Chapter 41
Lola
Irushed to Arc’s cell without losing a heartbeat. “Someone get the keys!”
“Lola—”
“Shhh,” I said, forcing myself not to lean on the painful bars of his cell. His mismatched eyes looked dull and exhausted as Carter and Marcus ran toward us with a bunch of keys in hand. “I’m so sorry.”
Carter opened the door and I wobbled my way inside on all fours. Ignoring the pressure of the cuffs around his wrists, Arc closed his arms around me and breathed me in, burying his head in my neck.
Arc didn’t let go as Carter worked on freeing his hands, only holding me tighter and pulling me closer once the angel was done.
“Shit—What the fuck is on these shackles?” Marcus asked.
“Dragon Venom,” someone answered from the door.
I spun around, my movements a little restrained by Arc’s hold. I recognized that voice but his face didn’t look familiar.
Hazel eyes with golden flecks…
I blushed. Didn’t I have a dream recently, including him, all my other mates, and a shower? I mentally slapped myself. Now was not the time to think about that…I had maybe minutes left.
“Where’s Dimitri?” Carter asked and I searched the now empty spot where he had collapsed near the door.
“He’s gone,” I whispered.
The atmosphere grew tense and Arc’s hand tightened on my hip, bringing my attention back to him.
“Are you okay?” he asked and more tears slipped out as I muffled a sob. “I’m sorry.”
“Don’t you dare,” I managed to say. “I’m sorry. For what you’ve been through because of me. For—Fuck, I should be the one asking you if you’re okay!”
“I’m okay,” he whispered, giving me a soft smile. A smile that looked just like the ones he gave me shortly after we met. After he had rescued me and spent the night making sure I could recharge.
I couldn’t believe that I had been so mad at him. Resented him. All this because Dimitri altered his personality and played with his mind, making him his puppet.
“I don’t know where he went,” the newcomer said, coming closer and crouching at the open gate. “But the demons aren’t controlled anymore, and he’s out of my head.” He placed his hand on Arc’s shoulder and let out a sigh. “I’m—”
“If you apologize, I’m going to punch you in the face,” Arc said, and the man’s head fell in defeat. “It’s good to see you again being…you, Nomin.” Arc smiled, patting his hand affectionately.
“Hey, I was here…Enough to suffer with you. But yeah, it feels good to have my mind clear after centuries.”
My throat bobbed. “Centuries?” I asked, and he turned his magnificent eyes on me.
“It felt like a longer time, to be fair…I’m Nomin,” he whispered, extending his hand for me to shake.
I did, a wave of shivers rising the hair along my arm at the contact of his skin. Wow. Was he? Could he be?
“I don’t understand what happened,” Carter said, sitting next to us, exhaling a deep breath. “I’ve seen you. And you were—”
“I tried reaching for you through Arc,” Nomin explained. “But somehow, Dimitri always noticed and altered his mind to change your perception with whatever he wanted.”
“He made me think Arc was actually the bad guy here.” Carter winced, looking at his old friend whose hold on me was stronger than ever. “I’m sorry for ever doubting you. For believing it, even if I kept thinking it made no sense.”
Arc’s lips pressed on my temple and I ignored the way my vision kept blurring. The way my heart seemed to slow to an almost stop as the seconds passed.
Nomin took a step closer and Arc’s arms tightened around me.
“I need to check her wound,” he explained himself before Arc reluctantly loosened his hold.
Nomin crouched closer to me and turned my head to the side softly, exposing the Dragon’s bite to all.
“I’m fine,” I lied.
“You’re not,” he answered quickly. “You should already be—”
“What’s going on?” Arc asked as Carter inched closer. They both looked at the wound before I had the time to push my hair over it. “Dimitri freaked out when he saw it. What is it?”
“Dragon Venom,” Nomin explained. “And as Dimitri told you, you’re one of the reasons she doesn’t have an Astral soul anymore, so she’s not immune like you are…”
So Arc knew…Great. That meant I didn’t have to have this awkward discussion with him either.
“What does this mean?” Carter asked, visibly on edge.
Nomin didn’t answer right away, staring at the wound some more. “She’s—”
“I’m fine. Dimitri said my blood kept some Astral properties and that was why Carter’s issues were solved with it,” I defended. “I’m just tired because it’s been a long night. In case you haven’t noticed, I just stabbed my mate in the back, cut me some slack…”
None of them believed a word I said, but they all kept quiet as we made our way out of the Hell of a place.
Marcus offered to help me back to the car, but Arc’s and Carter’s growls settled the issue quickly; he hurried to help Nomin with Arc as Carter came by my side, supporting half of my weight.
“Don’t be mad at me,” I said softly after we’ve been walking in silence for a while.
“I’m not mad at you, I’m mad at myself. I should have told you about the weird visions I’ve been having. I’ve been upset with you for hiding things and I’ve done the same. I’m just—I’m a hypocrite.”
I forced a smile, lifting my head weakly. “Trials and errors, right?”
He let out a soft scoff just as we reached the cave and the hundreds of people piling inside. “This particular one almost got you killed.”
My throat bobbed and I blinked, trying to chase the blur and dizziness away.
“Let’s get you and Arc home and put you into a warm bath,” he said. “You guys deserve a little break.”
A bath sounded like a dream. I closed my eyes, imagining the warm water surrounding my weightless body. Yes. A bath, and I’ll feel better. “Can we stop and get some coffee at Aymeric’s too?” I asked,
Carter let out a soft chuckle and shook his head. “Anything you want.”
I smiled and opened my mouth to answer but no sound came out. Just a little sleep.
“And we should…Lola?”
Yes? I turned my head slowly, but couldn’t open my eyes. So heavy. Tired. A nap and I’ll be all better.
“Lola?” he repeated, but the sound felt farther away, echoing in my ears and empty mind.
A sharp pain registered as my knees hit something.
Was that it? The death Amyntas promised before I’d end up in the Hell Dimitri described?
After all, the only part of Hell I’d ever seen was Lucifer’s office…I wondered what the whole realm looked like. Was it a huge fiery pit? I liked fire, but I didn’t do well in the heat…Hopefuly, it was cooler than this damn state.
I guess dying now was fine…The prisoners were out. Arc was free.
The betrayal in Dimitri’s eyes made my heart ache. I wish it had gone differently…I wish—
“Lola!” Voices echoed all around. Many of them, accompanied by hands touching my face, moving my head around. Lifting me and replacing me on the ground. The air felt warm and humid, the storm still raging around us.
But I felt calm. Rested.
No matter where I ended up, something told me it was going to be okay.