We make our way to the door just as he takes my hand, stopping me in my tracks, a look of worry and unease in his eyes. A restlessness spreads through the bond.

I give him a small smile, squeezing his hand, sending reassurance through our connection, hoping he can feel it.

He nods, placing his other hand over his chest where his new runes lie. “Where you go…I go.”

I grip his hand tighter. “Then let's protect my home.”

CHAPTER EIGHTEEN

We head toward the main Library, rushing quicker when a louder boom shakes the building and the stairs as we come down it.

We enter the main Library, and chaos has broken out across the room; the Interitus has broken through the barrier created by the Autarium. The barrier, not fully broken, has cracks and large splits running down around the area by the front entrance. Black smoke begins to pour in through the gaps, stretching and straining it as it seeps in. A few mutated shifters have made their way through, and more are trying to squeeze past the barriers cracks.

A loud bang rings out on the left side of the room.

Mirin stands in front of a large gray beast, blood now dripping from its waist as it foams from its mouth, baring its jagged teeth toward her. Its claws ready to attack. In seconds she forms another fiery orb in her hand and hurls it toward the beast, daring it to attack. That's my badass witch.

She's surrounded by two familiar men, one to each side of her, Derric and Callyn, both ready to fight the beast should it move toward her.

A roar echoes through the room, pulling my attention away. Cole stands over a large black beast, his foot on its throat as it howls while holding another mutated shifter by its neck in the air.

So this is why he was made a Guard. His demon strength easily manages the two beasts alone, his gaze firm and unflinching as he stares toward the thrashing beasts below and beside him.

He squeezes his hand around the creature's neck as it struggles to be free from his iron grip.

One twist.

That's all it takes as the beast in his hand falls limp to the floor. The other beast below his foot begins to thrash and claw violently, knowing its impending death is coming. Cole bends forward and, with ease, rips the head off the grotesque creature, sending it rolling to the wall.

A shift beside me has me turning around just as Jace pulls his shirt over his head. He unbuckles his belt and turns toward me, feeling my gaze on him.

He gives me a salacious smirk and teasing wink as he shimmies out of his trousers. He jerks forward before shifting quickly into a large dark brown wolf. He stands on all fours, towering over all the creatures around him, his dark brown mane flowing in the air as he runs toward a beast attacking a couple of the supes from the Library group.