Now alive and near me, Jo and Cash encouraged me to draw on our bonds. I was so damn happy to see the rune back on my wrist and to know that Cash’s bond rune hadn’t faded. They’d come back to me. They were alive. I’d managed to defeat something as powerful and finite as death.
I was a motherfucking monster.
I gave everyone a kiss, ignoring the jealousy running rampant through my bond with Aram. But his thoughts were fully centered on making sure he never saw me hurt like that again. He didn’t care what it did to him. That gave me a little bit of solace as we hatched a plan to trap and kill the elusive Original bitch.
A stream of sweat chased the side of my face as I continued to freeze the world in little bursts. Even with the help of all three bonds, I couldn’t hold it like I had before. It still bought us extra time, though.
Everyone’s concern centered on me as they all worked together to set our trap. Hera wouldn’t be able to fight them all off, but it was better to not risk losing anyone. The stones were essential to the plan.
We’d trap her and then Jo would stab her with the daggers Aram gave me. She confirmed the poison was devastating to her kind, but she’d be careful. And if anyone was a total badass with daggers, it was Jo.
Rayis argued at first, but Jo said something he couldn’t refute. “My mother killed everyone you cared about, right? Let me make it right. Let me be the one to put the dagger in her heart. Her mind might be gone to chaos, but at one time she loved me. Maybe that’ll be the thing she remembers when death finally takes her—that it was her own daughter who landed the killing blow.”
Rayis hummed and cupped his chin. “Guess I can’t argue with the poetic justice of it all.”
Cash was placing the stones with Aram’s help, which made an odd pair. They weren’t fighting, either. Kate was surrounded by pixies with Big right next to her. They’d create a barrier to keep her from harm if things went sideways.
Phillip was next to me as I struggled to keep time frozen again. “Liebling,” he whispered, and I turned my head only enough to make it clear I was listening, “I need you to take Blood Slayer.”
I nearly lost concentration. “What? No. You need it. You nearly—”
Phillip grunted angrily and put the sword in my hand. “No, maus. This sword was meant to protect you, and I can’t lose you either.”
“You won’t,” Aram’s voice was behind me. “I made a mistake when I took her from you. I won’t make that mistake again, Hunter. On my honor as the king my kind chose even in death, I vow that with my final breath that I’ll protect her.”
Phillip lifted his gaze to the giant behind me. His jaw clenched, and I expected a taunt or goading statement, but he didn’t say anything in reply. He only nodded at Aram and then the sword. “Keep it with you, lass. Think of it as a favor to me.”
After grabbing me and giving me a quick kiss on my head, he walked away. Sloan replaced him and crossed his arms as Cash fiddled with a few extra items.
He stood next to me like the knight guarding my side. “Blink twice if you’re under a spell and need me to save you.”
I laughed, the sound of it foreign after everything. “It’s been a damn day, but I think I’m okay.”
“If you’re sure,” he murmured, then tossed me a charming wink.
Cash flicked his wrists and the stones glowed before disappearing. He’d positioned them around the spot Hera first appeared when she attacked. I eyed the clock and glanced over my shoulder. Aram caught my gaze and nodded.
“We have three minutes,” I shouted, and everyone moved into position.
Jo was oddly fidgety. Still, nothing but determination blazed in her stare. The gorgeous Fae wouldn’t hesitate to do what was necessary, and I didn’t doubt her for a second.
She’d been caught off guard by her mother in the first attack, so she was the first one Hera killed, but she’d fought with everything she had. Cash was second to die. Hera likely went after them first because they’d pose the most issue. They had the magic to rebuke her, and it’d taken quite a lot of time for her to defeat them both. Even caught off guard, they’d been formidable.
I did my best to dispel the images of them dead, but I feared I never truly would. What if time couldn’t be changed the way we thought? What if like fate they always met the same end? Was I about to watch everyone I cared about die again? My hands shook, so I made fists and tried not to think about what could happen.
Cash came to stand beside me, his fingers slipping between mine. “Are you ready, my dove?”
“As ready as I’ll ever be.”
Time crawled as we waited.
The minute Hera appeared in the spot she had before, the stones were meant to activate. They’d trap her long enough so Jo could destroy whatever aided in her protective magic and stab Aram’s mother’s dagger through her heart. It was covered in the only poison that killed them. Not great if they got turned on her, but Jo insisted on using them no matter how much danger they posed to her.
Guess I wasn’t the only one living with regrets today.
I stared at the clock in confusion. It was nearly three minutes past the time she was supposed to show up. I glanced at Cash,but he was staring at the spot, waiting for shit to start. Aram and his brothers were also wholly focused on the spot.
I looked around. Something was off. I could feel it in my gut. “Guys—”
