Grave Mistakes (Hellgate Guardians #1)(64)

“Is it always like that?” I ask the six of them. “Just...demons and imps breaking through?”

“Yes,” Iceman answers. “That’s why we have to guard it and stabilize it as best we can. So imps like that can’t come through and wreck this world.”

“What about the others?” I ask, pointing in the direction that I know the bar is located. “All those demons down there? They’re allowed to come here on a field trip?”

“Certain demons have duties here. They have permission to be here as much as we do, because they won’t disrupt the balance. Imps and Outer Ringers, however, have no business being here unless they have permission and jobs on this side.”

Crux looks over at Flint and Alder. “I didn’t think you normally had attacks like this with so many able to get through at once.”

“We don’t,” Alder replies, and I notice there’s already another lily tucked behind his ear. “Our Gate’s getting worse.”

“Good thing we were here then. Don’t think you two could’ve handled that alone,” Jerif says with a smirk.

Flint rolls his eyes. “Shoot, your Gate is fucked six ways from Sunday if it needs the power from five of ya to now handle it. I thought our Gate was needy and in bad shape, but it only needs two of us, so don’t you worry about me ’n Alder. We’ll guard our Gate just fine. We’ll get a third if we have to.”

“You’ll have to,” Iceman tells him with confidence. “I can feel your Gate needs more power to stabilize it now.”

A tingle runs up my back, and I question if I’m feeling the Gate too. Or maybe that’s just shock.

“Can we go home now?” I ask, suddenly feeling exhausted.

Crux and Echo are at my side in an instant. Jerif shakes his head, and Iceman...well, I sort of get distracted staring at his muscles, so I don’t notice what his reaction is.

“You two get her back. Jerif and I will go check back on things at Perdition Estate. Hopefully, we don’t have another organized party of Uber Hunters hitting each of the Gates. Just in case though, no sleepovers,” Iceman orders, looking at them sternly.

“Well, that’s very party pooper of you,” Crux accuses.

I look over at him incredulously. “I’m covered in Cousin It powder. How is that even on your mind?”

“You’re still hot as fuck, Delta. One might even say Del...icious,” Crux says with a wink. Jerif groans, but we both ignore him. “And besides, there is such a thing as group showers,” Crux adds, wagging his brows as he leans toward me conspiratorially. “I can’t wait to find out if you do that Xena scream when you come too or if that’s reserved only for when you’re attacking demons.”

I choke on air, not at all expecting that to come out of his mouth. I feel simultaneously wary and also...really turned on.

What is wrong with me?

Beside me, Echo snorts. “Crux wants to wait until you and him are all cleaned up, but for the record, I’d take you right now if you wanted to, and then in the shower, then after, again and again and again,” Echo says in my ear, and I swear to fuck, all my lady bits start to fan themselves.

“We have a shower here y’all can use so long as I can participate,” Flint offers with a salacious grin, but Jerif reaches over and slaps him upside the head. I worry for a split-second that the marbled demon is going to get pissed, but he just laughs. “What? I’m curious about that whole Xena-scream y’all are talkin’ ’bout.”

Jerif looks like he wants to smack him again, but Alder steps in. “Come on, Flint. You can’t afford to keep getting your skull knocked around. The small rocks in there could come loose and fall right out,” he says with a snicker.

Flint glares at the pollen-peppered male. “You’re about as full of shit as a tick is with blood.”

Alder just smirks at him before looking over at Iceman. “Get her inducted,” he orders, his face taking on a serious expression as he and Flint begin to walk away. “Or we will,” he finishes, earning a low growl from both Iceman and Jerif.

“You know how well we take to threats,” Echo calls out to his back.

“Wasn’t a threat. It’s a fact. Today proves that there’s no time to waste,” Alder counters, turning around and walking backward. “It was nice to meet you, Delta Gates. I sure hope we get the pleasure again real soon,” he says with a sin-filled smile before pivoting on his heel and walking off, Flint following behind him with a wave.

Iceman sighs tiredly as soon as the five of us are alone. “Let’s get Delta home.”

I don’t point out that I didn’t ever get to hear Flint’s compelling story about how he went from anti-Gate Guardian to pro, but I think we’ve all been through enough tonight. With Iceman leading the way, we leave the Hellgate and head back down the hill and past the bar, going back down to the swamp.

I groan when I see the side-less boat bobbing in the water, the imp chewing on a reed as it waits for us. “Can’t we just do that pop thing you do where one minute we’re here, and the next we’re not?” I ask as I tense up with the thought of once again being a floating alligator appetizer.

Jerif snorts and Crux chuckles.

“No, we can’t shift within one mile of a Hellgate. It’s a protection that’s been built in. It allows us to see danger coming,” Echo informs me.