Page 60 of Fallen Angels

“Well, fuckin’ easy fer you say ‘cause ain’t none o’ youze riskin’ yer asses,” he responds.

“It’s just a matter of time before all of us start risking our… asses,” I inform him.

Flumph shakes nervously but then nods and tightens his grip around the strange crossbow implement Noni gifted him. I lift him above my head as high as I can, and he flies up to the wall. Each of us holds our breaths as we watch him disappear behind the curve of one of the walls. I feel my heart hammering in my chest as I hope he’ll accomplish his task and stay alive in the process.

One of the soldiers falls over the edge of the wall, dropping to his death, maybe thirty feet below us. A small, narrow dart sticks out from his neck where Flumph shot him. The sound the soldier’s body makes on impact is horrifying and I doubt I’ll ever be able to clear it from my memory. I watch as Baron at once starts out for the fallen soldier and begins to strip him of his armor.

“What are you doing?” I ask incredulously.

“This isn’t part of the plan,” Cambion adds.

“Backup plan,” Baron replies as he pulls the stolen armor over his own clothing. Baron’s face is now concealed behind the soldier’s helmet. “If we get stopped at any point, I’ll play the part of Variant’s minion.”

No one argues because Baron’s idea is a clever one. A few minutes later Flumph sticks his head over the side of the wall, breathing heavily. His smile is huge and proud.

“These dickheads are faster than they look,” the sprite explains. “This whole side o’ the wall be clear though. So climb yer fat asses up an’ don’t bother thankin’ me none ‘cause we ain’t got time.”

“Wait,” Cambion starts and we all look back at him.

“It seems we’ve forgotten Eilish’s costume,” he says as his eyes settle on me.

“Her costume?” Dragan repeats.

“Did we or did we not agree that Eilish is to be cloaked in the mantle of a scullery maid?” Cambion asks with irritation.

“Right,” I say with a quick nod.

“Hurry,” Dragan adds.

Cambion faces me and narrows his eyes as he holds his hands up, palms facing me. Then he closes his eyes and his lips move as he weaves an enchantment around me that feels like armies of ants marching up and down my skin. It’s maybe another few seconds until he opens his eyes and drops his hands. When I glance down at myself, I notice I’m now dressed in a light blue and white frock with an attached apron and white stockings. I feel my hair and realize it’s pulled back into a bun at the nape of my neck and there’s a peculiar little hat perched on my head.

“Carry on,” Cambion says as he glances at me and then nods at the wall.

I grip the stones on the wall and pull myself up, one brick at a time. Dragan climbs behind me. His arm brushes my thigh and my knees buckle as the Succubus rears up again. Really, she’s becoming exhausting. He grips my leg with one hand and pushes me back up.

“Get ahold of yourself,” he snaps.

“I’m sorry,” I answer and then flush.

“We can’t afford for you to lose control now,” he continues.

“I… I need to feed,” I answer, hoping he’ll understand how tough this is on me—how it’s affecting me on every level. As it is, I feel so exhausted, I can barely move. And the thought of having to climb the rest of this wall is something I don’t want to think about, let alone do.

The feeling of his palm against my leg is almost too much. “Move, Eilish. Now.”

He pushes me up a bit and I scramble to find security on the stones. Cambion reaches the top first and then clears his throat as his eyes find Dragan and me. He watches us both with interest, although I’m not sure why. I’m nearly at the top when I glance up and see Baron leaning over the top of the wall and offering me a helping hand. I accept it and he pulls me up the rest of the way. My arms burn from exertion.

“You need to feed,” he says with a curt nod. “You won’t last much longer.”

I nod because he’s right. He squeezes my hand and I glance down at his. Just feeling his hand on my wrists causes a moan that gets stuck in my throat.

“I feel dizzy,” I say as I take a deep breath.

“If we survive this, you do what you need to,” Baron says and then he glances over at Cambion who glares at us both.

I don’t really understand what Baron means but I choose not to ask. Baron tightens his hold around my wrist and I’m instantly reminded of the way he handles me when he’s inside me—his determination and his dominance. I moan. I can’t help it.

“Eilish,” he warns.

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