Page 14 of Grave Revelations

“The space is too tight. My wings won’t fit.”

She frowned, peering up at the narrow space before dropping her gaze to the crown of his head. Tentatively, she set a hand on his shoulder and stepped into his cupped palms. He lifted her, and she held her hands out to either side for balance as he stretched his arms over his head.

She snatched a blanket, wobbling as it came free. He cupped her ankles, steadied her, and stepped left so she could grab a second blanket. She winced as the pain in her foot flared to life, but in moments, his grip loosened, and he set her down gently.

The sun was well and truly beyond the tree line now, and a sinking feeling settled in her. The town seemed small and sleepy, but they hadn’t crossed paths with anyone yet.

“Azazel,” she whispered. “How far are we from my sister’s hideout?”

He glanced down, giving her an inscrutable look. “Far enough.”

She frowned. “There aren’t any people in this town.”

“She couldn’t have made it to this island by boat in the time it took me to bring us here. If she were coming for you, she would have had to wait till tonight to set sail.”

Rebecca chewed her bottom lip. “You’re wrong.”

“What do you mean?” Azazel asked, turning his sharp gaze on her.

“Her new creatures can exist during the day or night. They are some sort of demon-night-being hybrid. They would have been able to man the boat, transporting her body by day.”

Azazel grumbled something before he bent, scooping her up.

“Put me down,” she demanded.

He ignored her, launching into the sky.

Rebecca’s stomach dipped as they shot up, and she turned her head into his chest to avoid seeing just how high they were.

“Someone might see us!” she hissed.

He said nothing, whether because he couldn’t hear her over the sound of the wind or because he chose not to answer, she had no idea.

When her stomach settled, she dared to glance at the treetops below. This close to the bottom of the mountains, the trees were more sparse, rocky hills dotting the landscape, and every so often, white speckled the earth. They were small buildings, possibly houses, but the surrounding land wasn’t cultivated.

“They’re churches,” Azazel said, answering her unspoken question.

“All of them?”

“Once, Sfakia had over one hundred and fifty active churches. It was a beautiful place, but after the war that triggered the start of the end times, most were destroyed or abandoned.”

Rebecca gazed in silence as they continued their glide up the side of the mountain. The trees grew denser as they ascended, and when they reached a point near the top, they dropped into the canopy and dipped below it, settling on snowy earth.

From above, it was invisible, hidden from the naked eye. Speaking of naked…

She unwrapped the swim trunks from her blankets and tossed them at Azazel. He caught them, sliding in one leg at a time before he stepped into their small dirt shelter.

It was a visual she wasn’t likely to erase from her mind any time soon.

“We didn’t get water,” she said, following him in. “And I don’t think we should hide out here all night while Elizabeth continues killing.”

Azazel raised an arm, pulling vines and branches up into the shape of a chair, and sat, his wings disappearing as he reclined. He made it look so effortless. She envied his ability to use magic freely and without consequence.

“You can call water to you. Why don’t you try it?”

Crossing the room, she dropped the blankets she’d pilfered on the makeshift bed and turned. “You truly are trying to convince me to kill myself, aren’t you?”

Azazel arched one dark brow. “As I said before, using your gifts will not hasten your death. In answer to your earlier question, you’ll remain here. I will find the nasdaqu-ush and stop her.”

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