Page 39 of The Stone Curse
His eyes narrowed. “You one of them abominations.”
I shrugged a shoulder. “I’ve been called worse, but what’s relevant to this situation is that I have no qualms about kicking your ass.” I strode forward, and he backed up a step before catching himself and standing his ground.
“We can take you.”
The air shifted as Derek materialized beside me. “You’re not taking my Cameron anywhere.”
Their eyes rounded as they took him in.
The driver’s door opened, and Levi climbed out, stretching to his full six-two height. “They won’t touch her, Derek,” he said. “Or they’ll have three of us to contend with.”
The human raised his bat and smacked it against his free hand. “I reckon we still might be able ta take ya.”
His companions didn’t look too sure, though. Time to drive home my point. I lifted my hand and willed my talons to extend. My hand morphed, fingers elongating as thick, vicious talons pushed out the tips.
Beside me, Derek expanded into his larger form, his arms elongating, shadow talons protruding from his fingers.
Blade guy’s eyes bulged. “Um, Gaz, I think we should go.”
The three of us took a unified step forward, and this time the whole group backed away.
“I suggest you listen to your friend, Gaz. I’ve had a shitty day, and there’s nothing better than a little evisceration to lift the mood.” I fixed a manic smile on my face and looked from my talon-tipped hand to his abdomen.
He lowered his bat and backed up into the underbrush. “Let’s go. These fuckers ain’t worth it.”
I moved forward, and he let out a yelp and ran into the woods.
“Nothing like a little evisceration to lift the mood?” Levi asked.
I tucked away my talons and offered him a sweet smile. “The way I feel recently, it’s exactly what I need.” I strode to the back of the van. “Get in and start this tin can. I’ll move the tree trunk, and we can get the fuck out of here.”
No more naps. No more almost-dreams about Serath. The ache of loss it left inside me was too painful. I’d been deniedthe closure of a funeral for Serath, but maybe saying goodbye to Varsa would allow me to say goodbye to Serath too.
CHAPTER 13
Levi was at the wheel when Arcadia finally came into view. After three stops to stretch our legs and one stop to grab a bite, we were finally approaching the impressive gates to the gargoyle stronghold as the sun was preparing to set.
Romi had lived here growing up. This place had been his home, and he’d painted a picture of tall sturdy walls and thick wooden gates reinforced with steel and iron. He’d told me of the wide winding streets that led to gated properties housing the elite bloodlines, and the elaborate streets lined with huge mansions made of sandstone to weather all elements, and now…Now I was about to see it all for myself.
“Fucking hell,” Touron said. “It’s massive.”
“Have you never been here?” Ginia asked him.
“Nah, my bloodline never made the cut.”
“Ours either,” Ginia said. “But our sire has friends here, so we visited often.”
I was confused. “I thought all the omega nests were in Arcadia.” There were omegas at the academy, but once they found their mates, they’d move back to Arcadia to birth and raise their young. At least that’s what I’d been led to believe.
“Not all of them,” Orix said. “There are many approved and some unsanctioned nests out on the rim.”
The gates loomed higher as we approached.
“What if they don’t let us all in?” Touron asked.
“It’s Derek I’m worried about.” I glanced across at him, curled up on the floor at the back of the van, recharging in slumber. “If they try to hurt him…”
“They won’t,” Orix said. “I’m familiar with the guard here.”
