Page 76 of Live Like Legends

She opened her mouth to protest, but the sentries cut her off. “What’s all this about?”

Elise tried to break from my hold, but I yanked her back over to me so hard that I’m sure she got whiplash. “I’m sure Ariel wouldloveanother potential threat in the Ethereal Bastille.”

“Blondie! You little…” She whined but I shushed her.

The sentries eyed each other and then looked back at me. The taller one spoke. “Isn’t your friend already locked up in there?”

The other one, a female with corkscrew dark curls spoke next. “Yeah, we saw him get hauled away.”

I shrugged. “Yeah, well I’m not trying to end up like that, so I’m thinking this could be a nice way of getting into his good graces.”

The female tilted her head. “Okay, sure. We’ll tell Ariel.”

I hummed. “Well,actually, I want it to be a surprise. I want to tell him myself. Listen, with everything going on, he’s probably really busy with his ceremony and all that so I don’t want to be more of a problem then I’ve clearly already been. Let me just get her settled in her new home. I know the way, so you guys don’t have to bother with leaving your post.”

I squeezed Elise’s wrists as she continued to stay quiet. Her breathing was even as if she was stewing in her anger over this situation. She was smart enough to understand what was happening, so I was silently thanking the realms that she had decided to shut the fuck up.

The taller sentry nodded and stepped to the side.

My heart thundered in my triumph. Before we started walking again, I leaned towards the female sentry. “Do you happen to have the magic dampening handcuffs on you?”

“Handcuffs...you fucking…” Elise started, pulling away from me.

I twisted her wrists harder, so she winced slightly, baring her teeth. “It would be much appreciated.”

The female sentry smirked and reached into the satchel she had at her side, pulling out the golden handcuffs. When they clicked into place, I took Elise by the arm and strutted past the two guards.

Elise huffed. “Ifuckinghate you so much.”

“We’re in aren’t we,” I stated, heading down the hallway and making the trek to the Ethereal Bastille.

She scoffed, shaking her head. “I still hate you. You aren’t as dumb as you look, but I still hate you.”

I wanted to let out a booming laugh, but held it in, releasing a small chuckle instead. “Aw, tiny psycho, the feeling is mutual.”

Iwas going tokillhim.

He was going to die when this was over and I would make it slow and so agonizing. I had so many options to run through in my head yet none of them seemed good enough. The handcuffs bit at my wrists each time I flexed them, but I was vibrating with so much annoyed anger that I couldn’t help it.

I peered up at the blonde angel and noticed he looked pleased with himself. I could strangle him, watching the life leave his hazel eyes and I probably still wouldn’t be satisfied with my choices.

He had caught me by surprise, which I was mentally beating myself up about because that hardlyeverhappened. I wasn’t a total idiot, so I wasn’t going to implode the plan before it had a chance to even evolve. I’d nearly bit my own tongue through his short exchange with the sentries and maintained my silence as we passed by various angels, making our way to the Ethereal Bastille.

Once Blondie had his friend back and Dimitri was dead to all of us, I would formulate my own plan to lure him away and kill him. I would do it, I swore tofuck, I would do it.

I could feel the difference in the air as we descended some stairs and began to walk down a darkened hallway. It felt less airy, like the light that this place seemed to think it exuded was snuffed out.

I kind of loved it here. The Ethereal Bastille was the first place in this entire realm that felt normal to me.

“You going to remove these anytime soon, Blondie?” I wiggled my wrists.

He arched an eyebrow at me as we walked. “Not yet, just shut up and wait.”

I growled at him.

He snorted, pulling me along. “You keep making noises like that, I will have to flick you on the nose for bad behavior.”

“You touch my nose and I bite your fucking finger off.” I deadpanned.

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