Grace and Glory (The Harbinger #3) - Jennifer L. Armentrout Page 0,147

of the time alone. We watched several episodes of Fresh Prince. I got Zayne to drink a can of soda as we shared a bowl of superyummy berry-flavored Italian ice and then we shared ourselves with each other.

And as I dressed an hour before we were supposed to meet with everyone, I kept searching for Peanut. As I strapped on my daggers and then braided my hair, I listened to hear any sign of him. As we walked out the door, I stopped to look for him once more...just in case.

He wasn’t there.

* * *

The drive to the farmhouse was quiet, as was the walk to where we were supposed to meet the others. We held hands the moment we stepped out of the Impala, both reaching for the other at the same moment. When we neared the group, Zayne stopped us.

He kissed me.

And it was the kind of kiss that held everything we felt for one another. It was a kiss that was deep, claiming and carried a hint of desperation. It was a kiss that promised more—demanded more. I was a little shaken when he lifted his mouth from mine, and neither of us moved for a long moment. I think we both wanted to stay there, right there, but we couldn’t. We knew that, and we started walking again.

As Zayne and I approached them, I saw only Dez and Nic were there, standing as far away as they could from the other three. I really couldn’t blame them since one of them was Lucifer, who... I squinted. Who was apparently watching something on an iPad.

“You guys are here.” Nicolai turned to us, and there was no mistaking the relief in his voice.

“Where is everyone else?” I asked.

“We figured it would be better if the others hung back,” Nicolai explained, glancing toward the fallen tree Lucifer was perched on. “Less chance for things to go south.”

“It’s a good call,” Layla said. “His legion of unwanted houseguests is also staying back.”

“I don’t think any of that is really necessary,” Roth said. “Like Lucifer is even aware of what is happening right now.”

Lucifer didn’t even appear to hear us.

“He has earbuds in,” Zayne explained. “Let me guess—Supernatural?”

Layla nodded.

“I can’t believe Lucifer is sitting over there with an iPad,” murmured Dez. “This feels like a lucid dream.”

“The last several days of my life have felt like a lucid dream,” Layla replied.

Grinning at her, Roth then turned to me. “You ready to do this?”

My heart skipped a beat. “Yes. Is he?”

“He is. He knows the plan. Backup is here. Well, almost all backup.” Roth dragged a hand over the center of his chest. “Time to play.”

Wispy black smoke floated out from underneath Roth’s shirt, spilling into the air beside him. The shadows shifted into thousands of little black dots spinning in the air, like minicyclones.

Bambi was the first to come off his skin and take form. The giant snake immediately slithered her way over to Zayne and I.

Three shadows formed from the spinning beads, dropping to the ground—black, white and a mixture of both. Above them, I saw iridescent blue and gold...scales that appeared along the belly and the back of the dragon.

Holy crap, it was the dragon I’d heard about. Excitement filled me, because dragon.

My eyes widened as deep red wings sprouted, along with a long, proud snout and clawed hind legs. Its eyes matched Roth’s, a bright yellow.

But...but it was, like, the size of a small dog.

I looked down. Three kittens toddled about, one all white, one completely black and a third that was black and white. The white one pounced on the black-and-white kitten, knocking it over and falling over onto its back in the process. The black one jumped, sweeping at the baby dragon’s tail.

Slowly, I lifted my head to Roth. I’d never been more disappointed in my life.

“They don’t get out much,” he said with a shrug.

“Kittens?” I whispered. “And a baby dragon? Seriously? You brought kittens and a baby dragon as backup? Are they a snack for Bambi?”

The black kitten hissed at me.

“Just wait,” Layla said as Bambi slid over my foot, lifting her diamond-shaped head. I wasn’t sure what I was supposed to be waiting for as Bambi nudged my hand, obviously wanting pets. I patted her head, my hand freezing when the white kitten stretched out its teeny, tiny paws and yawned.

Actually yawned.

“Nitro’s just getting warmed up,” he said as Dez and Nicolai stared.

“Do you think they can speed this up?” Zayne said under