Elora paced the small motel room feeling edgy and restless as the others gathered around the small round table. They had all slept for several hours but the weariness was still evident in the hunch of shoulders and the exhaustion written across each of their brows.

“Okay, let’s recap,” Oakley spoke up. “Tarron, the chemist from Hell, has taken over the running of Iniquity, the crops have been destroyed, and the portals are open, but they aren’t usable because something evil is watching them. Is that about right?”

Cush nodded solemnly.

“Don’t you think we need to at least try to get back to Trik and let him know what’s going on?” Rin asked Cush.

“Do we have a choice?” Lisa asked. “No really,” she started again when Cush began to shake his head. “We can’t just stay here and let Tarron have control. You and Rin are powerful, but there’s no telling how many dark elves Lorsan has in this realm and we are going to need more light elves to fight them.”

“She’s got a point, Babe,” Elora pointed out.

Cush let out a frustrated sigh. “We need that book.” He looked at Lisa pointedly.

“Lisa, please say you brought the book with you,” Elora pleaded.

Lisa folded her arms across her chest and narrowed her eyes at her daughter. “Why on earth would I bring a book that powerful into enemy territory?”

Elora shrugged. “Uh, because you’re you.”

“Damn,” Lisa huffed, “that’s true. Okay, yes, I brought it. It’s in the…,” she froze before the word came out of her mouth and her head snapped around to Cush, “vehicle,” she finished breathlessly.

Elora groaned and smacked her forehead. “You mean the vehicle that blew up several miles from here only a few hours ago?”

“Um, yep,” Lisa said and made a popping sound on the end of the word.

“Excellent,” Rin growled.

Elora was surprised because it was the first time she had seen the warrior even a little ruffled. She looked over to her own warrior who was now gazing out of the window into the nearly empty parking lot of the cheap motel. He was staring off in the direction where the vehicle in question had bit the dust.

“What are you thinking, Warrior?” Elora asked him as she walked over to where he stood. He turned his head to look down at her and she saw his jaw tense up and his eyes narrow. It was a face she was beginning to recognize as his determined look.

“I will go get it,” he answered as his eyes met hers.

“Um, how about no,” Elora said sharply. “The book is probably a pile of ash, and if you go back you run the risk of being captured or killed by the dark elves that may still be lurking around. You can’t go back and get it, Cush.”

“Elora,” Cush’s voice was low as he stepped closer to her. “A book that powerful probably contains protection. It might be fully intact.”

“You want me to risk your life on might be?”

“No, I want you to let me do my job.”

Elora bit back the snarky remark that was on the tip of her tongue. She knew that goading him would only push him to want to do it more. Instead she relaxed her face and tried to soften her tone. “I understand that you are a warrior. I understand it is your job to protect, but if you try to go get this book that might not even exist anymore, then you will be leaving me unprotected.” She nearly grinned as his brow furrowed at her.

“That’s not fair, Little Raven,” he nearly whispered. “You will be perfectly safe with Rin and Tony.”

“Oy,” Oakley piped in looking indignant.

Cush rolled his eyes. “And your brother; they are all capable of protecting you.”

“Okay, that may be, but who will protect them,” she pointed at the ones he had indicated, “from me?”

Cush’s lips twitched and Elora could tell he was fighting a smile. “Why do they need protection from you?”

“Because I’m going to kick their asses if they let you walk out of the motel on a suicide mission for a book that is probably scattered across the field as fertilizer by now.” Elora’s mouth was stretched into a straight, thin line and her forehead was wrinkled in frustration as she continued to stare at Cush, waiting for his response to her minor tirade. Was she being a little overprotective of the six-foot-four, elf warrior? Maybe, but he was her six-foot-four, elf warrior and she wanted him to stay just as he was—alive.

“I’m sorry, Raven, this is just one in a long line of disagreements I’m sure will come over the course of our relationship. I cannot give you what you want.” His deep voice was soft and gentle as he spoke to her.

“Why can’t someone else go get it?” Elora hated that she sounded like a sullen child, but then again, if it got her what she wanted….

“Because I am the leader of this war party and I am responsible for the safety of each of its members. Please,” he let out a sigh before he continued. “Please, just trust me. I’ll be back before you know it.”

Elora made her way to the motel room door and turned to face the group. She crossed her arms over her chest and cocked a hip out to the side. “The only way you’re getting out of this room is to go through me, Cush.”

“I can’t believe you let them tie me up!” Elora nearly yelled. “You’re my mother! Aren’t you supposed to keep things like this from happening to me?” Elora pulled against the ropes that had her hands bound behind the chair but they weren’t budging. She wiggled her ankles, testing to see how tight the ropes there were, but it was no use. Damn elf knows how to tie rope that’s for sure, she thought to herself and then something else occurred to her and she nearly grinned, note to self, proficient at binding. She nearly laughed out loud because she could only imagine the look Cush would give her if he had heard that thought. It was enough to almost make her forgive him—almost.