“Then that is where we will start our search,” I said. “Thorne, you’re with me. We’ll need you to show us where to look.”
“I’ll go as well,” Rosie offered, standing with one hand protectively on her bump.
I gave her a dubious glance even as all of her mates snarled their disapproval.
“Y-you’re not g-going,” Ben said through clenched teeth.
“Ben, I can be useful. I know the twists and turns of Blackthorne Manor just as well as my brother. Together we can cover more ground.”
I didn’t hate her offer, but there’d been a sort of unspoken code among the rest of us that the pregnant members of our party remain safely tucked away in Lilith’s sanctuary. These trips of ours had proven themselves dangerous, and none of us wanted to risk the mothers-to-be or their babies.
“I’m going too,” Merri announced before anyone could resolve the issue of Rosie’s attendance. “And before any of you try to stop me, the weapon is just as much tied to me as it is to Sin. It’s my mother we’re trying to end, and after everything she’s done, I deserve to be part of her downfall.”
“And you will be,” Grim assured her. “When it matters most.”
“You’re not going to talk me out of this, Grimsby. So figure out how you’re going to be most comfortable with my going and do it, because that is what’s happening.”
“Yeah, what she said,” Rosie said. Her attention was firmly locked on her shifter twins, who looked about as happy with her assertion as I was with Merri’s.
“Then I’m accompanying you.” Grim stepped closer to us, and his tone brooked no argument.
Chaos and Malice puffed up their chests as though they were ready to offer the same, but Lucifer stopped them.
“We can’t all go. Too many cooks and all that. We need to stay here and hold down the fort.”
Lilith groaned. “As much as I am loath to say this, Lucifer is right. We need to shore up our defenses here, and if our heaviest hitters are out there, we are at more of a risk.”
“Ben and I will go to keep an eye on Rosie,” Remi said.
“I don’t need a babysitter,” she groused.
He tipped her chin up. “Yes, you do, baby girl. You’re our entire world.”
“Great,” I said, slapping my palms together and rubbing them back and forth. “So we have Thorne, Grim, Merri, Rosie, Ben, Remi, and yours truly. That’s plenty of firepower. With two insiders on Blackthorne Manor, we should be in and out quicker than a virgin on his wedding night.”
With that, everyone broke off into different groups to say their farewells. I didn’t anticipate this taking long, but nothing seemed to go according to plan these days, so spending an extra five minutes for a few gentle words and stolen kisses wasn’t out of order.
Case in point.
Chaos and Malice crowded around Merri, the former glowering at Grim and me over her head. “Keep her safe. Or else.”
“Do you doubt my ability to protect our girl?” I asked, irritated that they’d felt the need to question either of us.
“Frankly, yes. But don’t take it personally. I would doubt anyone who wasn’t me.” Chaos smirked, making Merri laugh.
Malice brushed his knuckles down her cheek. “Stay safe, hellcat. Listen to Grim.”
“Just Grim?” I protested. “What am I, chopped liver?”
It was Malice’s turn to smirk. “I said what I said.”
“Can you believe this? I also hold the title of horseman, you know. Just as much of a badass as the rest of you.”
“Don’t pout at me, Sinclair,” Grim murmured, holding up his gloved hands. “They’re the ones who said it.”
While we were in the middle of our spat, Lucifer snagged Merri’s wrist and pulled her away from us and against his chest. My attention immediately turned away from my brothers and locked onto the two of them. Ally or not, I still didn’t trust that guy as far as I could throw him.
“Remember me?” he murmured, tucking a lock of hair behind her ear. “Don’t get used to this space I’ve been giving you, crabapple.”