The Grey God

She jumped, surprised to find the Black God a couple of feet behind her, staring at the scene.

"Jonny, you shouldn't …" The words died on her lips. "Where's Xander?"

"I don't know. Hunting, maybe."

"Bastard is always around when I don't need him and never around when I do. Then we'll have to do this the stupid way. We need to distract them so I can rescue Darian." She crawled forward. The Black God snatched her ankle, dragging her back.

"You can't leave me," he said.

"I'm not leaving you," she snapped and yanked free. "I'm going to take Darian home to Damian and come back."

"No. I won't let you go."

"Then you can take Darian to Damian and try to explain how you didn't fuck up his brother. Good luck getting him to believe you," she said with calmness she didn't feel.

Jonny frowned but didn't object again.

"Now, can you make those trees behind the Others fall on them?" she asked.

"I think so."

"Do it."

The Black God's power swelled, stifling the air around them. She pushed herself away discreetly, not yet certain he knew what to do with all of the magic in his blood. Splintering and groaning filled the air, followed by muffled crashes as the trees behind the Others toppled into the snow. When Jenn saw Darian drop from the air she launched forward.

"Jenn!" Jonny hissed.

The ground shook, and suddenly, all the trees around them began falling. Jenn dodged one and saw the flash of purple from the corner of her eye. She threw herself into the snow, watching the lightning slice the air where she'd been. With effort, she forced herself up and threw a dagger in the direction of the Other. More trees fell. She clambered over one and landed beside Darian, who smelled like burnt flesh.

"Darian!" she exclaimed, rolling him onto his back. "Say something!"

"I… got … one," he managed. He tried to push himself up. Jenn yanked him against her, taking in his burned profile.

"You missed the other two!" she retorted.

As long as he was alive, she could Travel with him. She closed her eyes and imagined them home in Texas. A gasp made her eyes open, and she looked around the kitchen. Jule's mate, Yully, was frozen before the open fridge, her eyes wide and red curls bound loosely at her neck.

"Go get Bianca," Jenn ordered, struggling out from Darian's weight. Yully hurried away.