Loved (House of Night Other World #1)(43)

“Better to be safe.” I lifted my hands and the Sons of Erebus bowed their heads. “May Nyx’s blessing fill you with strength and courage and wisdom—and may you return here safely to give your thanks to our goddess. Blessed be.”

“Blessed be,” the Warriors replied.

I grabbed Darius before he could follow his Warriors from the room and hugged him. “Stay safe. No one could stand Aphrodite if you weren’t here.”

“I will, High Priestess,” he said.

Then Aphrodite was in his arms. She kissed him thoroughly and pulled the gorgeous blue, black, and white Burberry scarf from where she’d draped it around her neck, wrapping it high up on his bicep and tying it there securely.

“My beauty? Do you think my arm will be cold?”

Her smile was trembly. “No, and it’s silk anyway so it’s not exactly warm. You’re my Warrior. My knight. Swordmaster of the Sons of Erebus. It’s right that you should carry your prophetess’ favor into battle.”

“I suppose you expect me to bring it back to you unharmed and unstained?”

“You suppose correctly. And the only stains I’ll tolerate are other people’s blood. Not yours. I’ll know the difference.” She kissed him again, and he followed his Warriors up the stairs.

“I think we should post lookouts all along the wall,” Stark said.

“I agree,” I said.

“U-we-tsi-a-ge-ya, did you not tell me you had the city designate the House of Night as a storm shelter?” Grandma said.

“I did. Crap!” I just realized the implications of what Grandma had said. “If the snow’s bad enough to knock out cell service it’s just a matter of time before the electricity is out. Our gaslights and our gas heat won’t be affected, so the humans in the neighborhood might start straggling here. Don’t mistake them for the red zombie vampyre things.”

“Good point,” Stark said. “Thanks for reminding us, Grandma Redbird.”

“And I need someone to stay at the phone in the admin office,” I said. “Keep calling Kramisha’s landline. We need to know what’s going on down there.”

“Nicole and I can do that,” Shaylin said. I smiled my thanks to her as she hurried from the basement.

“Warriors, divide yourself into shifts according to squads,” Stark was telling the Sons of Erebus. “First Squad, begin patrol immediately. Second Squad, relieve them at dawn. I’ll brief you on what we learn about these creatures ASAP.” The Warriors saluted him, bowed to me, and filed up the stairway.

We were facing a scary, dangerous unknown, but I felt safe knowing that our Warriors were standing guard—and I knew, no matter how awful it was out there—Darius would bring his Warriors back.

Was I being na?ve? I hoped not. I hoped I was being a High Priestess who had faith in her Warriors.

“Tell me what has happened, Zoeybird,” Grandma said.

“It’s easier to show you. Where is he?” I asked Stark.

“We put him in the last bedroom. It was the smallest, and has a steel door with a lock.” He jerked his chin in the direction of the far corner of the basement. Now that the group of Warriors was gone, I could see Damien was sitting on a chair just outside the closed door to the little guest room. Rephaim and Shaunee stood on either side of him.

“Okay, time for answers,” I said. “How are you holding up?” I asked Damien as I approached him.

He looked up at me with haunted eyes framed with dark, puffy circles. His face was too thin. His skin was too white. He looked awful.

“He’s alive. That’s all I’ve been able to really take in.”

I nodded. “I can’t say I understand how you feel, but I can imagine how it would be if Heath or even Aurox suddenly showed up here—alive, but not really themselves. It’d be hard. Really hard. What can I do to help you through this?”

“All of us,” Aphrodite spoke up from beside me. “What can all of us do to help you?”

Damien wiped his eyes and attempted a smile. “Just be here with me. I—I don’t think I should be alone right now. So, even if I tell you to go away, please don’t.”

“Oh, boyfriend, you can definitely count on us to be übernosy and all up in your business,” Shaunee said.

“That’s right,” Stevie Rae said. “Heck, I don’t even need an excuse to be in your business. I like it. I’m naturally übernosy.

“Sadly, that’s too true,” Aphrodite said. “But you can count on us. We’re the Nerd Herd. Shit can’t tear us apart.”

“One for all—all for nerd!” Stevie Rae shouted.

“Th-thanks,” Damien said, wiping more tears from his face. “Okay. I’m ready for whatever.”

“And I do not understand,” Grandma said.

“Stay back by Stark,” I told Grandma. “We’re going to open this door. Jack’s inside. But he’s not our Jack.”

Grandma’s startled expression cleared quickly. She moved to Damien’s side and gently touched his shoulder. “I see. And I am here for you, too, child.”

Damien squeezed her hand. “Thank you, Grandma. That helps.”

“Remember, be careful,” I said. “It’s tough, but we don’t really know this kid—and he’s a different kind of red fledgling.”