dozen witches could easily create an army of one hundred.
The mood had been low since then, partly because of his announcement and the discussion that had followed it, and partly because of the damned cold. Life in their draughty cave was taking its toll on everyone, but so far no one had opted to teleport away from the area to get warmed up and get some proper sleep. None of them were willing to leave just in case the witch attacked or ran while they were gone.
All of them wanted in on this fight.
Hartt grunted and pressed his hand to his chest, fought the twisting mass of darkness that writhed in his soul and reached for his bond with Fuery. He had sent his friend back to the guild when they had reached this location two days ago and he had seen how on edge he was. Fuery had been reluctant to leave, but Hartt still believed it had been the right move, something his friend only proved correct as the oily tendrils of darkness crept outwards in response to Fuery’s unrest. He breathed a little easier as they slowly settled again, as the darkness calmed in time with the feelings coming through his connection with Fuery.
“Not going murderous psychopath on me again, are you?” Mackenzie’s voice warbled in his ears, light but laced with a wary edge, and he shifted his focus to her, felt her concern as it flowed into him.
He grimaced and shook his head, wrestled the darkness back under control and straightened. “Fuery is still… Hopefully Shaia can calm him.”
Because Hartt wouldn’t say no to his friend being here. He didn’t want to risk Fuery, didn’t want him fighting if it would only push him into the darkness, allowing it to seize him, but he also wanted to strengthen their numbers.
He tensed as he sensed something, twisted to his left to face the cave and growled when he spotted the silhouette of two figures—one decidedly female, and the other an enormous male.
He grabbed Mackenzie’s hand and teleported on another growl, rushing to join the others and help them fight the intruders.
When he landed on the broad ledge with her, his senses blared a warning and he leaned back, shoving Mackenzie out of the path of danger. He grunted as a meaty fist swung at him, barely evaded the blow and sank to his haunches in front of Mackenzie as she hit the ground. He shielded her with his left hand, telling her to stay down, and issued a mental command to his armour, so it formed talons over his fingers as he prepared for a fight that looked as if it was going to be brutal.
“Frey!” a high female voice snapped.
One he recognised.
The huge brute of a demon male who towered over him as he protected Mackenzie twisted away from him, revealing the female.
Long snow-white hair, ethereal blue eyes, curves clad in cerulean leather that matched the trousers the demon wore.
“Isla,” Grave growled before Hartt could think her name, rounded the small fire that blazed in the heart of the cave and stormed towards her. “I sent word telling you to remain away from here.”
“And I received that word.” She turned on her mate, and Hartt shivered as the air chilled around her. “And here I am, come to ensure you do not dare issue me such orders in the future.”
It was cold enough already. He didn’t need a phantom sucking what little warmth they had from their makeshift base of operations. He remained crouched in front of Mackenzie, acting as a shield between her and the six-eleven wall of muscle that cast another glance at him, a battle hunger shining in his pale blue eyes. The demon wanted a fight.
Hartt wasn’t about to give it to him. He needed to conserve his strength for the battle that lay ahead of him, wasn’t interested in weakening himself by obliging the demon.
“You brought backup with you. Expecting a fight from me, my love?” Grave eyed the demon, his ice-blue irises ringed with crimson.
Isla folded her arms across her chest, her pale skin stark against her blue leather corset. “No. I tracked you, saw through your eyes where you were, and Frey offered to provide the transport.”
“You agree with this plan of hers?” Grave peered past his mate to the demon.
Frey grunted. “No… but you are well aware that once Isla has her mind set on something, there is no deterring her.”
His mouth flattened, and then twitched into