Iniquity (The Premonition, #5)(80)

“What do you mean?”

“His mentor, Byzantyne, is obsessed with possessing Evie. To him, she is the wildest, most beautiful butterfly that he’s never quite gotten for his own. She makes Emil look like a moth in comparison. Emil doesn’t like being anyone’s moth. Her inescapable arranged a deal wherein Byzantyne never gets Evie’s soul, but that won’t be quite enough for him.”

“How do you know that?’ Russell asks.

“I know it because he would’ve killed me right away the first moment we met at Crestwood. His plan was to kill me first, but he found he couldn’t because of this.” Reed holds up his ring that I gave him. “It ruined his plan and allowed us to escape. He followed Evie and me, but I was taken to Dominion and Evie escaped once more with Xavier. Emil went back for you, Russell, but the Gancanagh saved you. Now his plan is to draw out our reapers as bait. He’ll try to capture or kill them. He wants us to return to Crestwood—back to him. It’s a simple plan, really.”

“So what does Emil do with Evie if he gets her?”

“He exacts revenge upon her and Byzantyne. It’s a good plan.”

“How do you know all this?”

“I remember him. I hunted Byzantyne and I watched them both linger around Simone. It was obsession.”

“Obsession. Are you talkin’ about them, or ‘bout you?” Russell asks.

Reed’s smile doesn’t reach his eyes. “I was referring to all of us.”

“Wait. You mean, you knew Evie when she was Simone?”

“I was there when she died. I will explain it all to you when I see you.”

“Russell, Reed and I aren’t safe here. Xavier will know I used his portal. He knows it leads here. You have to meet us somewhere else. We need to leave here as soon as possible. He’s probably on his way here now.”

“Where will y’all be?”

“Go to Detroit. I’ll think of a place in the city where we can meet, and then I’ll contact you. Hurry, Russell, Sheol is open and there isn’t much time.”

“Hurry, she says,” Russell’s clone mutters sarcastically, “like I didn’t just catch her making out with her aspire in the middle of a situation.” His clone disappears into the air.

“I need to find Brennus.”

Reed nods. “You may want your clothes for that.”

“I think that’s wise.” I pick up my clothes from the floor and put them on. Reed shrugs into his shirt. “It’s best if we leave now. We can find somewhere private for you to track Brennus.”

He’s right. Xavier’s mountain fortress is far away, but not if Xavier finds a portal in the vicinity of this house. He can be here at anytime. “We need to move.”

“What kind of car did Xavier drive?” Reed asks with a grin.

“C’mon, I’ll show you his garage.”

I take Reed to the underground stable of chrome and steel horses. When I turn on the light, I see what I now know is part of an angel arsenal—endless rows of motorcycles, cars, and SUVs polished to a high shine. “Which one do you like?” Reed asks. I walk down the row of SUVs. “The white one.”

Reed chuckles at my total disregard for the makes and models of the luxury vehicles. “The white one it is.” He opens the passenger door for me. I climb in. He’s sitting in the driver’s seat in a fraction of a second. I smile at him. He shows me a chip in the palm of his hand. “What is that?” I ask.

He closes his hand and crushes the chip. Dust falls from it when he opens it again.

“I disabled the tracking device and anti-theft protocols.” The keyless fob is in the console. Reed opens the fob and disables more components. He starts the car, glancing over at me. “I’ll find us a safe place to meet Russell while you find Gancanagh.”

I exhale and close my eyes. As Reed uses the car elevator to take the SUV from the basement to the driveway, I concentrate on creating a clone. Reed drives the car onto the street. My shimmering image floats through the roof of the SUV, up through the leafless branches of oak trees and into the night sky.





BRENNUS


I close da door ta me room. Having jus left Finn ta manage da fallout of whah we learned from our parley wi’ da trolls, I rub me face wearily. I despise da weakness associated wi’ needing ta sleep. Da only consolation I have in it is dat I can search for Genevieve in me dreams. I miss her more dan I care ta admit, even ta meself. I need her more dan I need anyting in dis miserable world.

I’ve had ta abandon her dis long because circumstances dictated it. Dere’s unrest everywhere. Craiturs are mobilizing. We have a very small window of opportunity ta persuade dem ta our side—ta join me queen’s army. I could’ve used Declan on dis front. He was adept at finding da angle dat gains compliance. I miss da counsel of me captain o’ da guard. Beside Finn, he was like a brudder ta me.

I go ta me bedside table. Tugging da small vial from da chain I wear around me neck, I lift it over me head. I set da vial of Genevieve’s blood down next ta da lamp. Dere is na much left in da small bottle. I will need ta ration it until I can get more or until she sees reason and joins me in dis fight. She is so stubborn. It’s da Seraphim in her.

I lie down on me bed, propping me head on a couple of white pillows. I reach over, intent on unstopping da vial of Genevieve’s blood when I pause. A commotion stirs from da hall beneath me room. Electricity surges tru me body as a radiant image of Genevieve enters me room. I set da vial back on da table, watching as she moves gracefully ta da edge of me bed. She hovers near da footboard before she climbs up on da mattress and crawls seductively ta me side. She lies down, looking up at da ceilin’.