She shakes her head. “I’m not even immortal anymore. Sure, I have speed and strength. I can take a punch and land my own, but I don’t belong here, and Roland and Victorine are happy to prove it.”
“They’re scared,” Miya says.
“Of what?” She holds up her bandaged fingers. “Of my weaknesses?”
“Roland knows that you’re the link that binds us—probably not just us, this whole place. It’s why he’s fought against you this whole time.”
She looks up at me, under long damp eyelashes. “You really believe that?”
The tether between us warms, and I hate the doubt Victorine placed in her head. The doubt I probably put in her head. And the others, including fucking Marshal.
“I do.” The words come out strong. “And when Victorine comes after you again, and when she comes after the rest of us, which gods-assured she will, that bond will give you strength.”
She looks at each of us, and Agis and Miya, who look like they’re trying to process what’s happening. This woman, she’s the real key to winning this war, and we have to protect her with everything we have.
I stand, heart pounding, terrified and sure. Hildi watches me c
losely as I approach, and I hold out my hand. She takes it, and I pull her up, crashing her body against mine. Her eyes widen in surprise. I don’t blame her. Until this moment I’d been wavering. Unsure. But in this little tavern away from the noise of the school, I can feel it. Her.
I slide my hand behind her neck, pulling her mouth to mine. The fear, the dread, it all vanishes when her lips touch mine. Everything fades and the nausea in my belly subsides for the first time in weeks. Her lips are soft, her tongue bitter, tasting like the alcohol she’s been drinking. Her body is firm and strong.
I ache just holding her, but I will the desires of my body to settle down. I can’t embarrass myself again. The guys would never let me live it down and for this to work, we have to do it right.
I don’t want to, but I release her, locking eyes with Armin.
He doesn’t hesitate, closing the space between them. Their passion flickers when they look at one another. Ignites when their mouths crash together, and their hands run over each other’s bodies. They’re familiar. They’re consumed. They’re everything I want with her. The link between us rushes with pleasure, not jealousy, and it only confirms what I’ve known since the first time she kissed me.
This is right.
And what Victorine is doing to her is wrong.
And I’m going to do something about it.
18
Hildi
The room grows warm, but I don’t know if it’s the fire or my body reacting to the kisses from Rupert and Armin. Rupert may not have much experience, but his instincts are on point. The link between us only adds to the desire. Even if he’s intimidated, even if he’s scared, I know that he wants me. I can sense it.
Armin comes at me like a freight train. Hands wandering, mouth hard. His kisses make my panties wet, and if I didn’t think it would scare off the others, I’d yank his pants down right now and show him how much I need him.
Slow down, I tell myself.
Something epic is happening in this magical tavern. I can’t blow it.
I glance down at Armin’s waist. Gods, the things I want to blow.
The day had been humiliating. The moment with Marshal confusing. But this? What I’m feeling in this room? Morgan was right. Christensen was right.
Balance.
Bonding.
Mating.
With every kiss I feel stronger. With every touch, the pain vanishes in my back and knees from the day of hard labor. With every caress the grief from losing Andi, from losing my immortality, from losing control, vanishes.
Armin kisses me once more, letting his tongue linger against my lips, before stepping away, leaving me breathless.