Shade dipped his chin. “Yes. Lucifer already gave you entry as a marked abomination. As you’re probably aware, he has a soft spot for them.” His gaze lifted to mine. “Which is how I negotiated your entry as well. Zeph was the primary issue.”
“Well, in that case, I refuse my meeting with Lucifer and Zeph can stay here,” Zakkai replied.
Aflora bristled in my arms, her attention shifting from Shade to the Quandary Blood. “Kai.”
“I’m joking, little star.”
“Hilarious,” Zeph deadpanned. “Can we go now? The defenses are beginning to fail again.”
Aflora nodded. “Yes, I feel them crumbling.”
“Shade?” Zakkai prompted.
“Already working on it.” The Death Blood’s voice sounded strained, his eyes closing on a grimace.
Frowning, I locked into my link with him and noted his waning energy reserves. You need more power.
He grunted in reply, our mental connection firmly intact even at the first level mate bonding.
Take some vitality from me,I told him.
You’re not the one I need to tap into, he replied, shutting me out with a click of a door.
I scowled. “Don’t be a stubborn dolt,” I told him out loud since I couldn’t voice it in his mind. I didn't know how he blocked me out, but it was a trick I wanted to learn.
“Fuck off, Kols,” he gritted out.
“Shade,” Aflora said, slipping away from me to reach for him. “What do you need?”
“Power,” I answered for him. “His reserves are depleted from whatever he’s been doing for the paradigm.”
“I’m fine,” he snapped.
“You’re not fucking fine. You’re on the verge of passing out.” This whole solitary operation needed to stop. we were a unit now—all of us—and it was time we all accepted it. “Let us help you, Shade. We’re your mates.”
“He’s right,” Zakkai said, surprising me. “You’re hurting all of us by saying you’re fine when you’re not. Do you need Aflora’s blood?” He studied the other man. “Yeah, that’s what you need. Not much, just enough to push forward.” He nodded to Aflora. “Don’t let him refuse.”
She grabbed Shade before he could even try to argue, her lips finding his on a demanding kiss. A hint of metallic blood tinted the air, suggesting she’d bitten her tongue prior to embracing him. His responding groan confirmed it, his arm circling her waist as he indulged in the essence that she fed him. Zeph’s arm came around my upper body in a partial hug, his chest meeting my back. I relaxed into his familiar embrace as Zakkai moved forward.
A black cloak whirled around us all a half a beat later as Shade engaged his ability to shadow.
My stomach rolled with the sensation of moving through space and time beneath his enchantment.
Then goose bumps prickled my arms as we landed on a dusted path of embers and charcoal fibers.
Hell Fae Realm, I thought, wincing at the heat blazing around us. My grandfather certainly wouldn’t track us here, not with the blistering magic and underlying cruelty in the air. He also wouldn’t be welcome.
However, it was rather fascinating that Lucifer had allowed Zen to build a paradigm here.
Hell Fae weren’t known for their kindness. She’d either traded him something extremely valuable, or they had some sort of unique arrangement.
Quandary Blood were extremely powerful. The Hell Fae King would find that useful.
Shade released Aflora’s mouth as we all materialized, a sigh of content coming from his lips. The familiars appeared shortly after, his spell having captured them as well. Or perhaps they’d followed on instinct. Familiar magic was unique in how they could appear and vanish at will.
“The entrance is just over there.” Shade gestured with his chin toward an obsidian arch. “A set of gates will exist on the other side. They’ll remind you of the other Academy, but once you enter, you’ll immediately sense the difference. All the excommunicated Midnight Fae—at least the ones who chose not to follow Laki—and creatures reside in there. It’s sacred and deadly and very well protected. So any ill will won’t be taken lightly.”
“You act as though we plan to burn it down,” Zakkai drawled. “I’ve visited your grandmother before, Shade. Just recently, if you recall.”