“We’ll figure it out once he’s safe.” Aura studied each of them. If the demon had already killed the Alpha, the leadership mantle would fall to Lennox. If things went south, she’d be depending on an inexperienced Alpha. Not optimal, but she didn’t see another option. She also didn’t want to rattle him, so she kept her concerns to herself. “You better rally the Pack, and we’ll see you soon.”
The two shifters walked around the building and pulled away in a white van.
Once she and Greyson were alone, her shoulders relaxed. As the adrenaline drained from her muscles, the weight of what was coming zapped her energy.
Without a word, Greyson wrapped her in his arms.
Her pride ached to shove him away, but her heart won out over her head as she slid her hands around his waist. She closed her eyes, breathing in his scent.
His voice vibrated against her cheek. “I called Caleb while you were on the phone. He’s on the way over here, with the Grail.”
She lifted her head, peering up at him. “I have every intention of living through this.”
“I know.” His crooked smile had her heart flipping like she was a schoolgirl instead of a hardened government agent. “And we probably won’t need it, but there’s no harm in having a backup plan, love.”
She’d told him to use that pet name. It was her idea. But she liked hearing him say it anyway.
“I guess not.” She forced herself to step back. “If you had known the cup would give you immortality before you took that first sip, would you have done it?”
He shrugged. “I was a thirty-something-year-old pirate. Probably?”
She nodded, imagining what eternity might look like.
She’d outlive her family, but realistically, she’d already lost them from her life. Even if she tried to reconnect with them now, she’d only be putting them in danger. She’d never want her work to put a target on their backs.
Agent Bale had his own antiaging magic, so he’d still be around, but what about the rest of her team?
Her gaze locked on Greyson. He’d still be there. And with time stretching out, no longer finite, she could learn new languages and see new technology. She’d be more valuable in her calling to protect Americans from paranormal threats.
The trade-off would be… “Why didn’t Colton take another drink when the effects were wearing off?”
“Love.” He rubbed his forehead. “Our quartermaster has always wanted a family. He and Skye want to be parents, and no parent wants to outlive their children.” Greyson met her eyes. “I don’t like to think about the days ahead when time steals him from us.”
Would she ever regret her decision not to have a family?
She didn’t think so. Her team at Department 13 was her family. Kingsley, Petra from the occult division, Agent Bale, and a few of the field agents were her only real friends anymore, and she’d never had a burning desire to be a mother or raise a family.
“Has immortality been everything you thought it would be?”
“I’m not sure yet.” His lips started to curve, just a hint of a smile as he looked at her.
She raised a brow. “What’s that mean?”
Her ears buzzed. She frowned, tugging at her earlobe.
Greyson sobered, coming closer. “You all right, love?”
“I…” The world tilted in slow motion, her stomach souring. “I’m not sure.”
A man came around the back corner of the warehouse, walking toward them with a sword in hand. The set of his shoulders and his short red hair were all familiar. Her ex-partner. Jones.
A tiny part of her had clung to the belief that she’d never see him again. Now that he was here, flashes of his tongue burning her skin and his eyes glowing red filled her head, spiking her adrenaline.
She wanted to run, but her legs wouldn’t move. Apparently her instinct about the Alpha had been right. Jones or Mamon or whatever he was calling himself wasn’t here to trade anything. As soon as Lennox had told him she was here, his plan was to come for her.
Shit. The wolf pack hadn’t arrived yet for backup. She needed to fight.
Her pulse raced as Greyson drew his weapon beside her. He said something to her, but she couldn’t make his words out through the hiss of loud buzzing in her ears. Her fingers twitched, aching to grab her gun while the whispers assaulted her, like bugs crawling over her skin.
Chosen-one-chosen-one-chosen-one-chosen-one-chosen-one.
Greyson fired three shots, hitting the man. Not a man, a demon, not of this world. Not her friend. Bits of gore splattered the broken pavement of the parking lot. It didn’t slow his approach.
Aura fought for control of her body, but the mental attack made it impossible. The sun glinted off the shiny steel of the sword. Two blades came together into one enchanted tip.
The Tyrfing.
Come on. Move! But her body didn’t respond. She winced as the hiss of the whispers increased until her head pounded.
Jones came closer, the blade sliding through a parked car like a heated blade through butter. The metal screeched as the top half slid backward.
Suddenly her legs moved, one step, and one more as she stumbled toward Jones and the sword. The fear of seeing Jones again crumbled under the weight of the mental anguish.
The pain was all-encompassing. She just wanted it to stop. She’d give anything to silence the whispers. Death might be the only way.
She lurched forward, but someone grabbed her wrist in a viselike grip. “Aura, no!”
A screech cut through the voices. She almost didn’t recognize her own voice as she struggled to break free of Greyson’s grasp, to get to the glorious blade. The hisses calling for the chosen one mutated into dark promises. Promises to end the pain, to silence the mental torture.
Freedom-rest-peace-chosen-one-come-come-come.
The whispers weren’t coming from the demon. This was the Tyrfing. It called to her. It needed her. She wanted to touch it. To bleed for it.
Jones stalked through the gate and into the parking lot. The buzzing was getting louder. Was she the only one who heard it?
She shivered, aching for the blade as she struggled to break free from Greyson’s grasp.
“Fuck,” Greyson grunted.
And suddenly she was upside down, staring at the ground as he tossed her over his shoulder and ran. The farther he got her from the Tyrfing, the quieter the voices became.
Chosen-one-chosen-one-chosen-one-peace-rest-freedom-blood-sacrifice-chosen-one-chosen-one-destiny-come-come-come.
But they were still there. Inescapable.