Page 76 of Tangled Threads Of Fate

“I have to cut you too?”

A nod. I winced, trying not to feel sick as I cut him along his strong lion shoulder.

“Do I have to mix our blood together?”

Another quick nod.

Lifting my cut wrist, I rubbed the blood into his wound, trying not to feel sick. This was a blood bond. I was vowing to love this creature, care for him, adore him for the rest of my days, and it felt so right that I knew it was written in the stars.

I felt his magic travel through the wound and up my arm, wrapping around my chest like a vice. It was hard to breathe, and I choked on nothing.

Breathe, little one.

I startled at the deep voice echoing around my head.Holy shit.“Griff?”

Yes. Mate. My mate.The wonder in his voice made emotions clog my throat. What I would have given to have this moment in a time of peace, with just me and Griff.

There was a soft laugh.And me. Always the third wheel.Teron’s voice was in my head too, and I squeaked with happiness.

“I can talk to you both?”

Yes. And if we are in Teron’s meat sack form, we can still talk. You have me always now, little one. You all do. I will protect our cubs with my very soul.

I was crying again, but it felt so overwhelming, these waves of love and adoration that poured from the connection between our hearts. How was I ever going to get used to this feeling, this blanket of security?

A scream from outside shook me from the moment. On my feet again, I watched something from a nightmare appear in the distance. It was huge, with wings and a snake body. Fire dripped from its mouth.

“What in the actual flyingfuckis that?” I breathed, and I could feel Griff’s concern in my chest. I wasn’t sure how I knew the feeling was Griff’s and not Teron’s, but I did.

Typhon. What the hell did they promise the Father of Monsters to get him here?Griff asked, but I had a feeling he wasn’t talking to me.

I was proven right when it was Teron who answered.I don’t know, but if Typhon’s here, Ekhidna won’t be far behind.

I didn’t know who either of them were, but they weren’t monsters I wanted to mess with. The Valkyrie attacked in threes, but they had little to no effect on the huge monster, who batted them out of the air like they were horse flies, rather than feared warriors.

Pain and death were starting to scent the air. Where were the guys?

I tried to lean further out of the window to see, but Griff pulled me back.You are making yourself a target. Do not make all this for naught by dying like some kind of fool.

I flushed, properly chastised, as I moved back to the wall where he placed me. “I hate sitting here. You hate it too—I can tell.”

He shook his huge eagle head.No. While I want to be fighting, you are more important than any glory. You are the only thing that matters, Wren. Mate of my heart.

How the hell did anyone argue with that? “Smooth-talking fucking Gryphon.”

I don’t think anyone has complimented me quite so aggressively in a very long time,Griff answered, sounding amused.

Another cry from outside was like knives shredding my chest. Leaving me in the corner, Griff looked out the window, and I could feel his worry. We weren’t winning; I knew it in my chest. Outside, people were dying for me.

A loud sound I was beginning to recognise as the ward alarms clanged, and Griff whipped his head toward the door ina move that was definitely preternatural.They’ve breached the compound’s walls.

What did that mean for the guys?

“What do we do?” I whispered, and Griff tilted his head to the side, listening for intruders. His tail whipped furiously, the only tell that he was anxious. He backed me further against the wall, his huge body hiding me from the doorway.

Glass shattered, the sound mixing with my screams. A large hand reached into the room through the window. It was gnarled and crusty, and I couldn’t see the body attached to it.

Clearly, we’d found the intruder, or the intruder had found us.

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