Page 37 of Commanding Chaos

We approached the van, and she reached for the driver’s side door. That, I would not allow. “You need rest. I will drive.”

I attempted to steer her toward the other side, but she protested. “Ember will kill me if I let you drive.”

“I have done it before.”

“I know, but that was out of necessity.” She stepped out of my grasp and fished the keys from her pocket. She swayed, clutching her head. “Whoa. Okay, maybe this time is a necessity too.”

I helped her around to the passenger seat and buckled her in before getting behind the wheel and starting the engine.

“How do you learn so fast? You haven’t existed in this time more than a few weeks, yet you understand all our technology.”

I chuckled. “I am a Prince of Hell.”

“Commander of armies, destroyer of all who vex you, yada, yada, yada.” She rested her head against the window and offered a teasing smile. “It doesn’t mean you have to be so smart.”

“Powerful, smart, good-looking…” I returned her grin and drove toward the back of the store. “Hard to resist, I’m sure.”

“You have no idea.” She laughed and winced, gingerly touching her injured shoulder.

My face fell, my mood darkening. “I could have ended that battle with a snap of my fingers. You didn’t need to get hurt.”

She closed her eyes. “We’ve been over this.”

“Indeed. It doesn’t mean I have to like it.” I stopped the vehicle in the lot behind the store, and the other witches climbed in.

Ember’s jaw tightened when she saw me behind the wheel, but she remained silent as she returned her weapons to the hatch and buckled her seatbelt. “Here.” She shoved her phone toward me with the directions open on the screen.

Ash snored softly, an endearing sound, on the way to their healer’s home. Her lips parted slightly, and as I stopped the van, she snorted, waking herself. I held in my laugh. I had never experienced this much silence from these witches, which meant they were all in need of rest and healing. It also meant finding my brother’s skull would be delayed even longer.

The urge to leave them all here and retrieve it myself had me gripping the steering wheel in a vise. But as Ash lifted her head and smiled at me sleepily, I knew I could not leave her side.

A fist of pain curled in my chest. I would have to leave her eventually. Returning to Hell was the only way to restore the veil to its natural state.

I couldn’t think about that, or I might raze the city and take her to the Underworld with me. As my attachment to her grew, the option sounded more and more appealing.

“We have arrived,” I said to the sleeping witches in the back.

Shade groaned, and Ember let out a growl to rival a demon. Chrys opened the side door, and they filed out, not bothering to close it behind them on their way inside.

Ash opened her door and paused, turning to me. “Thank you for helping us today.”

“I would burn down the world to protect you.”

She swallowed, her gaze flowing over my face. “Let’s hope it doesn’t come to that.”

“Indeed.” Though I wouldn’t hesitate if it did.

She slid out of her seat. “Are you coming in?”

“I will wait with the van. I’m afraid your healer may discover more than she needs to know about me if I come inside.”

“Good idea.” She closed the door and shuffled to the house.

Half an earthly hour later, they returned. Ash’s complexion once again had a pink hue, and the others walked upright, rather than stumbling. Their healer was undeniably talented.

“Feeling better?” I asked Ash as she buckled her seat belt.

“Still exhausted, but Patrice put a healing salve on our wounds, and it’s already working.” She indicated her freshly bandaged leg.

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