Iniquity (The Premonition, #5)(34)

“I’ll have ya outta that in no time.”

Despite everything, I smile. “I’m glad I didn’t kill you.”

Russell laughs. “Yeah? Me too.”





RUSSELL


“We have to go!” I warn Zephyr the moment I allow my clone to evaporate and my consciousness to return to my body.

Zephyr stares back at me from his position on an overstuffed chair in the library.

“Did you find them?” Zephyr asks, his calm eyes scannin’ me.

“I found Reed. He’s screwed, like always. Dominion Powers have him at their chateau. He tried to kill Tau, which didn’t work out so well for him.”

“Have they harmed him?”

“I don’t think he beat himself up, so I’d say they haven’t been very hospitable.”

“And Evie?” Zee asks with a grim look.

I shake my head, pretendin’ not to be completely freaked out. “I don’t know. She’s not with him. Reed thinks she’s still alive. She’s an ass kicker; she’ll find us when she can. Reed told me to stay away. He said he’d free himself and find us.”

“They’ll kill him,” Anya says quietly.

“Huh?” I turn ‘round to Anya’s lithe body leanin’ against the doorframe of the library. She pushes away from it and prowls in, her graceful steps makin’ me lose my train of thought as I stare at her. Her dark wings move with her in a seductive, dangerous flutter, like she could chase down the devil without much trouble.

Her soft, full lips say, “Dominion. They’ll kill Reed. If he harmed Tau in any way, it’s a death sentence. We have to rescue him before he’s shredded.”

“He said not to come there.”

“Of course he did,” her lips spread in a cynical smile. “He’s a Power; they think they never need anyone’s help.”

“Prostat Powers don’t need to be rescued from other angels,” Zephyr says gruffly.

Anya lifts her hand towards Zee, “See? We need to free him.”

“Who’s we?” I ask with a scowl. “You’re not gettin’ within a hundred miles of that place. Right now, you’re public enemy number one to them.”

Her perfect chin lifts as she smiles like I gave her a compliment. “I’ll be fine. Xavier won’t let them kill me.”

My eyebrows slash together in a flare of jealousy. “Naw, I won’t let them kill ya ‘cuz you’re not goin’ there!”

“We have to get him back. He’s not the one that was born to die.”

“What’s that supposed to mean?”

“Your girl won’t last the year.”

The wingback chair next to me makes a crackin’ sound as my hand squeezes it too tightly. “You’re my girl. I’m not gonna let anyone hurt ya.”

She looks confused for a second. “I meant Evie,” she says, uncertainly.

Her glance my way only feeds my desire for her. “You don’t know the future, and Anya, you’re my only girl,” I state again unequivocally.

“Once maybe, but now...”

I lift my eyebrow. “What’s that above your heart then?”

Her fingers glide unconsciously over the bindin’ mark on her skin. “A mistake,” she replies.

Her words make my heart contract painfully. It’s a feelin’ that I know comes from missin’ a life that I’ve left behind—from missin’ her. “You have to stay with me for now, Anya. That’s non-negotiable.”

“You don’t even remember me.”

“I may not remember everthin’, but the crickets that I feel whenever you’re ‘round mean somethin’.” My eyes shift to Zephyr who has been watchin’ our exchange with fascination. He stands as I say, “We gotta move. This place is feelin’ downright creepy, Zee.”

He frowns. “What do you feel?”

“My flesh is crawlin’. It’s like they’re peekin’ at us through the shadows, gatherin’ in the crevices of this place. Whatever it is, it’s here—under the bed, tryin’ to get inside my head.”

“It?”

“The evil that just kicked our asses out in the snow. It’s back.”

“Then I won’t say aloud where we’re going, should it be listening.” His assurance that I’m right makes me uneasy. “Brownie, Buns...” he says in a tone that hardly rises at all.

Buns wobbles stiffly through the door of the library with Brownie not far behind. They’re both twice their normal size because they’re wearin’ several layers of clothes, givin’ them the appearance of bohemian Eskimos.

“Buns,” Zephyr’s tone is admonishin’, “we discussed the need to travel light.”

Buns gives him a petulant look. “Do you see me carrying luggage?”

“No.”

“Then what’s the problem?” Her chin juts out.

I clear my throat. Zephyr’s sharp eyes pierce me. I shake my head, hopin’ he picks up what I’m layin’ down.

Zee turns back at Buns and murmurs, “You seem uncomfortable.”

“I’m really hot,” she admits with annoyance, “but what do you want me to do? I have to plan our wardrobes without even knowing what SEASON we’re heading into because NO ONE has let me know where we’re going!” She stabs her finger at Zephyr.