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“One of us needs a blood link with you, Ember,” Gabriella says. “It needs to be me, and before we leave.” I open my mouth to argue, and she cuts me off. “You faced Jeremy and sent him running. I’m not afraid of the bond, but I’m the right choice. I’m the water to your flame.”

“I’ll do it,” Zeke interjects. “I’m personal guard to Micah. She’s linked to him, which means I’m now her personal guard as well.”

“Why don’t we all just fucking link up?” Silas says. “If she turns into a demon, we’re better off three against one anyway. If she doesn’t, we have a badass bitch on our side and at our beck and call.”

“You’re all crazy. No.”

“Yes,” they all say at once.

Blades appear in all of their hands, and they slice their palms, blood pooling red and beginning to roll across their skin. “No,” I say firmly. “No.”

“You going to let us bleed out?” Silas challenges. “Hurry up, Ember.”

“Damn it,” I mutter as the blade at my thigh radiates with magic, as if it’s insisting I act. I huff out a breath and remove the blade, slicing my palm, the sting biting. “Now what?” I ask as my own blood blisters up beneath the cut.

They all begin touching my hand with theirs, and when it’s done, they chant a spellcast over and over until the wounds seal and a tattoo appears on my arm. I’ve never actually paid much mind to what it is, but now I do. It’s a circle with a star inside, and mine, unlike theirs, glows crystal blue. I’m wildly comforted by that blue, as it tells me I’m still Nephilim, not demon. And these three amazing people just gave me three more reasons to make sure that stands. A soft howl of approval from Sara rises from within me.

Gabriella throws her arms around me and whispers, “I’m so proud of you for what you did today.” She disappears.

“I’m going to hug you, too,” Silas says, pulling me close. “You got this. We got you.” He, too, disappears.

Zeke is the only one left. “You’re better together, but keep it the two of you. Leave Jeremy out of it.”

“I will,” I say, and he motions to the door. “Now go take care of him.” He disappears. No hug from the warrior, but there is respect, and I believe he’d die for me. I need to show him the same is true of me.

I draw in a deep breath and open the bedroom door to find a room that matches my own. My heart squeezes as my gaze lands on Micah, where he rests propped up on a pillow, the sheet low on his naked, muscled torso. He’s pale, so very pale, so very unlike the fierce warrior and Crystal Seer who’s trained me to fight and survive. But he’ll be fine, I tell myself. He’ll survive. Healing is a process, even for an ancient immortal, but I burn with a deep need to ensure he’s on the right path. I spellcast a hot bath and fill it with soto, crossing the room to sit next to him, the raised scar on his side a reminder that he has a deep wound that will take time to mend.

I rest my hand on his wound, his skin warm beneath my touch. He put himself in Jeremy’s path to protect others, to save me. He’s a part of me, connected in ways I didn’t know possible. Micah shifts slightly, and his eyes open, a sea of crystal blue, and happiness swells inside me, my eyes pinching with unshed tears. “Hi,” I say, that one word laden with emotion.

“Hi,” he murmurs. “You saved my life.”

“I kind of owed you.”

“You never owe me, Ember.”

“I do.” My hand settles on his chest, his heart thundering wildly beneath my palm, and I wonder if he’s reacting to the healing process or me. Or maybe both? “I owe you so much.”

“You did good, sweetheart. You stood against him.”

“I didn’t kill him, though. I tried.”

“I didn’t kill him, either. We will.”

I like the “we” in his words so very much. I don’t think I really knew how alone I was until Micah, Sara, and his little circle came into my life. Even the house feels like a friend. “I ran you a bath with soto,” I say, “just like you did me when I was injured.”

One corner of his mouth barely twitches in a weak attempt at a smile. “You just want to see me naked.”

I smile for us both. “I kind of do, but I promise not to take advantage of you until you’re healed.”

“I’m not sure that’s necessary.”

“You are not capable of anything you’re thinking about right now,” I jokingly scold, and rift us to the side of the tub, easing him onto the edge, me in front of him. He sways a bit, and I wrap my arms around him, pretty sure if he goes down, we both go down. “Can you undress?”

“Do it for me, just like I did you. You wouldn’t want me to fall, would you? It took two men to get me inside the house.”

“But I can tell you’re already improving.”

“Help me anyway,” he bids softly.