Seeing the vampires hanging with the shifters and trolls, Ophelia remembered just how unstoppable the unit was. To face the full force on the battlefield? Certain death.
She and Vivi reached the town square. The shops had yet to open, but it hardly mattered. Considering the number of harpies and consorts who had walked the streets every day for centuries, muddying the scents, Ophelia would be harder to track here. So far, so good.
“Well?” Vivi demanded. “Start talking. Leave nothing out.”
She spilled everything. By the time she finished, her friend was agog.
“Time loops, monster mashes, and sexy times. Oh my!” Vivi jumped over a fallen branch from the Tree of Skulls. Best friends rocked. You didn’t have to waste valuable moments with disbelief. “You get to add your new, special skill to your résumé. Something no one else can ever claim. You’ve died saving the Astra three times. Do you know what this means?” She nudged Ophelia’s shoulder as they power walked the abandoned streets. “I get to be proud of myself. I picked the winning horse the day I saved your life and let you become my best friend. You’ll spit out a brood of ginormous Astra babies, and I’ll be the amazing aunt who pretends to hate babysitting while teaching the little fiends how to make their father’s life miserable. And don’t try to talk me out of that. He deserves it for killing you.”
Her wings fluttered with...something. The thought of kids. With Halo. A family of her own. More pleasure. Deeper connection.
Her cheeks burned as they turned a corner and slipped down an alleyway. Considering making babies with the guy she’d known for a millisecond—who’d killed her twice—was too much, even for her. Right? Yes? Maybe?
“What’s the plan?” Vivi asked.
“For you, a trip to the library. Grab a book that details Hercules’s labors.” Lion, hydra and then...hind? “And, I mean, since you’re gonna be there, you should probably pick up something about how to properly train a house-robot. It’s information I need for the task, and that’s all I’m going to say on the matter. I’ll be waiting for you in Haronly.”
Harpies—only. A pocket subrealm newly created by the Astra at Taliyah’s insistence. The garden oasis was touted as a refuge for harpies. An Astra-free zone. An unauthorized entry served as a declaration of war. The sole entrance was located on the outskirts of the town square, near the trinite wall. Ophelia had never desired to go. Until now.
“Um, defensive much?” Vivi asked.
They turned another corner—and drew up short. The dark-haired, mercury-eyed Astra loomed ahead, on patrol with a unit of soldiers. Silver noticed them. Because of course he did.
A hulking tower of disapproval, he sent the unit onward and flashed closer. “These streets are closed to citizens this morning. You will leave, or I will make you.”
“Will you use your words to make me or your big, strong muscles?” Vivi twirled a lock of hair and smacked her lips. “No pressure, but my response kind of depends on yours.”
Silver’s scowl downgraded into a frown rife with confusion. Not used to dealing with harpies? Helpful hint: always expect the unexpected.
He focused on Ophelia, then canted his head with inhuman grace. Something Halo did as well. A learned trait? “You match the description of the one Halo searches for,” he said. “Your friend will leave, and you will stay.”
Stupid telepathy. No doubt Silver had already informed Halo, who would arrive—
Halo arrived. He was a live wire of aggression as he materialized beside his comrade. No blank mask today. He glared at Ophelia, the trinite collar dangling from his grip.
Her heart kicked into overdrive, her inhalations shallowing. Smoked cherries and sandalwood. Heat. Her downfall. Familiar tremors set in.
“We have much to discuss, harpy.” A muscle jumped in his jaw, his biggest tell. Huge mad.
Too bad. “Sorry, sport, but I’m taking a breather from you today.”
Silver glanced between them. “Perhaps I should take the female—”
“The female is mine,” Halo snarled, and oh, wow, he looked close to drawing a sword on his friend.
Okay, how hot was that?
He reached out to clasp her hand, and she flinched from his touch, despite her low-simmer of arousal. An automatic and instinctual reaction as her mind shouted, Attack!
His brows dropped low, and his body tensed up. He fisted his hands.
“I see why you admire him,” Vivi said, fanning her cheeks.
That’s my cue. “Don’t forget my books,” Ophelia called, shooting off faster than a bullet.
Big surprise, Halo gave chase. “The farther you run from me,” he bellowed, “the worse your punishment will be.”
She almost laughed. “You gotta catch me first.”
He reached out. She sensed and dodged. He flashed, but she detected a disturbance in the air before he landed and evaded. Any time he made contact, she slipped free. Something had come over her. A burning force. The strength she’d earned with each transformation?