Page 64 of Hers to Claim

He turned toward Mari next.

“I want this to be done,” Mari sighed. “I don’t want to look over my shoulder anymore.” She sent a smile Rio’s way. “And I trust Rio’s gut.”

“I do too.” Cisco focused on the map again. “Okay. You go in and you tell your brother not to fight back. How many do we have to worry about after that?”

“Eight including Grim and my brother.”

“So ideally only seven combatants including a nasty shadow witch.” Cisco pointed to the back of the main building. “Can you get in there to neutralize the witch, Kima?”

“Almost certainly.” She glanced over the details of the map and then toward Mari. “If you can quickly get me a small hole in the wards back there.”

“Could be more difficult this time around,” Mari said. “He’ll know what to expect this time.”

Rio hummed and glanced at Cisco. “A small group will be better, though I know that probably makes you uncomfortable.”

Cisco grunted. “It does, but we all do what we have to do. Kima to watch your back and Dante to give Mariana a boost if she needs it?”

Rio nodded and slid his gaze toward Dante. “That okay with you?”

“One hundred percent. They came for Mari and that’s all the incentive I need.”

Mari didn’t want her sweet unicorn in danger. The very idea sent a shiver of dread down her back that she tried her best to mask. Seeing him hurt earlier had nearly made her break down on the spot. She’d much rather he stayed here, behind layered wards in a fortress.

But she also remembered what Cisco had said about respecting her choices, even when he hated it, and how much she had appreciated the trust that had implied. She gripped Dante’s hand in hers and tried to smile.

She would make sure he was safe. He had to be safe.

Mari had the strange impression that the thought hadn’t belonged to her, but instead to the goddess. But the disorientation only lasted for a moment. She didn’t know if the connection between her and the goddess allowed for direct communication, but she made it clear that she was more than okay with the goddess taking a direct hand if it meant Dante, or any of her men, remained safe.

A sense of surety filled her, like a reflection in calm water.

“Okay, you all will head around back when Hal goes in,” Cisco said, then moved to indicate a building down the block. “The rest of us will form up over here. Once Kima is in, Hellwolf will teleport in with me in tow to set off the alarms.” He pointed to a spot inside the fence in the far western corner of the map. “The rest of you infiltrate over here.” His hand moved again to a location near the center. “We pincer them in between us when they come to intercept the first group.”

“Then we’re home in time for pancakes,” Kima offered.

There was a round of anticipatory sounds of their post-action breakfast and some general good cheer.

Cisco gestured for quiet. “Vincent will be the challenge. Anyone who has a shot should take it. None of us are sure exactly what his capabilities are, but Basilio was scared of him for a reason, so we need to be ready for anything.”

An uncomfortable sobering drifted through the room. When Cisco was satisfied that they were taking it seriously, he continued, “Get your shit together. We mobilize in forty-five and we’re on the move in sixty.”

Cisco watched everyone file out, leaving only Halcyon, Rio, Mari, and Dante with him. He shut the door. “Do we know what kind of state Tristan is in?”

Halcyon clenched his jaw. “We’ve only been able to see him a few times. It’s not good. He won’t be mobile. Vincent keeps him drugged up on something most of the time. But Clar or I can carry him.”

“I’m more worried about him blowing up than getting him out,” Cisco said. “You, the other hellhounds, and I can take the heat of phoenix fire, but nobody else can.”

“We’ll handle it. If I have to, as soon as I can touch him I’ll teleport out.”

Cisco grumbled. “You do anything to fuck us over and I’m coming for you, Halcyon. Just keep that in mind.”

“Your cat would know if I was lying. I’m not. I want Tristan away from him. That’s all.”

Rio stepped up to Cisco and put a hand on his chest. “Thank you for doing this. I know you have doubts.”

“He’s important to you, so he’s important to me.” Cisco lifted Rio’s hand and kissed his palm. “I’m just worried because we don’t know what we’re walking into. Vincent was clearly trying to bait you, so maybe he expects us to come charging in there.”

Rio nodded. “I think we’ve got enough surprises he won’t expect.”

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