“My mate needs assistance. I suspect Hera is on the move with the plans we failed to get out of Lyra.”
So that was what they were doing at Lyra’s.
Dagon’s eyes widened just a fraction. “Then you’re walking straight into a—”
“Trap? Yes, I’m well aware,” Aram interjected firmly. “But my mate’s loved ones have been…” He paused on the word as another tear escaped my eye and I tried my best to stay as emotionless as possible in front of his brother. “I’ll explain everything once we have the time, but we need to leave. Will you come with me, Brother, or do you also believe I’ve gone mad because of my mate?”
Dagon didn’t react to the question. He stayed perfectly expressionless and still. “Rayis is free to feel the way he does,but I have waited a long time to kill Hera and won’t let even our emotional brother get in the way. I suspect the hybrid will reverse time to fight her, yes?”
Surprised to hear it, I realized how this would be the perfect opportunity to get rid of Hera. I’d been so locked up by the thought of trying to save them, I didn’t think about how we could use it to our advantage.
I could reverse time and finally end this once and for all. We could essentially do what we planned from the start with Aram, but Hera instead. I kept my mind focused on that thought and not what already happened that I’d have to reverse.
“Aram,” I said, pivoting. “Get rid of this fucking contract and bring Big and his pixie buddies with us. We’ll need all the help we can get.”
His eyebrow rose, but he didn’t argue. I heard a snap and the contract symbol that appeared on my wrist earlier that day when I made the deal disappeared. Unlike the other two, it didn’t burn as it faded.
“Are you sure they can be convinced?” he asked, coming closer. “It’ll slow us down if they try to attack us, and it’s very unlikely you’ll be able to reverse time again if they do.”
This many strong supernaturals in a time freeze and reversal was likely to put a lot of strain on me. I’d have to lean into my bonds, and I wasn’t sure that’d be enough. But I couldn’t lose them or risk Hera getting away. It had to end today.
For all our sakes.
Aram’s soft smile greeted my next glance. “You are truly a wonder, little mate. Have it your way. I should know better than to underestimate you.”
“What about Rayis?”
Aram’s lips slid up, his smirk devilish. “My poor brother will do as he’s told and keep the human safe so she’s not used by Hera to subdue you.”
Fuck, right. Kate. Last thing I wanted to do was put her directly in a trap with my super-powerful enemy, but I couldn’t leave her here, either.
“Big can do it.”
Aram grabbed a weapon laid out on a nearby table. “Rayis will be a better protector, and despite all his venom, he’ll do what’s right. Believe it or not, he quite likes humans.”
I didn’t believe it.
“Fine,” I grumbled, shocked when Aram handed me a pair of daggers.
Dagon watched the exchange closely. “Our mother’s daggers? How poetic.”
My mouth dropped open, nearly forgetting my urgency to stare down at them. “But—”
“They are enchanted and a fitting demise for thatEishichag,” Aram whispered, throwing on a few weapon straps. “Aim for the heart and the poison will do the rest,Nioche.”
Dagon reacted to the weird language he spoke, but only for a second. Then the quiet giant offered me an assessing look, the first signs of emotion since he’d come into the room. “What makes you sure you can even reverse this much time?”
“I don’t have much choice, do I?” I sheathed the daggers on my belt. More determined than ever, I lifted my chin and looked the stone-cold Dagon in the eye. “We’re wasting time. Let’s go get everyone, reverse time, and kill this bitch.”
Chapter 33
Motherfucking Time Monster
I’d expected more of a fight from everyone, but no one argued after Aram disclosed the details of why we needed to leave. Even Rayis was quieted with the information. A greedy glint hit his eye and he demanded why we were all waiting around when there was a demon to kill. Had I not been just as desperate, I’d give the tall asshole a good throat punch for all the hell he’d already given me.
The portal was exactly how Aram promised, a few seconds away from the devastation I nearly lost my dinner upon seeing. We stepped into a place that had been something of a home for the last few weeks. Furniture was broken and the place had been turned upside down in the fight that took place before we arrived.
My heart was in my throat as I peered around, terrified in ways I’d never been before. It was losing Grams, losing Nigel, losing a friendship I thought I had balled into one. It took every bit of my courage to walk around.
