Wicked Road to Hel (League of Guardians 1)

She groaned at the complexity of her situation and ran a tired hand across her brow. “Is it done already?” she asked, and the room fell to silence once more. Kaden’s gaze slid away but Nico’s hard stare held firm. The jaguar nodded and glanced toward the darkened windows.

“He met with Cale over an hour ago,” Nico said.

“What of Samael?” she asked. “What is his part in all of this?”

“That I can’t speak to,” Nico admitted, “but all is not what it seems.”

Ana’s mind continued to work through a hundred scenarios. “And you’re cool with him out there, alone?”

“No, I’m not cool with it.” Nico’s eyes narrowed and he ran his hands through the thick blue Mohawk that sat atop his head. “It was the only option.”

Ana stepped around the mess on the floor and spat, “Yeah, well, that option stinks.”

She stared out the window and watched the splatter of rain against the glass. Her eyes slid shut and she smiled as the scent of earth, rain, and Declan assaulted her. She felt that, if she tried hard enough, she could feel his warmth against her skin.

She would do whatever it took to have that feeling again.

Long moments passed and eventually Nico left.

“Will he be all right?” Kaden asked. The teen had grabbed a broom from the pantry and was cleaning up her mess.

Ana grabbed a bag and together they had the floor clear of glass in no time. “I don’t think so,” she answered simply.

How the hell did Declan think he was going to sneak into the Hell realm and rescue two teenagers from the clutches of the underworld on his own? Was he insane? Did he care so little for his own life?

Guilt nibbled at her. Ana found herself staring into the dark once more. She’d hurt him the night before. She’d rejected him and knew it had cut deep.

How could it not? She felt the scars as if they’d been slashed into her own flesh. She’d sent him below as surely as if she’d stood behind and pushed him.

“I wish there was something we could do.” Kaden threw the last remnants of debris into the bag and straightened.

Ana stared at the teen as a plan began to form. She needed to make things right. Needed for Declan to know how much he meant to her even if she could never have him.

Most of all she needed to know he would survive, and as far as she could tell, his chances of that were less than slim, unless he had help.

There was no way she’d let him do this on his own. It might not end well for either one of them, but at least they’d be together. For that chance she would risk her life. She glanced at Kaden. With Cale and Nico involved, she knew he’d be safe.

“Maybe we’re not as helpless as we think,” she murmured.

“What do you mean?”

Ana’s brow furled and she bit her lip. “You need to get me out of here.” Her words were low and they shook slightly as she stared at Kaden. She saw a flicker of fear in his eyes.

“Declan will freak, I . . .”

She pounced as his voice trailed into nothing. “Can you get me out of here? Are you strong enough to break through his charm?”

Kaden was silent and then nodded. “I think I can.”

“Think?” she repeated. Ana glanced at the kitchen and then lowered her head until she was inches from the teenager. “I need more than think.”

Kaden stared at her, his eyes intense. “Declan is strong but I’ve been practicing.” He ran fingers through his hair. “Are you sure? If something happens to you . . .”

Ana put her hands on his shoulders. “If something happens to him I may as well run a stake through my heart. I hurt him last night.” She shook her head. “I need to make him understand.”

“I’ll do my best.”

“Thank you,” she whispered.