“I know you’re a survivor. You’ll make it through this and restore the nest.”
My lip wobbled. “Really unfair of you to cover me in henna when I want to hug you.”
She offered me a soft smile. “Maybe that was my plan all along. I have to go help. You’ll be heading out to distract the monster?”
“Unfortunately, yeah.”
I didn’t relish wandering through the nest naked except for the henna, but it couldn’t be helped. Shakti and I went down to the main level together, going in opposite directions from there.
The helicopter landed and it was absolute chaotic cacophony. Nest residents cried as they loaded up their children.
I diverted to the gates where the monster sat, light and shadow writhing in shards that looked sharp enough to slice medown to the bone. It rotated, pouring all of its focus onto me as I slowly walked to the opposite side of the nest from where the helicopter was being loaded up. Thankfully, the creature followed. Its tendrils snaked up the warding like some fucked-up demon octopus and I fought the urge to bolt away.
“Why do you want me?”
The only answer forthcoming was its unholy shriek that had my heart jackhammering against my ribs. It threw itself hard against the wards. Frustration, fury, and pain rolled off it like raindrops down a roof.
So much negativity embroiled in all that light and shadow.
I almost felt sorry for it.
Weeping reached me, even above the sound of the helicopter. I hated not being able to say goodbye, but I had to hope Shakti was right.
I would see them again.
I just had to survive long enough to do so.
Logan had been standing motionless for an hour in front of the monster, keeping its focus despite the helicopter being long gone. The children were all out, on their way to Seattle under the guardianship of the few parents who had forms small enough to go as well, and the bird shifters who had opted to leave and assist. The decision had made everyone nervous,knowing Logan wasn’t confident she could keep protecting them, but it had to be done.
“Come inside,” I said softly.
Her skin was a canvas of symbols. Some I recognized, some from languages probably long dead I’d never seen before.
Logan’s eyes glowed when she turned toward me. “Are they safe?”
“Yes. We’re down to about half capacity now. All the children will stay in Seattle until we tell them otherwise.”
“Do more want to leave?”
“Maybe. Seattle can’t take more, though. We need to get into contact with other nests, ones that we know are safe.”
“What about the one Shakti’s family is building in Colorado?”
“We can ask about it,” I promised. My instinct was to scoop her up and carry her inside, but I didn’t want to ruin the work Shakti had put in to help Logan. Instead, I asked again, “Come inside.”
Logan nodded slowly, turning briefly to the monster. “Your quarrel is withme. I’m not going anywhere.”
It still clung to the warding with its dark tendrils, but it wasn’t shrieking. Had it developed some sense of patience in all the time it had been waiting for her? Maybe it was at least partially content drinking down her magic as it tried to eat through the wards. She had certainly been keeping it well fed.
Logan slipped her fingers into mine, mindful of the designs on the back of her hand. She shivered. “It’s fucking cold out here with no clothes.”
“We’ll get you something warm to drink. I would suggest a shower, but…”
“Shakti might murder me,” Logan said with a laugh. “She wants me to go as long as I can without touching it. I don’t think I’ll make it to the twelve hour mark, but I’m going to try.”
The remaining nest residents looked at her curiously, eyes dancing over her bare, decorated skin.
Yelena approached, quickly finding a few empty spots to lay her fingertips and give Logan a kiss, as if she needed to reassure herself our fated mate was safe. “Your skin is like ice, precious.”
