Our footsteps were thunderous as we sprinted as a group.
Our Revered was our priority.
Finally, we stumbled out of the compound, back into the darkness of the night, and we were in the courtyard.
Fairy lights twinkled in the trees.
Corvus passed Arabella’s limp form into my arms, then he gently pulled off her hood.
I pressed a kiss to her icy forehead and cradled her against my chest as I prayed to the sun god.
The others surrounded us.
Blood and gore stained the dusting of snow beneath our feet, then melted into a mess.
Bells tinkled.
Snowflakes drifted softly around us and kissed Arabella’s unnaturally pale cheeks.
Corvus ripped off his hood, and his eyes were on fire.
He leaned close so his harsh bronze features were inches from hers, then he snarled harshly, “I’m going to kill you for this.”
I stiffened and pulled her closer to my chest protectively.
What was he playing at?
My Protector instincts flared. How dare he speak to our Revered like that? How dare he disrespect her so callously?
It was sacrilegious.
Arabella’s lips, which were turning blue from blood loss, curled up into a mocking smirk, and she mouthed, “Go fuck yourself.” Her skin was a disturbing shade of gray.
My Ignis smiled, tipped his head back, and bellowed to the night sky.
Flames shot from his mouth like a dragon.
Scorpius grabbed Corvus’s flaming shoulders and said, “Get the fuck away from her. What is wrong with you?” He voiced my thoughts as he pulled our Ignis away from our precious Revered.
The twins ripped off their hoods and formed a protective shield with their bodies.
“Are you okay?” one of them whispered to Arabella and stroked her cheek.
She rolled her eyes dramatically. “Clearly, I’m fine.” Even bleeding out with a gruesome wound, she was sarcastic.
I would have laughed if my insides weren’t curdled with fear.
A dimple appeared on the twin’s cheek. It was John, and he poked her nose. “Little Smurf idiot got stabbed.”
Arabella struggled in my hold like she was going to fight him.
I tightened my grip as agitation flared sharply in my gut because everyone was acting deranged and she was bleeding out in my arms.
“We need to get her help!” I shouted as I backed away from the other men. “Who the fuck has the RJE?” My voice was loud and raw, power sizzling in my veins.
Everyone stopped moving.
I’d entranced them.
