ve come to that conclusion,” someone else scoffs. “This is clearly the work of a terrorist organization. Mark my words, we’ll hear the real reason and you all will finally see what I’ve been pointing out for years.”

The others shifted in their seats. Everyone was uncomfortable.

“No one wants to embrace that theory out of fear.” A woman tried to calm the man down. He looked ready to snap and she wasn’t taking changes.

“Fear is rampant in our streets!” he yelled back.

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