“That it is, my sister,” Ethan said fondly.
“Alrightyroo,” Astrid said with bright eyes as she clapped her hands together. “Let’s go free Gareth and the rest of your family and go kick some stanky, old, fucktard, bad breathed, Vampyre ass.”
“Is that how you intend to prove you’re sane?” I asked with a shake of my head and a grimace.
“Yep.” She grinned and flipped me the middle finger.
I grinned right back and reciprocated. Astrid was insanity personified in the best way possible—she was violent, but only when backed into a corner. She had a conscience and she cared. One would be very shortsighted not to see the whole picture of my cousin. Compassion was very powerful—far more powerful than hatred or evil.
“We ready?” Ethan asked as he strapped on a few knives.
“Yes,” Raquel answered. “I believe the saying is we were born ready… butt munchers.”
“Fucking outstanding,” Astrid shouted as Ethan stood beside her looking confused and alarmed.
I simply grinned and took my girl’s hand.
“You do realize you’re going to have to sit through a marathon of cheesy Vampyre movies,” she threatened me with a blush of embarrassment still flaming on her cheeks.
“I do,” I told her. “And I’m looking forward to it.”
“You’re crazy,” she whispered as I placed a quick kiss on her lips.
“Crazy for you.”
Her eye roll and groan made me smile. Even though I was sure we were about to walk into a shit show, my heart felt light.
Love could do that to a person.
***
“Sweet baby cousin Jesus in a banana hammock, this place is fucking creepy and I’ve been to Hell,” Astrid announced in her outdoor voice as we carefully made our way through the narrow hallways leading back to Gareth.
“Speaking of Hell, did you contact Satan?” Raquel asked me.
Ethan groaned as he stopped walking and stared at me with horror. “Please do not tell me you invited Satan to the Summit with the Angels.”
My bad plan was beginning to look worse by the second. “I did,” I confirmed. “However, I’ve asked him to bring someone who might be able to throw the Old Guard off—especially Vlad.”
“Would you like to share?” he asked as he ran his hands through his hair in frustration.
“Do you trust me?” I challenged.
“With my life,” Ethan said without hesitation.
“Then let it be a surprise,” I shot back.
He considered me for a long moment and then curtly nodded his head.
“God,” Astrid groused as she ducked to miss a dangling skull. “All you Vampyres are so fucking cryptic and secretive. Drives me nuts.”
“Darling, you’re a Vampyre too,” Ethan reminded her.
“Yes, but lucky for you I’m also a Demon who can hopefully bust through a nasty ass spell,” Astrid declared as she marched ahead ready to save the day.
“Damn, she’s hot when she does that,” Ethan muttered as he quickened his pace and followed his mate.
“Are we that obnoxious?” Raquel asked as we watched Ethan grab Astrid’s rear end.
Astrid’s squeal was loud and Ethan’s chuckle reverberated through the tunnels.
I paused and stared at the beautiful woman I planned to spend eternity with and I grinned.
“I sure as Hell hope so,” I told her.
She giggled and pulled me along. “I sure as Hell hope so too,” she said.
There was nowhere else I’d rather be. Even in the dank eerie caves filled with the deceased beneath Paris, I was happy.
As long as I was with Raquel, I would always be happy.
Chapter 16
“Ethan, good to see you,” Gareth boomed as he stood and smiled. “You’re looking well.”
“You’re not,” Ethan replied as he took his brother’s circumstances in with a wince.
“Well, yes. I see you are still as astute as ever, jackass. I’ll have you know, my balls have not retreated into my stomach and my dick hasn’t shriveled up, so I consider this a win.”
Astrid watched the conversation with delight. “You really are a total alpha-hole,” she said with appreciation.
“Why, thank you,” Gareth replied with a small bow and a smirk. “And you must be the infamous Astrid. You’re a delectable sight for sore eyes.”
“And she’s very taken,” Ethan growled as he stepped toward the cage. “Your dick better stand down if you want to keep it.”
“Stop,” Raquel hissed at Ethan. “The cage is warded. Don’t go near him. And Gareth don’t flirt with Astrid if you value your man jewels.”
“Astrid can handle herself,” Astrid informed us as she examined the enchantment surrounding Gareth’s cell. “Wow, somebody hates your guts. This is one mother humpin’ doozy of a spell.”
“Can you break it?” I asked as I watched her size up the situation. As flighty as my cousin could be, it would be very unwise to second-guess her power.
“Shitballs,” she muttered as she gently waved her hands only inches from the ward.
It jiggled and jumped as sparks of blood red crystals poured fourth and pooled on the ground. Astrid stared with dismay.
“These shitballs you speak of… are they a good thing, or a bad thing?” Gareth asked with his tongue firmly in his cheek.