Page 55 of The Dark Rises
CHAPTER TWENTY-THREE
CORMAL
“I’ve got to go. Kavi says the trail is leading into Aerie Wells. As a chaos demon, he isn’t familiar with the area, and I don’t want him to end up a prisoner of some damn Red Cap or worse,” I inform them, sliding more weapons into the black fatigues I’m wearing.
Meri waves a hand, dressing herself in a fitted black outfit complete with knit cap, and lifts her backpack. “Let’s go.”
This isn’t a trip. “You’re not going,” I snap. “It isn’t safe. Just because it’s in the land of the Fae and not The Underworld doesn’t mean Leandra can’t find you there.”
She folds her arms across her chest. “I’m not asking your permission.”
Madoc heaves a sigh and stands. “Hell, Aerie Wells is in the Dark Fae Kingdom. I’m the most familiar with it. It makes sense for me to go with you.” He scowls at Meri. “I agree with Cormal. It’s too dangerous. Besides Leandra, the creatures in Aerie Wells are walking nightmares.”
She lifts a shoulder. “And?”
“And we can’t protect you and search for my man,” I shout, throwing up my hands. “What if something attacks you and your bracelet comes off? Think for a second.”
Rivan strides into the room. “What the hell is going on? I could hear you from the elevator.”
“Cormal’s sister went missing a long time ago. One of his men found a lead, but when they tried to follow it, Cormal’s other man, a very tough chaos demon named Fluk, died. They’ve been trying to catch up with the first man, but someone keeps interfering with their search,” Meri explains to Rivan.
“Lot was last seen in Aerie Wells twenty minutes ago,” I toss out. “My second in command, Kavi, isn’t familiar with the area.”
Rivan whistles. “I’ve been there quite a few times with my father. Kavi will be a target the second he enters. Let’s go.”
“Why did Brixton go to Aerie Wells?” Madoc questions him with a puzzled expression on his face.
“To talk to the other leaders of the Fire Fae Rebellion,” Rivan reveals with a shrug. “They were too easily recognizable everywhere else.”
Madoc turns back to me. “We have more knowledge than you. We’re going with you.”
Meri steps forward and spears me with a narrow-eyed look. “Me too. I’m not changing my mind. You need to trust us to be there for you.” Her fingernail taps her wrist. “We need to go.”
Exasperated, I point to Rivan and Madoc. “She’s your priority. If anything happens, get her out of there. I can take care of myself and my men.”
Both Madoc and Rivan snort but agree.
My phone pings. “It’s Kavi. It says JI #3.” I raise an eyebrow and look at Madoc and Rivan. “Well?”
“Juba Inn, room three,” Rivan murmurs. “We should go in the rear entrance to avoid anyone seeing us.”
Damn it.I was hoping he was bluffing about his knowledge. Without another word, I storm out the door with the three of them. As we pass Astor in the lobby, I tell him where we’re going in case anything happens.
His eyebrows shoot up. “Good luck.”
When we arrive in Aerie Wells, it’s pitch black.
We head to the Juba Inn and around the back. Old wooden stairs lead up to the second floor, and Rivan nods when I point to them. Once inside, we tread softly down the hallway until we reach room three. After knocking twice, then once, I push the door open and find Kavi and Lot arguing.
Relieved, I wave a hand to get them both to shut up. “Shut up. This isn’t the kind of place where you want what’s in the shadows noticing you. Not if you don’t want to be eaten or worse.”
Kavi throws a murderous glance at Lot but folds his arms and closes his mouth.
I point to Lot. “We’ve been searching for you. Why haven’t you answered my texts or sent us updates?”
“Too dangerous,” he spits out, running a hand through his red hair. “We made contact with the Fae and informed him that we had the info he needed. We set the time and location, then we fucked up.”
He lifts a shoulder. “Apparently, nobody uses a phone around here. Not in the open. The second Fluk picked up his phone to text you, the locals killed him for being a spy or some crazy shit.”
