one of the things I loved so much about him. He found humor in mischief.
And we were about to be steeped in that and so much more.
“About that plan,” Oz said, pulling me into one of his beloved ‘sidebars’, “exactly how the fuck do you think this is going to work? I doubt you can draw them out. Surely they’ll think it’s a trap.”
“I do not plan to draw them out,” I said plainly. “I plan to break down the gates and storm their lands.”
He stared at me for a moment, concern in his eyes as he searched my face for something he clearly could not find. “Jesus, Khara…you’re not kidding.”
“I do not ‘kid’, Oz. Not about battle.”
“Or virtually anything else.”
“No, I do. Or have you already forgotten the blowjob comment from earlier?”
“Blowjob?” Casey growled as he stormed back into the room.
“Not the time to play the overbearing brother card, Casey. Besides, it was only a quick one.”
Oz’s words did little to help calm my brother.
“The plan requires me to go in first,” I said, knowing that would draw their attention back to the matter at hand. “It also requires those of you that cannot fly to be carried.”
The Dragon once again emerged from the shadows. “I will carry them on my back. You will need Oz at your side should things go awry.”
“And what about the fucking Dark Ones?” Casey asked. “We’re to trust that they’re not going to pull some shady shit once we get in—if we get in?”
“Of course not,” I replied, “but that is a problem for after. Kaine still wants my help, and to ensure it, he will not harm any of you. He is well aware of those terms, so I do not believe he will be a problem.”
“And his bitches will do as he says, so we’re good,” Oz added. “For now.”
“Then let’s get this shitshow on the road,” Casey said, heading for the door. Kierson and Pierson followed close behind him, with the Dragon tailing them. Only Drew stopped before me, hesitation plain in his eyes.
“Are you sure this is the only way?” he asked. “For you to go in first?”
I placed my hand on his shoulder and pulled him closer. “You have always watched over me, Drew. From the moment we met, you have done nothing but your best to ensure my safety. Know that has never gone unnoticed or unappreciated, Brother.”
“That’s not an answer,” he said, his expression hardening to the leader I had once known before his life had been lost, then reborn.
I clasped the back of his head and pressed his forehead to mine. “It was not meant to be.”
“Khara—”
“Know that I am PC, as you are, Drew. And I will not fail you.”
He did as I had done and cupped the back of my head. “You never have…”
He held me for a second longer before releasing me to join the others. Only Oz and I remained.
“You can’t trust Kaine.”
“I am well aware of that.”
“The Light Ones won’t go down easily.”
At that, I smiled. “I do not want them to. I want them to fight with their whole beings. I want their deaths to be earned.”
“You’re gonna keep this one interesting, aren’t you, new girl?”
I looked up at him to find mischief in his eyes.
“That, I can guarantee.”
We met the others outside and flew to the Victorian, where Kaine and his legion of Dark Ones waited in the shadows, wings out and ready. My brothers and the Dragon formed a line behind Oz and me, prepared to go to war should Kaine make a wrong move. I hoped for his sake he did not.
“This is all you plan to bring?” he asked, eyeing my reinforcements as though they were insufficient.
I canted my head. “Are they all you plan to spare?”
Anger blossomed in his expression. “I have brought every Dark One in existence,” he said, his gaze darting to Oz, “except for him—and you, of course.”
“Can we skip the ‘whose army is bigger and badder’ portion of this conversation?” Oz said in a put-upon tone. “Because all that will lead to is Casey going postal and a dick-swinging contest that will end with your hurt feelings when I whip mine out. So, if we could just take to the sky and get this insanity over with, that’d be great.”
Kierson chuckled behind me while Kaine glared at Oz and Casey grumbled something about being all the army we needed. I realized that Oz’s crude analogy had not been far off