between Realm and demon headquarters with top-of-the-line machinery. That’s where I wanted to go, anyway.”
“There’s no time for helicopters,” Ronan said, tucking his gun at the back of his waist.
Ivar evaluated the group and who had the ability to teleport. “Okay. Mercy, you take Grace, and Logan, you get Garrett.” The fairy was strongest, but Logan had gained some of her teleporting powers after mating her. “Adare? You get Promise and me.” He could help her shield herself from Adare but probably not Mercy at this point after having her mind attacked all day via training. “And Benny? You can take Ronan and Faith.” He figured Ronan wouldn’t let anyone take Faith without him.
“Ah, shit,” Ronan muttered.
Benny rubbed his hands together. “I can do this. No problem.”
Adare shook his head. “Grace is coming with me. I can take all three of you.”
Ivar wouldn’t let Promise teleport for the first time without him, and Adare had a right to protect his mate. Teleporting three people would tax the Highlander, but it was his decision.
Mercy pouted. “I want to take somebody. It’s not fair, otherwise.”
Ronan pushed his mate toward Mercy. “She’s safer with you, Mercy. If Benny dumps me in an ocean, you’d better come looking for me.”
Mercy grinned and slapped an arm over Faith’s shoulders. “Hey, Doc. Want to stop off in Paris for a quick shopping spree for some new boots?”
Glee filled Faith’s face.
“No—” Ronan started just as Benny jumped forward and hit him in a tackle, tumbling them toward the ground and then disappearing.
Promise let out a gasp from across the campground and then dropped to her butt on the stairs, her eyes wide and her chin lowering.
Ivar moved toward her across the uneven ground. There wasn’t time for shock.
She lifted her head and watched him. He’d expected fear after the way he’d treated her earlier. Color infused her face. No fear. Not even warning or uneasiness. Instead, she watched him walk, her gaze intense. She licked her bottom lip. Holy shit. She was scrutinizing him like he was a chalkboard covered with equations. Trying to figure him out and solve him.
The woman should be scared shitless.
Instead, she stood as he got nearer, her blood pumping faster than usual. He could hear it. “We’re going to have a crash course in mind shielding and teleporting.” He paused in front of her. “Adare will take us, and since he’s teleporting three of us, it’s going to be bumpy. It’ll take longer than usual, but don’t be frightened.”
Excitement lit her brown eyes.
“Are you up to shielding some more today?” he asked. They’d already asked a lot of her brain for one day.
She nodded, her gaze moving past him to where Adare had fetched Grace from her cabin. The young woman was drawing on a jacket, her hazel eyes serious. “Why can’t I bring my camera?” she asked as they approached.
“Metal doesn’t teleport,” Adare said. “Unless you’re with a Fae. Somehow they can do it.” He’d obviously removed his gun and knives. Then he paused about three feet away. “Promise? You good?”
She rubbed her temple. “Slight ache but not bad. I’ve been practicing shielding all day while working on equations.”
Adare grasped Grace’s bicep and smoothly swung her onto his back. “I need you to hold on, sprite,” he said, manacling her wrists at his clavicle with one wrist. “Secure your ankles together at my waist.”
The woman did so, setting her head on his shoulder and turning her face into his neck.
His eyes darkened, and he exhaled sharply. “You’re safe, Grace. I won’t let you be harmed.”
They made a nice couple. Why the heck didn’t they see that? Ivar pulled Promise in front of him and wrapped both arms around her waist, plastering her body to his. They both faced Adare. “You can hold on to my thighs, sweetheart.” Ivar had her arms trapped.
She dug her nails into his cargo pants, her body trembling with what was probably anticipation. Maybe a little fear. “What should I do?” she whispered.
“Nothing,” Ivar said. “There’s nothing you can do once we go. Just hold on and trust me.” He nodded to Adare. “You ready?”
The Highlander cocked his head. “As ready as I’ll ever be. Brace yourself.” Then he charged.
Chapter Twenty-Six
Adare hit Ivar in the shoulders right above Promise’s head, not touching her in the slightest. Then no sensation. Darkness pressed in, and then a heaviness, followed by an unbelievable weightlessness, and finally pure light.
Her vision focused first. She stood on a thick lawn next to a