CHAPTER TWELVE
The longest fifteen minutes of my existence were spent inside the glass box while Cassander and Finn fought to save our lives. The constant scratching on the glass by nightmare nails sent me into chills. Watching Megan chop off black leathery fingers when the golems stuck their spindly digits into the small holes in the glass made me curl my own fingers into protective fists. The eyeless golem heads that sporadically flew up into the air were enough to send anyone to counseling for the remainder of their life.
I leaned against Megan when the fighting ceased, my body sagging against hers. “That was rough.”
She turned her head and lifted a brow. “Really? You didn’t do anything except stand there like you were going to faint.”
“I survived,” I hissed, thumping the side of my head on top of hers. “That’s enough for now.”
Megan hummed and watched as Finn and Cassander walked toward us inside our protective glass. “What about the ‘master.’ Isn’t he coming soon?”
I jerked upright. “I forgot about him.”
Cassander waved a bored hand. “He’ll be unconscious for a few weeks. The juice it took when the golems were activated will knock his weak ass out.”
Megan blinked. “You make no sense.”
He shrugged a shoulder. “Doesn’t matter. It’s still true. He’s not coming today.”
Finn flicked the lock on the door, kicking golem bodies aside to open it. “Ready to leave, Mina?”
I swallowed. “Yes.”
They were still monsters, life savers or not.
And I was stuck with them for now.
“Can I leave too?” Megan drawled. Her sarcasm was lost on no one. “Or do I need blonde hair and a name that rhymes with Nina?
Finn’s lips twitched. “Get your ass out here.”
Megan and I walked out of the enclosure, and then I not so subtly yanked the stolen blades out of her hands.
I shrugged when she glared. “They aren’t yours.”
Her pout was pretty and subtle. “Those would catch a fine price. I’ll need some cash to get a new bracelet.”
“Get a job,” Cassander muttered. He walked into the enclosure and, ever so carefully, picked up Poppy’s limp body in a child’s hold against his chest. Her head tilted and thumped against his shoulder. The monster peered down at her in his arms, his forehead wrinkling. “Fuck, she’s tiny.”
Finn snorted. “And deadly.”
Cassander’s brows furrowed even more, his expression troubled by his friend’s words. “That’s what I’m afraid of.”
“What?” Finn muttered, his confusion clear.
“Nothing. Let’s go.” He charged out of the glass enclosure while still carrying his cargo delicately, taking extra care with her. “I can take her to God. I have my own train here.”
Finn nodded in agreement. “He contacted her before we arrived here. He’s worried. You’ll want to call him on your way and let him know she’s okay.”
I held up her knives, asking in silent question what to do with them.
Cassander turned and popped a hip in my direction. “My coat pocket.”
I placed them in his fur coat as safely as I could. I peered up into his steel eyes, and stated honestly, “Thank you for what you did for me today.”
His smile was honest and sweet. “You’re welcome. And we aren’t as bad as what you think, Mina. Give us a chance, and you’ll be pleasantly surprised.”
My lips thinned. “I’ll think about it.”
Not like I hadn’t been since I discovered their secret. It was all I could think about most days.
Monsters were real.
Finn took hold of my elbow and pulled me with tenderness back to his side—away from his friend. He eyed him a long moment, then muttered in exasperation, “Did you hear what I said before? You’ll need to call God and assure him she’s fine.”
“I’ll try.” Cassander walked on top of the fallen golems, already headed to the exit. “If he’ll answer my call.”
Finn’s jaw ground together. “Just keep calling him.”
He nodded, not commenting, his tense back to us.
“I’ll see you at home tonight, right?” Finn sighed.
“Well, let’s see… I’m sure as hell not welcome at God’s,” Cassander griped, his steps now pounding down onto the ground. “So, yeah, I’ll be at your place. Later, Finn.”
“Safe travels.” Finn’s brows furrowed as his friend left the room.
Megan had been watching the entire exchange in silence. She snorted, her arms crossing. “Trouble in paradise between bros?”
Finn’s attention snapped to her. “You know Godric and Cassander are brothers?”
Megan’s eyes widened. And she grinned. “I do now. I’ve never heard of Cassander before, but I’m pretty sure all the info on Mr. King has never alluded to him having a brother. That’s sweet intel.”
Finn snapped his mouth shut and glared.
I couldn’t hold in my surprise. “They’re really brothers? They look nothing alike.”
Finn’s eyes closed on the defeat of his blunder. “Step-brothers.”
“Interesting.” I drummed my fingers on my lips, my mind flying through all the history texts I’d read. “Is Cassander older or younger than Mr. King?”
“Why?”
“Just curious.” I tapped my head, shoving the alarm aside that I was talking to a white tiger. One that could kill me with barely any work put into the death act. “I’m a scholar, remember? I love information.”
“God is older than Cassander. But only by a few minutes.”
My blink was so slow. They were both ancient.
“And you?” I probed—so damn quietly. “Are you older than Mr. King?”
Finn’s head of white cropped hair tilted, his eyes scanning my face. A blue gaze full of secrets didn’t flinch at my question, but he hesitated in answering. “Are you sure you want to know?”
“Yes.” I didn’t back down.
“God is one minute older than me.”
“Oh,” I whispered, my chest heaving in panic.
He bent down and swooped me up off my feet, as if he thought I would faint, carrying me the same way Cassander had Poppy. My fingers gripped onto his shoulders in surprise, my eyes wide in terror.
His nostrils flared, and he inhaled deeply. He murmured, “I hate that I put fear in you. I much prefer the sweet scent of your arousal.”
Megan choked, her eyes widening. “That’s gross, man. You should probably try a different tactic to get her into bed.” She raised her brows as a thought occurred inside that warped head of hers. “Try staring at her with those ‘fuck me’ eyes again. She went all mushy with that shit.”
I gulped down my fear and yanked my gaze off the monster holding me. I stared hard at the other woman. “Megan, I don’t even know what to say to you.”
Her lips curved into a grin, not showing any teeth. “I do have that effect on people. You shouldn’t feel special.”
Finn grunted. “You kind of remind me of a friend of mine. He has that same smart mouth you do.”
“Is he hot?” Megan took a step closer.
I peered heavenward, now understanding how my mother felt most days with me. “I’d really like to leave now. There are dead bodies in the other room someone should tell the CA about. I’m sure the family members would like to know if their daughters are merely runaways…or dead.”
Finn instantly started strolling toward the door, also stomping on the downed golems. “Poppy will inform her superior when she wakes. She’s been searching for those women for over a month now.”
Megan scowled and jumped over golems, attempting to keep up with us. “Why don’t I get a strong man to carry me out of here? I’m a delicate woman too.”
Finn snorted. “Yeah, right.”