Page 44 of Fallen Angels

I’m surprised and my expression reveals as much. “I feel for you.”

He chuckles. “She is quite a beautiful creature.”

“She is,” I answer.

“And she requires protection,” he continues as he studies her. “From each one of you.”

“She shouldn’t come with us to free Morrigan,” I say. “There’s a good chance we will be captured again, or worse.”

“I have consulted the Cosmos on that exact subject,” Pyre begins.

“Why am I not surprised?”

He disregards my comment. “The Cosmos believe that Eilish must accompany you. She must be part of the expedition to release the Midnight Queen.”

“Have you ever gone against the wishes of the Cosmos?” I ask, curious.

Pyre faces me and his expression is hard. “No.”

He shrugs and snaps his fingers again as the rest of our crew snaps back to attention. Pyre faces them. “I hold no position, other than to say Morrigan doesn’t belong in the castle. As to why she is there or how, I can’t say.”

It takes me a moment or two to realize he’s responding to whatever comment was last made before he froze time.

“None of that matters anyway,” Eilish says. “The point is that we have to get her out.”

“Then I am outnumbered,” I say with a sigh.

I do promise myself, however, that I won’t risk my life for any of them again, save for Eilish. And if I see a situation painting itself in those colors, I will desist at once.

CHAPTER TEN

BARON

The Veil

“Once Eilish gets into the palace, what then?” Cambion asks.

“We kill Variant,” Dragan responds.

“No one goes for Variant,” Pyre says, and his voice leaves no room for argument.

“You’ve got to be kidding,” Dragan starts.

Pyre shakes his head to let us know he’s not kidding. “None of you should go anywhere near Variant. He’s not only heavily guarded, but he’s unstable. He’ll have the upper hand of powerful magic protecting him. Your best chance is to get inside the palace quickly and unseen.” He closes his eyes and reaches his hands out towards the roofless sky. Then he opens his eyes and nods. “I believe The Midnight Queen is in the North Tower.”

“How do we get past the guards?” Dragan asks. “Variant won’t leave her unguarded.”

“I’ll do it,” Eilish announces as she takes a deep breath and her cheeks flush.

“And how do you propose to do that?” Cambion asks, glaring down at her.

“What am I?” she responds. He appears confused. She answers her own question. “I’m Succubus, or have you all forgotten?” No one responds. “I’ll seduce the guards and get the keys.”

“No,” Dragan says immediately but Cambion stays him with a raised hand.

“She has a good point,” he says. “Her seduction magic is powerful.”

“It’s even more powerful lately because it has gone unchecked,” Pyre says as he then glances at Cambion with astrange expression. Cambion clears his throat and looks the other direction.

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