Iniquity (The Premonition, #5)(84)

Reed plays along. “It’s a date,” he whispers into my hair. We sway together long after the music ends.

There’s a loud rap on the door. Reed’s forehead rests against mine. He whispers, I love you, Evie.” His hand still lingers on my hip, like he can’t let me go. I look over his shoulder. Russell is on the other side of the glass. His tawny hair is covered with a Detroit Tigers knit cap. Russell nods his head toward the doorknob. He’s holding Anya’s hand. White, new snow clings to her ebony hair and her long, black eyelashes. Lion-shaped earmuffs cover her ears. Reed lets go of me to unlock the door. I glance through the picture window. Buns and Brownie close the car doors of the Golden Goose, Buns’ semi-luxury gold-tone car from the nineteen eighties. Zephyr is on the street, checking out the area with his hunter eyes, trying to calculate the danger surrounding us.

Russell allows Anya to enter ahead of him. Reed reaches out and hugs her. Russell’s low growl makes him sound like a wolf resides in his heart. Reed smiles despite the warning. “I get it,” he says to Russell. He lets go of Anya. He extends his hand to Russell. Russell takes it without hesitation.

“It’s instinct, Reed, and given our history, can you blame me?” Russell asks.

I walk to Anya and hug her, “How are you?” I ask.

“I’m well. We’ve managed to evade divine and fallen angels all the way here. Everyone is looking for us, but we have excellent karma.”

“Yes, you do,” I agree.

Buns squeezes past Russell and Reed to get inside. “And we have the Goose!” Buns exclaims, referring to her car. “No one messes with the Goose!” She runs to us, tackle-hugging Anya and me. Brownie slips in to join our circle, squeezing us fiercely. When we break apart, I have to wipe away tears.

Zephyr walks through the door. Looking at Reed, he says, “When Russell told me you said we couldn’t miss you—to just look for wings, I was skeptical.” He gestures outside to the glowing neon sign of a white-winged Pegasus.

“It seemed a fitting place to meet,” Reed replies.

Zephyr turns to me and hugs me. “I missed you,” he says simply.

“I missed you, too.” I rest my head on his shoulder. I let go of him. “I heard you ran into some trouble with my inescapable.”

“I will kill him for you.”

“We have to locate the weapon we need first.”

“That is why I brought Phaedrus with me,” Zephyr replies.

He steps aside so that I can see Phaedrus in the doorway. I don’t smile, but walk to him and hug the black-eyed angel. “Thank you for coming, Phaedrus.”

Phaedrus wraps his arms around me. “You’re welcome. Do you know where the Gancanagh are?” His body is burning up. He’s like holding an electric blanket that is turned up high.

I let him go and nod. “Yes. They’re only a few miles from here—in an old seminary.”

“I can visualize the place in my mind. It’s very hot in here, isn’t it?” Phaedrus asks. He unwraps the plaid scarf from his neck and takes off his coat. It must be extremely warm for him here because we’re so close to the Gancanagh base. Phaedrus locates his targets by following heat signatures. The closer he gets to something he’s looking for, the hotter he feels. It’s a relief to me that my instincts were right—Brennus has the weapon I need.

“Let me get you some water.” I go to the bar and retrieve a glass for him. On my way back I almost drop it. Another angel stands in the doorway. It’s Preben. His silver-blond hair is covered with snow. The Power angel shakes the flakes from his head and smiles at me, before looking at Zephyr and saying, “The rooftops are clear. We weren’t followed.”

“Preben, how did you find us?” I ask.

“Zephyr called me. I’ve been running reconnaissance on Dominion for us. I was coming up with a plan to free you, Reed, but you freed yourself.”

“I had a little help,” Reed replies, glancing at me.

“Hey! I helped, too.” Russell teases. “Those knots did not untie themselves.”

“I owe you,” Reed replies to Russell.

“You do.”

Buns strips off her coat and tosses it over the back of a chair. Going to the bar, she starts lining up flutes. “We’re celebrating!”

“What are we celebrating?” I ask, handing Phaedrus a glass of water. Turning, I go to help her. She passes me a bottle of champagne. Taking another from a refrigerator under the bar, she pops the cork without even breaking a nail.

“Family,” she replies, pouring the sparkling liquid into tall stemware.

I pop the cork on my bottle and fill glasses. Russell and Anya take off their coats. Preben casts a glance at Brownie. She looks pale. He helps her remove her coat. Setting it aside, he places his arm around the small of her back; she leans on him as he guides her to the bar. My eyes open wide. “What’s wrong with Brownie?” I ask.

Buns looks over at her best friend. “Nothing is wrong with her, she’s perfectly healthy. She just really needs this right now.”

“Why?” I ask. I hand Brownie a full glass of champagne when she leans against the bar.

“She’s more sensitive than me,” Buns explains. “She feels souls more acutely.”

Brownie doesn’t wait for the toast. She drinks it down and holds her glass out for more. “I feel all of the souls who need to be reaped. They’re screaming out to me to help them.”