Page 115 of Galen

“What?” Raiden asked. “You’re joking.” But he lowered us back to the ground.

Galen snarled as he shoved against Bellamy and Daman, his gaze still on me.

“It’s okay,” I said, tapping Raiden’s arm. “Let me go.”

Though reluctantly, Raiden stepped away from me. I returned his sword to him before walking forward, passing Reptile Kyo and a solemn Alastair. All eyes were glued to me. Maybe I wasn’t brave or strong when it came to fighting demons. But if I could save Galen, that’s all that mattered.

Please let me save him.

Galen threw the two warriors off him before striding toward me, his eyes pitch-black and his teeth bared.

Was a part of me scared out of my wits? Fuck yeah. However, a bigger part knew he wouldn’t hurt me.

I stopped about a foot in front of him, but he kept walking. He grabbed my arm and yanked me closer. From the corner of my eye, I saw Castor move toward me. Galen growled at him and gripped me tighter, his fingertips digging into my bicep.

“Stay back, Cas,” I said, keeping my voice steady.

When I spoke, Galen stopped growling and cocked his head at me. His hand slid from my bicep and up the side of my neck while the other moved to my waist.

“Hey, you,” I said, placing my hand on his chest. Sweat, blood, and dirt coated his bare upper torso, but he didn’t look to be hurt at all. His heart beat quicker beneath my palm. “The fight’s over now, big guy. The demons are gone.”

A low whine sounded in his throat as his black eyes studied my face.

“Do you remember the night you first took me flying?” I asked. “I was scared shitless, but you wrapped me in your arms and never let me go.” I slid my arms around him, my heart clenching as the scent of sandalwood and citrus enveloped me. “And I’m not letting you go now.”

His wings came around me, and he nuzzled the side of my head, another whine reaching my ears. I focused on the softness of his feathers as they brushed against my skin. It was dark in the cocoon he’d created with his wings, but I could faintly see his face. Black eyes held my gaze as I touched the edge of his mouth. Blood dripped from his lips. Like he’d bitten someone. Or torn them apart.

I loved Galen. When he was grumpy and stubborn. When he was playful. When he made love to me hard, when he took me slow. I loved every part of him. And that included Wrath.

“Let’s go home,” I whispered.

Chapter Twenty-One

Galen

Kill.

That one word had echoed through my head for what felt like hours. Killing was all I knew. All I craved. Screams of terror. The metallic taste of blood as I ripped an enemy’s throat out with my teeth. The erratic thrumming of a pulse beneath my fingertips as I squeezed the life out of someone.

But then I’d heard a voice that jolted something inside of me, and another word filled my head:mine.

“Let’s go home.”

I stared into the sweetest face I’d ever seen. His sandy-brown hair was disheveled, and blood was speckled on his cheeks. His sweater was torn and covered in filth. And then… the scent of rain.

“Simon,” I murmured, lightly touching his jaw, unsure if he was real or not. My voice was raspy. Deep.

He beamed with a smile as his hazel eyes filled with tears. “Yeah. It’s me.”

I crushed him to my chest and softly whimpered as his warmth seeped into me. I’d been cold for so long. Numb. But he brought life back into me. With my arms snug around him, I spread my wings and lifted us into the air. Other sets of wings followed behind us, but I paid them no mind.

I didn’t focus on anything but the beautiful male in my arms.

Mymale.

My memory was fuzzy. Where we were, what we were doing, all of that was a mystery. But my body moved on its own, guiding me toward the trees on the other side of the castle.

“The portal will close soon,” a familiar voice said as I dropped down in the forest beside a faintly shimmering stone. “Once it does, we’ll be stuck here. We need to hurry.”