Page 61 of Claim the Twilight
Orina is mine. Now and for as long as we live.
And I’m going to make damn sure that’s a very long time.
Chapter 25
NYX
The uniformed guy keeps yapping at me about protocol and procedure and process, and I resist the urge to punch him in the mouth. My friend is trapped inside Dracul territory, and I intend to get her out.
“…white wings will arrive and speak with you,” he finishes. At least I hope he’s finished because he has the most annoyingly whiny voice I’ve ever heard.
Beside me, Sin lets out a sigh. “And how long before your white wings grace us with their presence?” His tone drips with imperiousness. A tone he usually reserves for meetings on matters of state.
A tone he knows never to use with me.
The guard blinks up at Sin and swallows hard—his go-to reaction every time the fallen speaks. Hardly surprising. Sin is impressive to look at with his horns and red-tinged skin. If he unveiled his wings, the guard would probably pass out.
The guard’s gaze flicks to me, noting my smile. I let it bloom brighter, perfectly aware how manic I look.
He gulps. “We…uh…we’ve sent the message, but…they come when they please.”
“Typical,” Sin drawls. “White wings and their superiority complexes.”
The guard blinks sharply and backs up. “I’ll get Mr. Brentwood.”
He takes another few steps, turns on his heel, and jogs away. Past a gray cabin and down the street toward a row of buildings with sleek black cars parked in front of them.
I turn to Sin. “I don’t like this. It smells…off.”
“You should have told them who you are. They need to treat you with respect.”
I let out a bark of laughter. “I hardly think my station matters on this side of the golden bridge.”
He presses his lips together. “Hmmm.”
He knows I’m right. Morningstar is a gateway to its own world. The human world feels small and insignificant to me now, even though I was once a part of it. Now the air tastes odd and the magic feels alien to me. There’s nothing left here for me except for Orina and Quinn. Those women are my only ties to this world, and I will burn it fucking down if anything happens to them.
“We will protect her,” Sin says. “Even if we have to drag her to Morningstar against her will.”
“No.” I give him a hard look. “Lorenzo asked us to come and help with a breach. That’s what we’ll do.”
His eyes swirl with starlight, a sure sign that he’s agitated. “You are not going anywhere near a fucking breach.”
A shiver skitters down my spine as echoes of memory rock through me of the last time I was faced with a breach. I shake off the awful feeling and offer him my best kitten grin. “And who’s going to fucking stop me?”
His eyes narrow. “Don’t push me, Nyx.”
“Or what?” I tip my head to one side, waiting for his response.
He stares at me with an unfathomable expression for several beats, then lets out a heavy exhale, jaw clenching as he drags his gaze away. “Damn you, woman.”
Yeah, that’s what I thought. He has a ton of making up to do. It’s the only reason he’s here with me. I can’t help but wish that my husbands could have come with me instead, but the air of this world is toxic to them. Sin, however, is unaffected, and?—
“No…” Sin stiffens, his lip curling.
“What is it?”
He slow-blinks. “Turn around and see for yourself.”
