Page 8 of Vanish Into Light

Rose said, “Sir, we’ve been trying to bring Shubert down for months, we’ve incurred casualties at his hands, and those of his followers. Beck was able to subdue him and transport him safely here all on his own. If he says he can get information out of him, I think it’s worth listening to him.”

They stood in the cramped hallway outside the multi-doored conduit cell that was holding Shubert captive. Rose, Lance – who should have been in bed, but had stubbornly insisted on being here – Captain Bedlam, General Waits, and a few flinching, cowering sergeants who kept darting glances between all of them with the air of a crowd who expected people to come to blows.

Theyhadwitnessed Rose reach for her knife with Bedlam, earlier. A transgression for which Rose was trying to make up for now, even if it got her demoted or court-marshalled.

“Sir Greer,” Bedlam snapped.

Waits turned on Rose, livid now. “Oh,youthink, do you?SirGreer? Just like you thought bringing some sort of – of demonic freak into our midst was a good idea?” His cheeks puffed out as he breathed, and a vein throbbed visibly in his temple.

Rose kept her features schooled, and her posture firm, unyielding. She sensed Lance’s attention fixed on her, but ignored him, for the moment.

Your man.

No, think of that later.

“Sir,” Bedlam said, tone almost soothing. “Everything about this entire situation is already irregular. We have Shubert, and we didn’t think we could achieve that. At this point, we want whatever intel he can provide, and then we want to eliminate him. Becket has gotten us this far. What could it hurt to give him an opportunity?”

The general’s jaw worked a moment. He glared at Bedlam, and then at Rose. Then he looked to Lance, and drew himself upright with a deep inhale – which still didn’t get him as tall as Lance. “And what about you, Lieutenant? Are you onboard with this bullshit?”

Lance said, “Yes, sir.”

Rose felt her brows shoot up.

“Youwhat?” Waits demanded.

“I agree with the captain: what can it hurt to try? We don’t want to contain Shubert long-term. If Becket can get some answers out of him, I say let him try.”

The general’s face threatened to go purple; the vein throbbed dangerously. “Unbelievable,” he muttered. And then, a half-shout: “You people are unbelievable! Fine. Do what you fucking want. But don’t come asking me for another goddamn favor if this all goes in the shitter.” He brandished an admonitory finger, spun, and left, the sergeants scurrying after him.

“He’s going to give himself a stroke with that kind of stress,” Beck said, and glided out of a shadowed doorway, wings trailing behind him like a cape.

Bedlam flinched. “Jesus Christ,” she hissed.

Beck flicked one of his enigmatic little smiles. “Hardly.” He surveyed them, gaze settling on Rose. “Are we ready?”

“Just waiting on Morgan,” Rose said.

Behind her, Morgan’s flat voice said, “I’m here.” A glance proved that her hair was wet, for some reason. Rose frowned.

Beck said, “Ah, yes.Morgan.”

Rose glanced back toward him, and felt her frown deepen. He had his head cocked to a threatening angle, that hawk-sharp look he’d always given his prey now fixed on Morgan.

“Alright,” Lance said, voice shifting into lieutenant mode. “You can play angels versus demons later.”

Beck said, “I’m not a demon.”

“Whatever the hell you are, do you think you can control yourself in there?”

“I always control myself.”

They stared at one another a long, tense second. Lance was actively glaring. Beck was expressionless; his tail lashed, faintly, around his feet, betraying his tension – no, she thought with a faint throb of panic, hisreadiness.

“Boys,” she said. “Let’s go.”

Lance whipped around toward the cell door, ducking his head, muttering, like a scolded child.

Beck flicked a grin, and his gaze touched hers a moment, sparking with amusement – and something else.

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