Page 111 of Gray

“Might as well gear up and start patrolling.” Kyo turned around and started walking toward the porch. “Give ourselves a much-needed distraction from this loneliness bullshit.”

An hour later, we were driving down the road leading from the mansion, the windows rolled down in my truck and the radio turned off. Gray had said they couldn’t fly at warp speed or anything, but they could fly fairly quick.

Where was he now? Was he tired yet? Would Galen carry him when he needed his nap?

“Worrying about him will only make you sick,” Kyo said, glancing over at me from the passenger seat. “I’m usuallywithCastor when he goes to kick some ass, but sometimes you have to stay behind.”

“Why is it their responsibility to save everyone?” I asked, both angry and worried. Fucking terrified was more like it.

“Because if they don’t, who will?” A faraway look appeared in Kyo’s orange eyes, and his voice cracked as he added, “This is what it’s like to fall in love with a hero. They go off to save the world, and you pray like hell they’ll be okay.”

Chapter Seventeen

Gray

Waves crashed against the base of the cliff as rain pelted the dark water below us. The rumble of thunder grew louder, and the breeze whipped across my face, cold and wet. The fortress sat high atop a rocky peninsula, a looming figure overlooking the Scotland northeast coast.

“He doesn’t have a defensive barrier around the castle?” Bellamy asked. “That’s bold.”

“A barrier? No.” Alastair surveyed the narrow stretch of land leading to the fortress. In medieval times, Scottish castles had been built for defense and were meant to be impenetrable, often placed on cliffs with limited access. Not that it mattered to us. We had wings and could fly across. “But he’s not defenseless. There are guards. Demons.”

“I can take care of them,” Galen grumbled, cracking his knuckles. “Just say the word.”

“We have to be methodical in our approach, not impulsive.”

“I counted fifteen guards total.” Daman dropped down behind us, wings ruffling as they shook off the rain. He and Castor had lain low until we arrived, not making any moves. Only observing. “On the outside anyway. Movement from inside tells me there’s at least double that waiting for us past the front gate.”

“Look.” Raiden pointed toward the bridge. “Special delivery.”

Holden had appeared in the small courtyard in front of the entrance. The large door opened, and he was let inside, probably to deliver more souls. About a minute later, he exited the castle and blinked out of sight.

“See that?” Alastair asked.

“Holden being a traitorous bastard?” Bellamy scoffed. “Yeah, I’m fully aware.”

Our eldest brother rolled his eyes. “He couldn’t transport inside the castle. He had to be allowed in. There must be a protective shield around the fortress to keep reapers and demons from popping in unannounced.”

“Okay.” Castor tilted his head. “That’s important why? Not like we can transport.”

“True, but if there’s a shield, that means the moment any of us pass through, Belphegor will know.” Alastair frowned at the fortress. “The element of surprise will be lost.”

“What about a diversion?” Galen asked. “I could burst in and start tearing them to pieces at the same time Gray sneaks in upstairs. They’ll be too focused on me to notice him.”

“You want to use yourself as bait?” Alastair asked. “Absolutely not.”

“Do you have a better idea, Pride?”

“Have you forgotten your life force is connected to your mate?” Alastair countered. “If you go in there like a mindless beast and get yourself killed, Simon will die too. Is that what you want?”

That stopped Galen cold.

“Then I’ll do it,” Raiden said. “I’m not mated. If I go down, I’ll go down swinging. But I won’t take anyone else with me.”

“I don’t like this conversation,” I said from my spot on the wet ground. I was conserving energy. “I don’t want any of you to die. Let me be the only one putting myself at risk.”

“Fat chance of that,” Raiden responded, ruffling my hair.

A solemn expression crossed Bellamy’s face. “I can use my power and seduce them. Send them into a sexual frenzy. While they’re busy fucking my brains out, Gray can find his father.”