Page 114 of Ransomed to the World
“Same here.” Her voice was hoarse. Her chest warmed to see she’d finally managed to break through the ironclad control he hid behind…even if it was to yell at her. She’d take it. “For the first time in a long time, I had something to live for—you and the others. There’s no fucking way I was going to give any of you up without a fight.”
He exhaled loudly, his shoulders slumping, his head hanging low. Xander moved his chair over to make more room, and Edgar accepted it gratefully. Surrounded by her men, she asked the question she dreaded most.
“Is Daxion really dead?” She was terrified that he’d taken enough of her power to come back.
“Oh, he’s dead.” Valen patted her hand reassuringly, not a hint of grief in his expression.
Annora tightened her grip on Xander’s hand. Logan felt the tension and hugged her closer. “Is he a reaper now?”
Mason gave an impressive growl that rumbled through the room like thunder, his hair whipping around him. Edgar’s form went wispy, his eyes shading completely black, as if determined to brave the afterworld to hunt Daxion down and finish him once and for all. Camden’s skin rippled, a pattern pushing forward as his armor rose, his iridescent hair shimmering. Even the white tips of Xander’s hair bristled at the threat, the rippling of his wings echoing around her.
Power rose in the air, and Valen held up his hands. “Livia said he didn’t make it out of the dead zone. It seemed a fitting end for him.”
She took a deep, shuddering breath, her throat tightening with emotions.
She was finally free.
“You’ll be pleased to know that peace talks are actually happening. Most of the phantoms are overjoyed that Daxion’s reign is over…well, almost everyone. A few phantoms disappeared overnight.”
Annora reached out to Valen, gripping his arm. “I want the branding to be removed and outlawed. It should be reserved only for criminals. No negotiations.”
The conversation winded her.
Valen smiled and shook his head, gently pushing her back down. “Rest. I’ll take care of it. You’ll eventually regain your powers, but it will take time. No more searching for trouble…or at least wait until you’re back on your feet.”
Her lips twitched at his chiding. “Before you go, I have something for you.”
When she tried to move, all the guys tightened their hold. Logan whispered in her ear. “What do you need, babe?”
“Edgar…can you open the door to my closet? I left some things with the grimoire.” His brows hiked up, knowing exactly what she was asking him to do. Every door she opened to the afterworld led to her closet, if she willed it.
He rose to his feet, then opened the bathroom door…to pure darkness. He reached inside and collected the coins, then shut the door, the darkness gradually fading back to where it had seeped out from behind the frame. He held out his hand to her, the coins gleaming in his palm.
“These are for Livia.” Annora handed over the first five coins over to Valen.
He gave a sigh of relief, his eyes shiny. “Thank you. These mean more than you can imagine.”
“I’ll work on more once I get my strength back.” She lifted the last coin in her hand and held it out to him. “This one is for you.”
Valen hesitated, then reached out and took it, gazing down at it silently, and she was suddenly uncertain. “It’s more permanent than the others. You should be able to cross over at any time…if you want to visit.”
“I would be honored.” He cleared his throat, tears glimmering in his eyes. “Okay, time for me to leave you in the capable hands of your men.” He shot her a wink, then disappeared in a swirl of smoke.
Silence reigned in the room, the guys staring at her like a ghost they expected to vanish at any moment. That they weren’t furious with her left her floundering, and she eyed them suspiciously, then braced herself. “Go ahead, let me have it.”
Camden quirked a brow at her, his green eyes warm. “We’re not mad.”
“You’re…not?” Annora glanced around at them, deflating a bit.
“Of course.” Logan kissed her neck. “I mean, I’m not happy you jumped into battle, but your sense of honor and justice is also one of the things we love the most about you.”
Xander linked his fingers with hers, rubbing his thumb along the back of her hand. “We don’t want to change you. We know you’ll always be attracted to danger.”
“And run headlong into it,” Mason grumbled, his expression both amused and pained, the way he usually looked around her.
“That’s putting it mildly. You practically wave your arms to get its attention.” Logan huffed in amusement, his arms cradling her waist, his chin resting on her shoulder.
“We realize now that it’s literally in your nature.” Camden’s lips quirked, and he rocked back and forth on his feet. “It’s one of the reasons we love you.”
