Page 68 of Claim the Twilight
I let out a shaky breath and wiped at my tears. “We need to find Loviator’s followers. We need to find them, and if we can’t remove Loviator’s channel mark, then we have to kill them all.”
It was the only sure way to weaken the bitch so the white wings could lock her away, and when that happened, I would make her give Hemlock back to me using any means necessary.
Loviator’s attackmeant that there would be a lull as she recharged to attack again, time enough for us to recharge also. Ezekiel remained unconscious, and even though Ordell and Lorenzo didn’t say it, I could tell they were starting to get worried.
I tried to access our vista, to speak to Ezekiel there, but the connection that usually pulled me into our shared space was absent.
While Holly and Lorenzo ran some tests to check for a magical influence for Ezekiel’s unconsciousness, I took a beat, ducking up to my room to change out of my blood-spattered clothes.
Nyx came with me, leaving Sin to acquaint himself with the other members of my team.
“Nice room,” she said, parking her ass on the bed.
I stripped off my dirty clothes and grabbed fresh ones. “Ezekiel made sure to give me the best one.” My voice cracked, and I cleared my throat. “Hemlock and Ordell have rooms down the hall and—” My voice cracked again.
“Dammit, Orina, if you need to cry some more, then do it. Rage, scream, whatever you want. I get it. I’ve been there, babe.”
I took a few deep breaths and stood tall. “Falling apart won’t help right now. Whatwillhelp is kicking that bitch goddess’s ass.”
Nyx nodded. “I’ve sent word to Morningstar for reinforcements. I didn’t realize how bad things were until the white wing explained it to me. Ramiel, one of the fallen from Morningstar, was in the Fringe, and I sent him home. But I’m sure he’ll be back with more fallen soon. We’ll do whatever it takes to keep this Loviator chick busy while you guys figure out how to put her down.”
I pulled on my boots and explained about Loviator’s army of worshippers and the fact that their faith was powering Loviator.
“You’re going to look for them?”
“Yeah, Kaster and the white wings have their hands full with the breaches and the many attacks, a ploy from Loviator no doubt to keep them occupied while she charges up. I doubt they’ve had a chance to do a proper sweep of Dracul and dig out this army.”
“You’ll take the big golden bear with you, right?”
It took a moment to realize she was speaking about Ordell, and then a smile tugged at my lips. “Yeah, I’ll take Ordell with me. But Lorenzo and Holly will be most useful at a breach. Ezekiel will have to stay close to Branwood. Sunlight weakens him, so?—”
“Wait a second!” Nyx sat up straighter. “You were out in the sun!”
I’d almost forgotten about that. I shrugged. “I guess I’m special.”
She pressed her lips together. “Who knew that so much would happen to us after we signed that sisterhood pact, huh?”
“Almost as if fate knew we’d need each other.”
She smiled wryly. “Yeah…Fate…I’ve learned a lot about that bitch, and destiny too. Not what they seem at all.” She stood and crossed the room to cup my shoulders. “Youare the master of your destiny, Orina. You make the rules. And if you say we’re taking Loviator down, then that’s what we’ll do.”
I pulled her into a hug and squeezed. “I love you, Nyx.”
“Love you more.”
“Once this is over, we need to catch up on everything.”
She drew back, her eyes sparkling. “You mean like the fact that I’m married now?”
My mouth fell open. “What? To whom? I mean, which one?” I’d met several males who’d seemed close to Nyx when I’d visited Morningstar a few months ago.
“You met them all,” she said.
“All of them?” My voice went up an octave, and she chuckled.
“Like you wouldn’t do the same with your guys.”
“Good point. And Sin?”
