Not Broken: True Destiny, Book 5 by Dana Marie Bell

don’t have time to babysit your lame ass.”
    Sylvia laughed. “I think it’s more he’s babysitting you.” When Toni glared, Sylvia laughed harder. “Travis was once lord of the Vanir. He’s the strongest warrior we have. If anyone is doing the protecting, it’s him.”
    Travis nodded slowly when Toni stared at him. “I don’t know if the danger Nik saw comes from your case or something else, but until he tells me you’re safe you’ll be living with us.”
    Kir piped up, holding a key. “With Sydney, to be exact.”
    Sydney groaned. “Oh, please no. She’s going to hate me.”
    “She won’t hate you.” Magnus surprised Sylvia by pulling Sydney close and glaring at Toni. “Will she?”
    “I might, depending on some things.” Toni crossed her arms, not at all intimidated by Magnus’s scowl. “For one, was she in on this?”
    “No, but I was.” Magnus put Sydney behind him and took a step, placing himself before both Slade and Sylvia as well. “And I agree with Nik. There’s no way you can defend yourself from the Old Man. Not yet, anyway. He’ll tear you apart without a thought. He’s killed humans before just to lure us out of hiding, tortured his own grandkids, skinned Sleipnir alive. You think he’ll stop at making you uncomfortable?”
    “I can take care of myself.”
    “Against a god?” Magnus’s fingertips sparked. “Against someone who can crawl through the shadows to get to you?”
    Toni stared at his hands and sighed. “Fine. How long am I in jail for?”
    The lightning died from Magnus’s fingertips. “It’s not jail. It’s…family.”
    She rolled her eyes. “Yeah, yeah. I’m Italian, I know family.” She sighed, defeat in her stance and the way the fight went out of her expression. “All right. I get it. And in an odd way, I even appreciate it. I just wish it wasn’t necessary. I was this close to capturing a serial killer and now I have to hand the case to someone else.”
    “I’m sorry about that.” Travis exchanged a glance with Magnus and Morgan. “Perhaps we can help to make up for it.”
    “I’d appreciate that.” Toni walked over to Sydney and held out her hand. “I swear to God I’m not a psychopath.”
    Sydney took Toni’s outstretched hand. “I swear I’m not either.” She tilted her head. “Unless you count my vampiric assassin dohvakin. She’s a freaking nut.”
    Toni blinked, then her eyes narrowed and an evil smirk crossed her face. “I used to be an adventurer like you.”
    Syd beamed at Toni. “But then I took—”
    “—an arrow to the knee!” The women echoed each other, laughing when they were done.
    Sylvia watched as the two women linked arms and began discussing things like armor types, loot, tanking, and melee and ranged fighting styles versus magic. It was as if the rest of them no longer existed. “They’re both gonna starve to death.”
    Magnus shook his head, amused. “Sisters by another mister, huh?”
    She huffed out a laugh. “I guess so.”
    Slade slid between Sylvia and Magnus and put his arms around each of their waists. “I like it.”
    The wistfulness in his tone had her looking at him sharply. “Slade?”
    He surprised her by leaning his forehead against her own. “It’s just nice to see family, that’s all.”
    She gazed into his eyes, his pensive expression becoming something more, something warmer. The desire in his gaze caused her pulse to race. His warmth as he stood close seeped into her, his scent filling her senses. Sleek, powerful and beautiful, she could see why Magnus was smitten with him.
    He pressed a kiss to her forehead and stepped back, turning to Magnus. “I need to rest.” His voice was scratchy, like someone had run a grater over his vocal cords.
    “Go. I’ll take care of things out here. We’ll be in soon.”
    We?
    “Don’t do anything that will open up your side.” Slade kissed Magnus’s cheek. “Good night.”
    “Good night.”
    Slade turned toward her. “Don’t worry so