Page 56 of Hell Kissed

He leaves me, but also stays close. The space he clings to between him and me is very obvious.

He’s an asshole. Clearly. But he’s an attentive asshole.

So that’s something.

I shake my head at his bitter temperament and exhale the heavy sigh that’s clouding my lungs. My attention lifts to the fiery point in the distance where the red river kisses the crimson sky. My wolf hums to life within me, warming me to impossible temperatures as magic flares like a single sparkler at the center of my chest.

My eyes focus and unfocus. Then, a shift in sight comes together, heightening my vision, my hearing, my sense of smell, and all my senses.

And there it is. The river sways up ahead, drifting hard to the right where it rushes down faster and faster to an abrupt edge.

“A firefall.” A surprised breath of air escapes in a gasp.

Torben stops in his tracks with a wave of dust billowing around his hard warrior’s body. The corner of his lip twitches as his eyes shine brightly into mine.

“Just past the bend,” he adds to my statement.

I smile like I finally passed the shifter exam on the third try.

Pride blooms in my chest but the encouraging smile doesn’t linger on his hardened features.

“Keep moving,” he grumbles.

All the achievement in me rips away.

And I keep fucking moving.

* * *

My dawdling steps pick up the pace when that damn bend finally leads the four of us to the right. I even pass Torben in my excitement to see the bridge that leads us to the entrance of Hell.

“Slow down, princess,” he hisses.

“Slow down?” I turn to look back at the three men watching me with big, awestruck attention. “You’ve done nothing but bark at me to speed up this entire time!”

“Keep your voice down!” Torben warns on a hushed growl.

Latham’s brow lowers, and I’ve never seen him so serious before.

Then he’s running, his steps blaze over the ground with fire catching at his feet. Aric rushes forward as well, his eyes suddenly burning brighter than the sky light. Torben’s arm flexes as his fist lifts high, and I know he’s about to use the magic deep inside himself.

I just don’t understand why.

My boots stagger, and I come to full stop.

“Okay,” I whisper. “I’ll slow down. Calm your god complex already.” I lift my hands to placate the warrior and the two men who are now passing him in a blur of hellfire.

My heart pounds as a growl shakes through my chest. My wolf snorts with aggression. I can’t breathe. Something bad is near. I can feel it.

Sense it.

I look up toward Latham, but the beautiful, tormented man is no longer there. A wolf of flaming hellfire rips from his flesh. It lands on four giant paws that eat up the dry land, its claws slashing into the ground with every running step it takes. A vengeful growl parts its mouth with sparking fire roaring up its throat.

Fenrir.

Chapter Nineteen

The Guardians of Hell