Page 99 of Daman

The door cracked open, and Warrin stepped into the room. After I told them about the incident with the man in the cave and what I believed it meant, he had traveled to the castle to speak to the king.

“Nikolai gave his approval of the mission, but he insisted we take a small force of warriors with us. He’s having a jet prepared for the journey.” He cocked his head to the side. “Are you all right?”

“I don’t know.” I brought my legs up and put my arms around them, making myself as small as possible. The urge to hide from everyone and everything gripped me. Old habits died hard. “Alastair is pissed. He doesn’t want us to go.”

“Probably because he’s not with you.” Warrin pressed a kiss to my shoulder. “He’s worried.”

“What if I’m wrong, War?” I whispered. “What if I’m leading us to our deaths or something?”

“I trust you.”

“Yeah, well, maybe I don’t trust myself. You should stay here.” A pang went through my chest at the thought of losing him. “Let me go alone.”

“Look at me.” He gently grabbed my chin and lifted my eyes to his. “I go wherever you go. To victory or to death, I’ll be by your side.”

“That’s supposed to make me feel better?” I unwound my arms from my knees and put them around him instead, tucking my head beneath his jaw. “If anything happened to you because of me, I’d never forgive myself.”

“And I’d never forgive myself if I let you leave without me. So, you see, we’re at an impasse.”

I sighed and pulled away from him. “You should pack a bag, then.”

Warrin tugged me back to him and kissed me. I melted against his soft lips. He broke the kiss and walked over to the closet without a word.

Bellamy appeared in the doorway. “Alastair’s blowing up my phone with texts and calls. I’m guessing he didn’t take the news well?”

“Not even a little bit.” I grabbed my bag off the bed. I had packed light. With luck on our side, we wouldn’t be there long. We’d find what we needed and get the hell out of there. “Meet me in the living room. I want to talk to all of you before we go.”

“I’ll tell the others.”

I walked downstairs and set my bag by the front door. My sword leaned against the wall, and I slid it into the sheath on my belt. I checked to make sure I had spare daggers tucked away before putting on the coat Kira designed. Then, I walked into the living room.

“So what’s up?” Castor asked, crossing his arms. Everyone had gathered around the couch. The only one sitting was Gray. “You wanna have a team chant or something before we set off on our quest for the mysterious key?”

“Smart-ass.” I trailed my gaze from him and Kyo to Gray, then to Bellamy. “Look. I’m not good at this shit. Getting sentimental isn’t my style. Like, at all.”

“Obviously.” Bellamy smirked.

“Shut up, pretty boy, and let me speak.” I paused to compose myself. “I know in my gut what I need to do. Dacia might not exist anymore in name, but the forest calls to me. That man, whoever the fuck he is, went out of his way to make sure I’d return someday. But that’s the thing.Ineed to go. You guys don’t.”

“Like hell we’re going to stay behind while you face Asa alone,” Bellamy said, his earlier smirk gone.

“Yeah,” Castor agreed. “You might be a grouchy asshole, but you’re my brother and I have your back, no matter what.”

Gray yawned and visibly fought to stay alert. “We’re coming with you. Deal with it.”

“And if this whole thing is a mistake? If I’m wrong? What then?”

“Then at least we would’ve tried,” Castor said. “Better than sitting around waiting.”

“What if something happens to you or Kyo? You guys are bonded now. If one of you dies, you both do. Are you really okay with risking that?”

“Not to be an ass,” Kyo interrupted, “but we’re grown-ass men and can make our own decisions. Red and I knew the risk of binding our souls, and we did it anyway. During a war. With the son of Lucifer on the rise. We’re not cowards. If we die, we die fighting.”

Castor pulled Kyo close and pressed his face into his mate’s black hair.

“I’m itching for a good fight,” Bellamy said, his grin returning. Lust didn’t only make him want sex. His bloodlust was strong too. Fighting and fucking were two of his favorite things.

Warrin stared at me, strong and silent. He was my rock in so many ways. Ways I never expected.