cheerfully. “So you better go back to Hell quick and see what he wants. I think you’re in trouble.”
He snaps his eyes onto me. “I most certainly am not in trouble.”
“Are you sure about that?” I ask, working to keep my face perfectly serious.
Doubt and worry flash over his features for just a split second, and I nearly lose it right then and there. I think the corners of my lips twitch, because his expression turns pissed. “You’re a little shit, you know that?”
I chuckle. “You don’t wanna be late, Taz. You better hurry.”
“You’re just trying to get rid of me.”
I place a hand over my heart in mock offense. “Me? I would never.”
I hear a couple of the guys snicker, and Taz’s teeth clench. “This is why I never wanted progeny!” he complains before turning on his heel and stomping out of the room. “I will summon you at a later date!” he snaps before disappearing down the hallway.
“Can’t wait!” I call like a smart ass.
Iceman gives me a wry look. “You really love to push his buttons, don’t you?”
“Yep,” I say with a grin. “But I have to enjoy every little piece of happiness I can get, since it seems like my life isn’t going to be getting easier any time soon.”
The guys all surround me, like they’re silently offering me their support. “We’ve got your back. Every step of the way,” Iceman promises.
“I know,” I reply with a smile as I look at each of them and wonder how the hell I got so lucky to find them. I take a deep breath. “I guess we should go down to Hell’s Embrace? See if we can figure out whatever vague talk Nefta hinted at with the Hellgate?”
“Are you sure you’re ready?” Echo asks me.
“I have to be,” I answer honestly. “Our portal is fucked, and apparently, I can’t be a Gate Guardian, so I’m no help to you that way. My induction apparently did jack shit, but I’m not going to just leave the Gate and all of you vulnerable,” I say, shaking my head. No wonder I didn’t feel the attack the way they did. “I have to do something, or we could just get overrun again as soon as Morax regroups and starts building up his army again. We can’t waste any time.”
“Then let’s go,” Jerif says as he nods at me. “Call your scythe.”
I raise a brow at his bossy tone. “Aren’t you going to say please?” I say teasingly.
“No, but I’m sure you’ll be saying that later when you beg,” he replies, and fuck, his banter wins over mine. My cheeks go pink at the wicked promise, and the other guys all seem to be on board with Jerif’s plan, which reminds me of that group sex dream I had in what seems like forever ago.
Fix the Hell Gate.
Fuck the shit out of my demons.
Try not to get caught and used as a pawn in realm domination.
Sweet, looks like a pretty solid to-do list to me.
I exhale a steady breath and shake out my hands. I loosen up, dispelling the arousal that Jerif stirred in my belly, and focus on calling my scythe. Holding my right palm up, I get ready for her. “Come on, Red Queen! Let’s do this shit.”
My hand prickles, and then my scythe appears in all her bladed glory. I let out a shriek that takes the guys by surprise as I jump in the air with a huge victorious smile on my face. “Yes! I fucking did it! Did you see that? I called and she appeared, just like that!”
“We saw,” Jerif says dryly, rolling his fiery eyes. “Now let’s go.”
I follow him and the others out of the room, tsking at his surliness. “Don’t worry, Queen,” I say, petting her wood slightly. “Jerif is very impressed with us, he just isn’t good at showing his feelings.”
Iceman snorts beside me, while Echo and Crux snicker.
“Keep it up, Warrior Princess, and I won’t just have you begging later. I’ll be painting that ass of yours red, too.”
Dammit, now I’m horny again. This is gonna be a long walk to the Hellgate.
25
I exit the massive mausoleum that is Hell’s Embrace, and step out onto the path that leads to the actual Hellgate.
Luckily, the weird gong noise doesn’t go off like it did the first time I walked this path, so there’s no loud ass noise that rings out to deafen me. Which is a really good thing, because we’re on