Page 97 of Dawn of Chaos and Fury
“It’s the best I can do right now,” Theon said. “Tell her I swear I’ll be there as soon as I can.”
“Yeah, all right,” Axel grumbled, not convinced in the least.
“Axel.”
“What?”
“We’re almost there,” Theon said. “When I come there with Tessa, I’ll be the Arius Lord. Tell her that. Tell her we’re almost there.”
The line went dead, and Axel looked down at the phone.
He would be the Arius Lord? What the fuck did that mean?
He pondered the possibilities all the way back to the Charter District while also marveling at not having any trouble this entire trip. It was unheard of in the Underground. But when he entered his building, he knew immediately something was wrong. The doorman was inside, stationed where the building managers usually were.
Axel didn’t bother asking. He raced for the lift, jamming the button repeatedly, even while ascending to the penthouse. The moment he stepped into the foyer, Kat was there. Her face was pale, and there was genuine fear in her eyes as she clung to him,trembling. She hadn’t feared him that morning. Had faced him without flinching. Whatever this was, it was bad.
“What the fuck happened?” he demanded, taking in everyone in the room. The building manager was here, yes, but so were the two Legacy he’d called in favors with and three Witches, including Miara.
“You had a delivery,” Ajax, one of the banished Legacy, said grimly.
“A delivery of what?”
“I think it was more of a message,” Miara said tightly, motioning to one of the other Witches.
The female stepped forward, a canvas bag in her fingers.
A canvas bag stained with blood on the bottom and dripping onto the marble floor.
She reached inside, and Axel pressed Kat farther into his chest, shielding her face.
Because that was Bohden’s severed head in the Witch’s hand.
And he had no doubts who had sent him the Commander-of-Force’s head.
Bree Fucking DelaCrux.
19
EVIANA
“Motherfucker,” Lange grumbled when the vehicle lumbered over a large pothole in the road. Everything not secured rolled all over the back of the truck. Corbin grabbed him, keeping him from rolling off the bench where he was stretched out, his head resting on Corbin’s thigh. “Every fucking time I’m asleep. You’d think they’d be able to keep their roads in decent condition.”
He was grumpier in the truck. Or maybe it was just her effect on him. When Eviana had first met Lange and Corbin, Lange had been the more carefree and easygoing of the two. But with each passing day, he became snarkier. Darker. A little meaner. She should probably feel bad about it, but truthfully, it was a good thing. He’d need that grit for what they were about to face. Sunny dispositions got you nowhere in Devram.
Even if she was starting not to mind his stupid nickname for her.
“How can you sleep,bellana?” Lange muttered, something hitting her in her face.
She opened her eyes, stretched out on her own bench, and glared at Lange, brushing the crumpled napkin onto the floor. “I’m not sleeping with your constant commentary,” she retorted.
“Like you could sleep in these conditions anyway.”
“I’ve slept in far worse, wind walker. At least we’ve been alone these last several days.”
She could feel eyes on her, and she glanced at Corbin, finding him watching her far too intently. If Lange was the carefree one, Corbin was too observant and introspective. Which wasn’t surprising. She was sure it was an instinct based on what he was, but it didn’t mean she liked it.
“Do you think we’re close?” Lange asked around a yawn, trying to stretch out a little more. Corbin’s hand fell to his chest, fingers brushing down his torso and back up. Lange relaxed some under the comforting touch, and Eviana suddenly wondered if she’d ever find a touch comforting like that.
