Iniquity (The Premonition, #5)(87)

Zephyr, Preben, Buns, and Brownie get into the Golden Goose. Russell runs back to them, relaying the message, and then he gets into his black vehicle.

Reed pulls away from the curb. We resemble a small funeral procession as I direct Reed to drive to the shadier part of town. Passing rows of abandoned houses and buildings, we’re getting close. I know it because there’s no one on the streets for a couple of blocks. Then, I feel them. The coldness I associated with the Gancanagh when I first met them no longer exists for me. Since Brennus bit me, the awareness is more of a familiar tingle raising the hair on the back of my neck. Fellas watch us move closer to the seminary they inhabit. I don’t see them, but I know they’re there. That means they’re either under orders not to approach me, or they are afraid of me. Either way suits me just fine at the moment. I don’t plan to cajole them into fighting for me. I plan to lead from a position of power.

Reed pulls up and parks in the circular drive in front of the defunct seminary. He turns off the car. The view of the building from the passenger side window is gorgeous. The structure is old and gothic—something out of a fairytale. The fellas have been working hard to return it to its former glory. Snow has been cleared away from the cobblestone walk and the grand staircase in front. Intricate wrought-iron handrails lead up to heavy wooden doors. One of the doors opens. Brennus emerges from the shadowy foyer. He looks every inch a king in a dark suit and an exquisite black coat. Finn follows him. He’s similarly attired, a slightly paler version of his older brother. As they walk toward our car, wind stirs their black hair, causing it to fall and play on their foreheads.

When Brennus reaches us, he opens my door for me. Extending his gloved hand, he says, “Welcome home,” and waits for me to take it. I place my hand in his and allow him to help me. As soon as I’m out of the car, I let go of him. Standing beside Brennus and Finn in the cold, I wait for Reed to join us. Snow floats in the gray, overcast sky, making everything appear magical. Brennus takes off his coat and drapes it around my shoulders. The heavy fabric is warm from his body heat, which surprises me a little. He’s different, physically anyway.

Reed approaches us. Brennus hardly gives Reed a second look as he says, “We have a truce until dis is over, aingeal.”

“The moment that it is, you should worry,” Reed replies. He stands beside me. I look over at him and try to reassure him with a smile that falls flat.

Russell and Anya join us on the walkway. Russell doesn’t look happy to be here. He stands rigidly in front of Anya, ready to defend her at any hint of trouble. Anya reaches out and touches his side. Russell wraps his arm around her shoulder, pulling her beside him. Brennus’ sea foam-colored eyes rest on Russell. “Da other, I see dat ye’ve recovered from yer wounds. Ye and yer aingeal look grand.”

“It didn’t take me long to heal after I pulled your knife from my belly. But I guess I gotta thank you for savin’ us.”

“Consider it a debt paid for healing me queen.” He looks past Russell and Anya to Buns and Brownie. “Ah, da Reapers have arrived—and more Powers—yer entourage is growing, mo chroí.” He smiles at me, indicating Zephyr and Preben, but then his eyes darken and his eyebrows clash together. Without warning, his fangs engage with a click. Stepping in front of me, he growls, “Someting is wrong.” His back is to me. Finn gets in front of me as well, ready to defend me from whatever Brennus senses. I can’t see around the wall of Faerie.

Reed remains relaxed beside me. He takes my hand in his, trying not to laugh. “What you sense is Phaedrus. He’s a Virtue. He came with us to help us locate something.”

Brennus relaxes, turning to look at Reed. “Ye couldn’t have mentioned dat before I sensed da Virtue?”

It suddenly occurs to me that Virtue angels are invisible to most beings. It’s only because I’m part angel that I can see him. “Wait. You can’t see Phaedrus?” I ask.

Brennus retracts his fangs. “I can na see him, but I can feel him. At da moment, da Virtue is radiating enough heat to burn da place down.”

Phaedrus strips off his shirt, exposing his skin to the icy air. He wraps his shirt in his hands. “He’s right. I need to get inside and locate the item we came here to collect.”

“Can you hear him?” I ask.

“No,” Brennus replies.

“You can’t even see his clothes?” I press on, still hung up on the notion.

“Na if he’s touching dem. He has a magic of his own,” Brennus replies. He makes a gesture with his arm, “Shall we go in and find whah ye’ve come here ta collect? I do na tink I can bear da suspense much longer.” He leads the way to the doors. He’s beside me after I enter the foyer. The inside is breathtaking. It’s so much crisper though through my own eyes than through the eyes of my clone.

This is the cathedral part of the seminary. Intricately crafted wooden pews flank a long marble floor. The aisle leads to an apse. Instead of an altar there are two enormous thrones. I face Phaedrus. “Where are you being pulled?” I ask.

He walks up the aisle. “This way,” he replies over his shoulder. His owlish wings eject from his back and unfurl. I follow him. His wings stretch out wide as he approaches the apse and stands under the colorful light from the stained-glass window. He takes flight, soaring around the carved stone images of saints recessed into the walls. He lingers near the back wall. “It’s somewhere…” He lands back on his feet. He drops to one knee, feeling the marble floor. His deft fingers search for a crease.