Dashing devil omnibus 2.., p.100
Dashing Devil Omnibus 2: Books 4-6, page 100
Archangel’s attacks grew more ferocious still, fueled by his frustration but then Mind Witch spoke and her words reinforced Hopewing’s resolve. “Silver is on her way. You only need to hold out for a few…”
“Get away from them you jerk!”
The clarion call of Hopewing’s normally sweet sister was filled with anger. When Silver arrived on the scene, she blurred through the room—first to the far corner to drop off two unconscious forms and then directly to where the now wide-eyed Blonde Buffoon stood with his mouth agape.
The man flashed away to another part of the room just before Silver reached him, and was immediately forced to teleport again as two beams of energy shot from her eyes to where he’d appeared. This process repeated itself fine more times as Silver blurred around the room, trying to catch the monster with either a beam or a fist.
“This isn’t—over—I promise—I’ll save you—my love,” the Blonde Buffoon managed to get out between teleports. Finally, he flashed back over to the door and was gone.
Silver chased him just past the entrance into the corridor but paused and looked over her shoulder at her sisters huddled in the middle of the room as Hopewing brought down her golden barrier. She could see the conflict on her sister’s face—Silver was torn between chasing down and finishing off the Blonde Buffoon or staying to protect her sisters.
With a firm nod, she came to a decision. Hopewing knew it was likely the one she knew Devil would have wanted Silver to make. The floating powerhouse blurred back over to the prone forms of the two Changed she had rescued, then behind the barrier Hopewing had brought back up in the doorway.
“Please protect these two while I go back for the others,” Silver requested before dropping them and blurring away.
She was back within ten seconds, stopping just barely long enough for Hopewing to drop the first shield, for Silver to step forward to deliver her cargo, and then for her to step back as Hopewing created a new barrier over her new wards.
“Two more loads then I’ll bring Darling,” Silver stated as she dropped the second pair of Changed off.
Again, she was back within a dozen seconds. “Then we are all getting on the medical transport that is coming in for the Pulse Brothers.” She was gone before Hopewing could offer to heal them.
“They are stable. You can heal them once we are on the transport,” Silver reassured her as she arrived with the final pair of Changed. “Darling will want us out of here as soon as possible, now that our part is done.”
Chapter 46
Boyd nuzzled the side of Hope’s head where she sat in his lap. She might be bigger than Tinker, but he was still more than half a foot taller than her and was able to make it work. Her back pressed into his chest while his big arm wrapped protectively around her shapely waist.
Like his little inventor, his angelic love triggered his most protective instincts—which had already been established as sizable. It was a combination of their upbringing, along with her angelic personality, that did it.
He was sitting in the center seat of one of their couches in the Great room after another lovely meal provided by their fairy chef. They had returned late again after an extended debriefing with Davis and Royce in which they’d decided upon their next steps. What they’d decided did not impress Kayla.
She was mollified, however, once they offered her an exclusive interview with the entire team—though she would have to wait a while for permission to release it. She was still holding onto the footage from their previous mission, waiting for the perfect moment to use it as a powerful weapon against their enemies.
Which would not be too much longer.
The ambitious reporter still shot Boyd occasional glares, the likes of which one might expect from a child on the morning of December twenty-fifth after they had been informed that Christmas would be delayed for a full week. She was not pleased that Boyd had not fought to have it released right away, like he had done when the Blonde Buffoon had attacked him after the Devoted slayed the Last Dragon.
Kayla didn’t understand that circumstances then had made that the best time to release the footage, while this time they did not.
Boyd wasn’t overly concerned about the journalist’s ire. It would fade and he had been on the receiving end of much worse. Mindy was faring less well under his own displeasure, although he had stopped shooting her angry glares by the time they made it back to the base.
He was not pleased that she had blocked his Bonds with Tinker, Hope, and herself when they were being attacked by the Blonde Buffoon. He saw it as a breach of the trust he’d placed in her when he allowed her to connect the second instance of her Enhanced Power to his Bonds.
‘And I’ll keep saying sorry until you accept my apology,’ a slightly wilted version of the Mindy in his head apologized for the seventeenth time. ‘I knew it would upset you when I chose to do it. I have no excuses… other than the facts that you already know.’
Her reasoning was sound, but Boyd was still coming to terms with what that meant concerning his role as a Hero. If he had sensed that both Tinker and Hopewing were in danger, he would have abandoned his position in a heartbeat. He would not have waited for another Hero to arrive and take over his responsibility for their unconscious wards. Silvie would have been responsible for moving him, so she would also have been out of position.
‘It means nothing,’ Mindy assured him as he nuzzled Hope again and hugged her a little more tightly. ‘You have me, and I prevented it from interfering with your mission. I judged the situation as one that would be resolved without needing you to move out of your position. I will do it again if it becomes an issue, although we will all strive to ensure it does not.’
Boyd didn’t want her to do that ever again, lest he be too late to help if her judgment proved wrong and any of his loves were unable to handle a situation she thought they could.
‘I know how stubborn you are and I’m not going fight you on this,’ she sent. ‘I also understand your concerns, so I will promise never to block your Bonds without your explicit permission, if you will promise to hear me out if I think the situation calls for it—essentially the same deal you have with Davis.’
Boyd thought that was agreeable as he nuzzled into his angel’s neck.
‘It’s a promise, then.’
“I really am okay,” Hope said with a melodious laugh.
Her wings extended out a little to either side a little awkwardly to account for the position she had been dragged into on his lap. They were all dressed casually, which in Hope’s case meant a simple, backless white dress made of a thin material that felt almost as wonderful as her feathers where they touched his skin.
“I was angry because I couldn’t capture him on my own,” Hope continued, “and that he ran once Silvie arrived. I was much more angry than I was afraid at any point.”
“Kuh-he!” Mindy let out a little giggle from where she sat on a couch opposite the one Boyd shared with Tinker, Raev, and Hope. “This isn’t for you; Boyd is being clingy because someone tried to take you away again—even if it wasn’t that close of a call. He is reassuring himself that you are still here, that you are still his.”
Boyd would have been upset about Mindy baring his soul like that, but a glance revealed every woman in the room was looking at him with adoring eyes. Even Daisy’s normally slightly frosty expression had warmed a bit.
“Awww,” Hope sounded more upset than the others and tried to pull away from him—which made him reflexively tighten down.
Given how much stronger than her he was, she was not getting away.
“Hehe!” She let out another melodious laugh and leaned back into him. “I will not leave you, Boyd… but please, loosen your grip a little.”
Begrudgingly, he did as she requested and was rewarded by his angel wiggling around until she was straddling his lap, her chest pressed into his own as her arms wrapped around him.
“See?” she asked as one arm wrapped under his and pushed up under his wings which were draped over the back of the couch. The other traced the back of his neck and played with the fine hairs there. “I’m right here. You will not allow anything to take me from you ever again. Just as I would not let you be stolen from me,” she half whispered into his neck after pressing her face into it.
Boyd felt the tension drain from his muscles as Hope’s soothing words washed over him. Her gentle touch and unwavering reassurances melted the lingering worry that gripped his heart. He buried his nose in her soft, golden hair and inhaled her sweet scent—a mix of baby powder and sunshine. That scent always calmed his turbulent thoughts.
The weight of the world seemed to lift off his shoulders when she was near; her presence was a balm to his troubled soul. He chuckled softly at being briefly upset about Mindy voicing her observation, knowing that his team could read him like an open book. There was no use trying to hide his emotions from them.
He savored the feeling of Hope’s delicate fingers tracing circles on the back of his neck. It sent pleasant shivers down his spine. The sensation was electrifying yet soothing, a gentle reminder of the love and devotion they shared. With a contented sigh, Boyd wrapped his arms around Hope’s lower back under her wings, pulling her closer to him and getting comfortable as her wings found a comfortable place to settle, covering a lightly blushing Tinker up to her neck and Raev to her chest.
Boyd relented. ‘I forgive you,’ he thought at Mindy.
There was too much love in the room to hold on to the already faltering ill feelings. Unfortunately, he had a responsibility to introduce ill feelings of another kind and was not looking forward to it.
‘Thank you,’ Mindy gave him a warm smile before she sighed. ‘And you are unfortunately correct. Waiting until tomorrow will upset her; she would want to know right away. Enjoy this for another moment first, though. It is helping Hope realize that she can do more for you than be your willing sex toy.’
Boyd smiled into Hope’s golden hair and poured a positive deluge of his love and affection back down their Bond to apply a little positive reinforcement to the realization. He felt her bask in it as she melted into him. She was so much more than that to him, although he certainly didn’t mind his fallen angel’s need to serve him that way.
It scratched an itch he hadn’t known he had.
“This is such a sweet moment,” Silvie bubbled from where she sat next to Mindy, a big happy smile on her face.
“I love Hope’s feathers, but if she stays like this for much longer, it’s going to put me right to sleep,” Raev said after one of her velvet chuckles.
“Same here,” Tinker said shyly. His little inventor leaned in to cuddle against Boyd’s side and arm. “Wait… noooo… this makes it worse, but it’s like gravity… I can’t resist.” His little inventor seemed to melt against him.
“Just a moment longer, sisters,” Hope said sweetly as she continued to play with his hair. “Let me enjoy this a little more.”
Boyd cherished the serenity of the moment, feeling a wave of gratitude wash over him for the incredible women surrounding him. Together, they had done something that would help forge a better world. They helped him fulfill his purpose, just as he assisted them in fulfilling theirs.
As Hope’s gentle touch continued to soothe his mind, Boyd knew he was where he belonged, enveloped in love and acceptance. However, despite the tranquility he felt embracing his angel, Boyd couldn't ignore the weight of the impending conversation that loomed over them like a shadow. With a heavy heart, he knew it was time to broach the subject and share the information that Stepper had passed on to him.
‘You are correct. Daisy is starting to consider going to bed, which makes it simultaneously inopportune and the perfect time to tell her,’ Mindy affirmed his decision.
Boyd waited until it felt like both Hope and he had reassured each other enough before clearing his throat. “My love,” he rumbled softly, “I don’t wish to move either, but I’m afraid it’s time we had that conversation… and this position may not be ideal.”
Hope let out a sigh, took a long inhale through her nose which he sensed was her attempt to get her fill of his scent, then gracefully extracted herself from his lap with a sad smile. She immediately turned and walked over to where Laura and Daisy shared a loveseat to squeeze in between the end and the smaller fairy woman. She took Daisy’s hand and rubbed her thumb over the back of her small knuckles, turning a sad smile on their now confused chef.
“Umm, what’s happening?” Daisy’s confusion shifted to concern as she looked around the group and saw everyone but Kayla looking at her with expressions similar to the angel’s.
“For starters, you have the day off tomorrow—and as many as you need after that—but tomorrow is mandatory,” Boyd began, having no good way to start the difficult conversation.
Daisy’s eyes locked onto his and he saw a swirl of emotions run through them. She bit her lip, trying to decipher the seriousness in Boyd’s expression. It didn’t take her long to come to the correct conclusion.
“It’s Bianca, isn’t it? She’s dead.”
Boyd nodded his head slowly and watched as the chain of emotions became a storm that roiled through her. “We received confirmation of what happened to her.” He saw no reason to tell her that Stepper had provided video evidence, along with photos of her body.
Even if she wanted to see them, he would not allow it. “She is no longer with us.”
The storm continued to rage within the fairy woman as she processed his words. “Did she suffer?”
Boyd had also decided to provide her with a gentle version of the truth instead of the facts. “No, she did not. Bianca was not afraid, and her death was quick.”
Omega Ray’s crown warped the minds of those it affected, so the young woman was not trapped inside her own body as a monster controlled her. Instead, she had been completely and totally robbed of her free will. Boyd wasn’t sure which was worse.
Daisy didn’t need to contemplate such matters concerning her friend. The young woman’s death had been quick, the monster that stole her from the world had apparently concluded he was bored with her and ended her existence a moment later.
“Do you know who did it?” Daisy asked, emotion starting to make her voice tremble. This only frustrated her, if her expression spoke true.
“It was Archangel… and he will pay with everything he holds dear. I promise,” Boyd said with a firm nod.
“Good.” Daisy tried to give a satisfied nod in return, but her delicate features contorted in anguish as tears welled up in her eyes.
Her small frame trembled as the weight of the news settled upon her, crushing her heart with grief. She had previously said she understood that her friend was likely dead, but that didn’t make the confirmation any easier to hear.
He watched her fight the tears, but it was a losing battle.
As soon as Hope saw the first fat drop roll down the smaller woman’s cheek, she reached out with a hand and gently wiped it away. “It’s okay to feel this way, Daisy. Let it out,” she whispered softly. Her angelic voice soothed like a melody.
His angel pulled the fairy into a side hug, working a wing into place behind her. Silvie was next to move in as Daisy’s tears began in earnest, blurring from her seat to kneel before the young woman, unshed tears rising in her light blue eyes that mirrored the fairy’s pain.
“You don’t have to be strong all the time,” Silvie said softly before rising up to join Hope in embracing her.
Laura slid closer on the couch and pulled Daisy into a hug from the other side. “They’re right Daiz. You have to let these things out, so they don’t fester.”
Mindy stood next, his darkest love pushing in beside Silvie to join what had become a group hug. If she said anything, it was done in the privacy of Daisy’s mind. Raev moved around to the back of the loveseat and draped herself over it, reaching in behind Hope’s wing to rub Daisy’s back as she rested her head against the fairy’s bright and colorful hair.
His fiery haired love said with gentle kindness, “We’re here for you, Daiz.”
Tinker got up and joined in after Mindy made room for her to reach the now engulfed smaller woman. She didn’t offer any words, either not having them or—more likely—thinking up too many to choose which ones to say.
Kayla looked just as concerned as the others as she looked for a way to enter and ended up hugging Hope and Silvie instead, adding to the warmth and comfort as best she could.
Boyd could no longer see the little fairy and was grateful for it. The small sobs and hiccups that emerged from the center of the pile of women were heart-rending enough. He found himself conflicted, wanting to comfort her as well but not sure if the physical display would be welcomed.
‘Get in here,’ Mindy settled it for him. ‘The promise was a big comfort and she’s starting to trust your word. But a physical display won’t hurt anything right now.’
Boyd rose and joined the others, kneeling behind the half-raised Silvie and wrapping his big arms around as many of them as he could. His wings joined his arms, covering them all as they held the crying woman. It might have been a breach of Kayla’s professionalism, but she didn’t complain.
Daisy’s tears were a heartbreaking symphony, each sob a note of anguish and loss. She may not have known the lost woman for long, but the young Changed had faced similar adversities. Boyd’s understanding of psychology was far from complete, but it was enough for him to know that she likely recognized Bianca’s fate was one that could just as easily have been her own.
Religion had never really gotten off the ground on their new world, but Boyd thought the phrase ‘there but for the grace of God go I’ applied particularly well in this situation. It was a sentiment that applied equally to Raev, Hope, Boyd or any other Changed in the world. At that moment, he renewed his vow to fix that.
No one should have to depend on luck to avoid such an end.
