Holy shit. Jo was right. But why was the bond so strong for him and not me? Why didn’t I feel the lure like I did with Jo and Cash? Other than the burning in my chest, I still retained complete control over my head and body.
Then I realized I’d wandered over to him and gripped his arm without noticing. His eyes dropped to where my hand barely made its way around his forearm—the thing was so damn big—and I recoiled like I’d put my hand directly onto a flame. I berated myself internally and crossed my arms to keep them fromclinging to our fucking enemy.
Aram’s gaze slid over to Cash, his hulking form stopping within inches of my Fae Karen. My heart lost a beat before takingoff again. Adrenaline pumped through my veins when I thought what someone like this Fae god might do to get what he wanted.
Jo hadn’t thought he’d do anything to make me unhappy, but what if she was wrong? It could mean they were dead before I had a chance to do anything, and I couldn’t take that risk.
Red eyes rose to meet mine, and Aram’s lips thinned. “You care for them that much? Enough for it to scream across our bond, little hybrid?”
Shit.Fuck, fuck, fuck.
I didn’t answer again. I’d give myself away one way or another, but hell if it’d be with my own fucking words of admission.
His intense jealousy was choking me, and it was practically torture to calm my body, slow my heart, and melt the tension building in every muscle.
His next words ruined all the effort I’d made to smother my panic. “What would you do to protect them?” he demanded, claw-like nails aimed and ready to slash Cash’s throat wide open.
My core throbbed. The hair on my body stood on end. A flash, a jolt down my spine, a sudden echo of heat, then I watched Aram speak without saying words, his mouth movements odd. He took the same path he’d walked in the last several minutes in reverse, faster than if time were moving normally, his hair moving in ways it shouldn’t.
I stayed where I was as the unsuspecting asshole relived every action in reverse until he was gone and the Trickster was back on his feet, retracing his steps the way Aram had. My eyes chased him and his human, heart thundering, until they were completely out of sight.
I’d done it. I’d fucking done it!
Out of nowhere, it all stopped and time moved again. Cash and Jo turned to me in confusion, looking around for Aram.
“What in the bloody hell happened?” Cash demanded before his eyes went wide and a grin split his face.
The Trickster and his human slave rounded the corner and shuddered to a stop when they saw us. “Uh…pardon me.”
With a snap, the Trickster was dead on the ground—again—and his human unleashed. She went into a crouch, shielding herself. Another snap and she, too, disappeared. I was about to demand where he’d sent her, but another sound cut me off.
Jo laughed into her fist. “Questions later, V. Do it again or you know what’ll come next.”
My vision swayed, but I ignored it. I wouldn’t risk another encounter with that oversized asshole, not when our plan was blown apart the minute he showed up in frozen time.
I reached out to their power again, and this time they were there with me as the world reversed for as long as I could hold on, nearly twenty minutes by Jo’s account. It was enough time to flee so we could figure out our next step.
Cash took extra pleasure in killing the Trickster again and releasing his human, this time detailing that she was placed with someone who’d take good care of her, then we got the hell out of dodge.
Chapter 19
The Monsters I Collect
Iwas a bit wobbly on my feet when Cash brought me back to our little slice of void. I’d used way too much power. I was battling a thirst similar to the one after we killed Tweedle Dee and Tweedle Dum at the Blood Mage club.
My Fae Karen didn’t bother to ask before lifting me into his arms and heading for the bedroom. Jo trailed us, but he snapped his head her direction, his crippling fear and anxiety a hard echo inside my head.
“She needs blood,” he explained with far more sass than he needed, opening the door with magic. “Myblood. If that evil bastard shows up again, I don’t want her in any way vulnerable.”
Jo came into view and smiled down at me. “If he shows up again, she can just reverse time.” I didn’t need to feel her emotions to know how proud she was of me.
I grinned back.
Cash grunted unattractively. “Not without blood she won’t. It’s draining her even with our bonds.”
Jo’s smile faded as she stared at me in question. “V?”
“I’m sorry. I did use the bonds, but—”
