Winter's War (Her Guardians series Book 4)(40)

“You go and kill him,” Drake says to me, and I nod. Alex kisses my cheek before walking off with Drake. I smile at Harris as he pulls Leigha into a deep kiss by the door. I know they will look after each other.

“Be right back,” Atti says and walks a few steps away from me to talk to a couple of witches who seem to be arguing.

“Winter!” I hear Freddy shout and turn to see him running over to me from the stairs. I hold him close as he nearly knocks me over when he gets to me. I pull back when I see his swords strapped to his back, and the reality that he is going to be protecting the women and children with Alex sets in. It’s strange that the kids of this war are needed to help, and what childhood Freddy could have had is lost in war. The poor boy has lost so much, and I don’t want him to lose anyone else. I don’t want to leave him.

“You do as Dabriel and Atti ask, okay? I need you to be safe, Freddy,” I whisper to him and pull him closer one more time. I don’t want anyone else to hear my words.

“I will,” he whispers back, and I pull back and look down at him.

“Why do you have your swords on your back, then?” I ask, and he grins.

“Just in case they come near the women and children. I might need to kick some demon–”

“Don’t finish that sentence,” I say with a laugh, and he grins.

“I’m not a kid, anymore. I haven’t been just a kid for a long time,” he tells me, and I know he is right, but it doesn’t make the situation any sadder. I hope after all this is done, he can have some part of a childhood again, but I doubt it. He is on the vampire council, and he will be the heir to all of the thrones when I finish this war.

“Just think, this all started with me finding you in that parking lot, another time where you didn’t do as you were told,” I murmur, and he smiles at me.

“I’m glad you saved me, Winter,” he says.

“Me too, Freddy, me too,” I say and hug him once more before letting go and having to wipe my eyes a little.

“You can do this, I know it,” Freddy tells me, and his bright-blue eyes stare up at me.

“I will try,” I tell him, and he nods. I look away for a second as I feel Milo come and sit on my shoulder, and I can’t help the chuckle that slips out of my lips when I see Milo’s war outfit.

“Dude, we need to work on your fashion sense, I don’t even have words for that,” Freddy says, and I agree with him as I take in the strange, pink, glittery jumpsuit he has on. There is no way to miss Milo with that outfit and the pink headband in his hair to match.

“You know what?” Freddy tells me.

“What?” I ask.

“You’re an awesome step-mum,” he says with a cheeky grin and runs off as I laugh. My laugh is cut off when a scream, followed by a loud bang comes from outside. I feel Milo hold onto my neck as I step backwards as the castle shakes a little. There’s more sounds of screams, and all the people in here run outside. I look over as Wyatt and Jaxson run down the stairs, both of them have their swords strapped on their backs and are wearing tight clothes in black. Jaxson’s crown makes him seem like he is lightly glowing, and Wyatt is oozing power as they run over to me.

“It’s time to go,” Atti says walking to my side, and he links his fingers with mine as Wyatt and Jaxson run over to us. I duck as a demon comes flying through the door, and lands in the entrance hall. I pull a dagger out of my belt and throw it at his head, watching as it hits, and the demon disappears into blue dust. I hear a scream and turn to see Leigha fighting three demons who must have snuck in somehow, with Alex behind her. I go to step forward when Harris runs past me.

“Wait, we need the hundred people we are meant to be taking with us,” I say to Atti, and he shakes his head.

“They came too early, we need to go now. We can’t afford to wait, Winter,” he says, and I look back at Alex, Leigha, and Freddy, wanting to help them.

“Go, I will sort them,” Harris shouts at us as he runs towards Alex, and Leigha follows him, with a small nod at me as she passes. I feel Atti’s magic pulling us away only a second later.





21





Winter





“We’re here,” Wyatt says as I open my eyes to the vampire castle. It’s snowing, and the large flakes of snow land on my face as the cold wind blows it around us. It’s almost fitting that it’s winter, and there is so much snow. Like my namesake being Winter, I’ve always loved the cold and the snow. I wonder if that’s why there is always snow in my dreams with my family, because I subconsciously chose it. We walk in silence towards the castle, listening for any sounds, but there is nothing. It’s eerily quiet here.

“Come Vampire,” Milo says, and I look up as the blue ward surrounding the vampire castle comes into view. No one says anything about the fact the demon has moved it beyond the wall, and I hope it’s not because he has demons just waiting for us behind it. Milo flies off my shoulder and lands on Wyatt’s shoulder. I look up at Atti, who leans down and kisses me.

“Go and kill him,” he tells me firmly.

“Save our people and know I love you so much,” I tell him, trying to keep my voice stronger, and he pulls me into a deep kiss before breaking away. I watch as he disappears. I love that he believes in me, there wasn’t a bit of doubt in his voice, and that kiss was what I want to remember as I walk into this castle. As I, literally, try to send a demon back to hell.