Page 52 of Power of Five
“What’s going on?” River’s voice cuts through the air as he strides toward us, the other two behind him. I wonder whether they smelled the blood or just saw me jump to my feet.
“What the hell did you do, Shade?” Tye demands.
“I will kill you, wolf,” Coal growls softly.
Shutting my eyes, I press the stone quickly to my bleeding lip, flinching at the sudden flash of magic that sparks and vanishes into thin air. My chest tightens and I drop to my knees, letting the bloody stone roll free from my palm as I drink in the males I love.
“What did you do, Leralynn,” River whispers, picking up the stone. “What is this?”
I force myself to sit up straight, proud of my dry eyes and steady voice. “I’ve summoned Klarissa. I’m ready to go home now.”
River’s face darkens, his eyes wide. With a roar, he throws the stone against the mountain face, his shoulders vibrating as the jewel bounces. “Like hell you are going anywhere,” he yells, turning back to me.
My jaw flexes. This is hard enough without the quint commander himself cracking. “You don’t get to tell me where I’m going, River,” I say shortly.
“Fine.” River shows me his teeth as he steps closer to me. “But in that case, I’m going with you.”
“Me too,” says Tye.
“As am I,” Shade whispers.
Coal crosses his arms, nodding silently along with the rest.
I throw back my head, waiting for the stars themselves to laugh at the males. Or at me. “Go with me to where, River?”
“The mortal lands, I presume,” he answers.
I throw up my hands, twisting back to the males. “The mortal lands? What the bloody hell are the four of you going to do in the mortal lands?”
“Wear lots of hooded cloaks, I suppose,” Tye says, fingering his pointed ears. “The humans are strangely disturbed by all the wrong things.”
I shake my head at them, my heart pounding. “You are elite fae warriors of the Citadel,” I say, slowly enough that even one soft of mind could comprehend. “You need to be alive to kill bad things coming from Mors.I am a human. I will get you killed. Hence, we are severing the bond and I am going back to the mortal lands while you four bastards stay here and try to do your job. End of discussion.”
Tye scratches the back of his head. “See, there is one problem with that, lass. Even Klarissa can’t force-cut the bond. Either someone must be very near dead or everyone must agree. You are of course welcome to spend the rest of your mortal life trying to convince us to agree—or trying to get yourself killed, I suppose. But short of that, it won’t actually work.”
“Why?” The question tumbles from my lips. “Why would you want me?”
Shade reaches forward as suddenly as the words are out, taking my face firmly between his warm palms. “Because we love you, cub,” he says roughly. “And we can’t do otherwise.”
