Page 98 of Heart of Dawn
“Weapons before we go in,” Cate said, opening her sports bag. “I found these when we came after you, sir.”
Real Miko nodded. “A lucky find.”
“By a likeminded individual,” she said, handing me an axe.
My insides lit up with violent glee. “You know me so well.”
The pack weapons expert winked at me, also giving me a screwdriver—another trusted favorite for zombie slaying.
“Bag of wonders from my wife,” James intoned theatrically.
There. Everyone was armed and ready to face the end. I tightened my grip on my axe as I turned to the stairs.
Trev, Basil, and the Gilmores showed up minutes later, Andrew in his lion form with Tilda on his back.
Wow. He was big, his mane thick, his stature very much radiating king of the jungle energy.
“Nothing followed us,” Arlo said, pulling at his soaked jumper. “Fuck me. Look at all the Mikos!”
I couldn’t help but chortle.
Tilda joined in with a laugh of her own.
Malorie slowly approached the stairs. “Our fate lies within.”
“Yeah,” Miko answered.
Arlo cracked his knuckles. “We’ll keep watch here, stop any wankstains from getting too close. I sensed a few blood magi around here. Hiding, lurking. We’ll kill any who try to get inside.”
“Good,” I growled. Not like a wolfy growl, but definitely one befitting of my status as an alpha’s mate.
Miko’s attention remained on the stairs.
Cate handed out more weapons to the others from her apparently bottomless bag. “And before anyone suggests it, I’m not waiting here.”
“No one would dare to, my darling heart.” James kissed her cheek.
She glowered at the sky. “Good to know. As you said, this is our fight. I want to see this right to the end.”
James bent to speak at her stomach. “I hope you can hear how awesome your warrior mother is.”
“Let’s do this,” Miko said, bringing the chat to an end. “Ready?”
“More than ready,” I answered for all of us, and followed the Mikos into the darkness.
CHAPTER THIRTY-ONE
ORION
The stairwell entrance rumbled shut behind us.
What a toxic stink. It never let up, and the heat increased the deeper we went down the endless stairwell. I relied on the eyesight of the wolves, taking it slow.
“Easy now,” James said, my guide in the darkness.
At the bottom of the stairs, a series of weak strip lights struggled to life.
“Gross,” Paige whispered.
