Dark Champion (Flirting with Monsters #4) - Eva Chase Page 0,103
raise much protest, one familiar figure in the oncoming swarm stepped in front of me and swiveled to take in our audience.
It was the equines’ friend Cori. “This woman rescued me from the clutches of mortals who’d tormented me,” he shouted over the growing clamor. “She risked her life to break open our cages and usher us all to freedom.”
“She broke me out of a laboratory where I was being held,” another being piped up. “I would have died if the mortals had their way.”
More voices rose, one after the other.
“She fought through silver and iron to break us out and let us return home.”
“She burned the place where the mortals caged us so they couldn’t torture any more beings.”
“I thought I’d never reach the shadows again until she came for us.”
The lesser beings in the crowd of new arrivals chittered and barked in their own versions of language with what sounded like a cacophony of agreement.
A lump filled my throat. It didn’t seem possible that the equines could have rounded up every being I’d ever saved, and yet there were also dozens more here than I’d realized I’d rescued. All the collectors whose homes I’d slunk into, all the Company facilities we’d razed to the ground…
I guessed it had added up.
As the barrage of testimonials faded, Thorn cleared his throat. “And she took down the shadowkind responsible for encouraging the worst group of mortals in their horrific dealings—the sphinx called Tempest, which the Highest failed to subdue centuries ago.”
Omen took my hand and held it up as he had when he’d first reached me. “The phoenix has burned, and it is Sorsha, not Ruby, that remains. You can tell the Highest how badly they screwed up… or you can tell them, truthfully, that Omen the hellhound dealt with Ruby and no further threat from her remains.”
Another round of muttering commenced, but at least no one was waving an axe in my direction for the moment. Some of the minions pointed toward the ruined building, others toward the sky where I’d dealt out my flaming vengeance. Antic darted among them, tossing out interjections here and there as she saw fit. As we waited for the verdict, my fingers clamped tight around Omen’s.
Finally, a figure that must have been some sort of giant stepped to the fore of the crowd and raised his hand for silence. His voice carried through the lot.
“It is settled. We have witnessed that this being, whatever she is, destroyed those that threatened us. We witness that her fire has abated as the hellhound stands beside her. We will report to the Highest that he has fulfilled his duty and the danger is past.”
Then, as elation welled up behind my ribs, he caught my gaze and dipped his head in a slight but unmistakable bow.
The horde vanished into the shadows in a wavering surge. I stared, half afraid to move in case my legs failed to hold me.
“It’s over?” I said to Omen. “No more bounty on my head?” I lowered my voice. “No more deal hanging over yours?”
The hellhound shifter laughed. “It would appear that way. Let’s wait and see if the Highest send their minions charging back after all. But I think you may just have pulled off the greatest heist of your career, thief.” He offered a quiet smile that was just for me. “You stole back both our freedoms from the most powerful beings in existence.”
Ruse clapped his hands, a smirk curling his lips. “And I’d say this calls for a celebration. Come on, Miss Blaze. Wait until you see what we’ve done with the Everymobile now!”
“Sweet scintillating seahorses, do I even want to ask?” I shook my head with a disbelieving chuckle, pulled my best friend and my lovers close, and set off to see what the road ahead would hold.
28
Not quite one year later
Sorsha
It was never a bad idea to blow off some steam before a heist. You wanted to go into the operation with a clear head and absolute focus. And, lucky me, I now had four sexy shadowkind to contribute to the blowing and the steaming—generally by indulging in all the fun and thrilling ways our bodies could come together.
I’d never get tired of the way Omen’s breath broke when I slicked my tongue around his cock, I guarantee. The hellhound shifter’s brimstone scent laced his nether regions with a sharper smoky tang that was nearly as delicious as hearing him come apart under my attentions.