you.” Desperation was starting to play me hard. The vines had snaked around my ankles. I knew I should jump away, but I couldn’t be less than who I was. I realized in that moment that yes, I was going to be a mom, but I had to be me, too, and that meant fighting. My child didn’t need a mom who hid away. He needed a mom who would fight for his future, and there was zero question in my mind that his future would be less bright without the royal family on our side.
There was a pressure at my feet and I realized I was going to go under, too.
“Let me go, Kelsey.” Zoey had been clutching me but she let go now. “You have to stay and fight. I can survive. I still have Daniel’s blood inside me. It could work.”
I didn’t follow her orders. At this point I wasn’t even sure it would work since I was sinking like the ground beneath me was quicksand.
“I can’t,” I shouted. I looked back and Dev’s eyes were changing, the fight for control there in the deepening and relaxing of the color. “Bris, you helped me conceive this baby. Don’t let me lose him now.”
“Please, My Lord,” the queen beseeched. “You have always protected me. Protect us all.”
Dev’s eyes went completely green, the irises bleeding out, and it was like the air around us was suddenly normal again. The vines and grass receded and I pulled my feet out, grateful for the boots that kicked up that dirt with ease.
“I am so sorry, my goddess.” Bris was there, using his host’s strong body to lift the queen out of her temporary prison. He dragged her up and into his arms, cradling her gently.
The queen wasn’t so gentle. She wrapped her arms around him and pressed her lips to his. “My Lord, I am so grateful for you. Thank you. Don’t let go of your hold until we can help Devinshea.”
He smiled at her and his hand stroked dirt from her hair. “My host is in agreement, but let’s not talk about what could happen.”
Zoey shook her head. “Nothing’s going to happen. I love my husbands just the way they are.”
She could learn. All hail the fucking thrall stone. That would be the line we all would hold right up until we could get those fuckers out.
“Yes, god, hold the body because if you don’t and he fights again, I’ll rip his head apart to get that stone out of there.” Erna was walking up from the yard, a dark cloud around her.
I could feel the power coming off her in waves and knew we were in trouble.
* * * *
Zoey
I wanted a minute to appreciate the fact that I wasn’t in the ground. And maybe to make sure my now human husband wasn’t dead, but no, the witch had to get pissed off. Bris set me on my feet and I turned to Erna. “How about we take a minute?”
“How about someone help me out? This is cozy and all, but I would prefer being able to move,” a masculine voice said.
I turned slightly and if the situation had been different and we hadn’t had a majorly powerful witch breathing down our necks, I would have laughed because Dean was encased from the neck down in the shroud of vines. But Erna was getting closer and I was worried about what she might do. “My Lord, perhaps you could help our friend.”
Maybe Erna would be more willing to listen if Dean was safe. She’d said this was a delicate procedure, but she didn’t look like she was in a delicate mood. I’ve found with most supernatural creatures it’s all in the eyes. You can tell their mood from whether or not their eyes go freaky deaky. I’ve tried to explain to Kelsey that when she’s hangry, her pupils tighten up like she’s looking at everything and everyone as a potential food source. I felt a bit of that coming off Erna now. Her eyes were wide, the color changing from brown to black as she strode toward us. My head was still reeling and I needed to take a damn breath, but the day didn’t seem to be going that way.
The vines unwound from around Dean’s body and he tried to step in front of Erna.
She flicked her hand and he was tossed to the side.
Kelsey stepped up. My heart threatened to stop because she’d already put herself at