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Certainly, his view wasn’t me, right? But why did I feel like he was taking me for a ride instead of the other way around?
“You’re not going to drop me by accident, are you?” He laughed nervously. “We made a truce and I’m as good as my word. I will fight by your side. No one left behind, okay? You get what you want and I get mine.”
“Sure.” I peered up at the clouds, making sure nothing was in my way. “You ready?”
I didn’t give him a chance to respond and launched to the sky like a shooting arrow.
“I think I’d rather run!” he hollered.
Chapter Thirty-Eight
The Gate Key
Evangeline
In my arms, Victus’s face was a mix of fear and wonder. He quickly got his bearings in the air, relishing the freedom that came with soaring across the sky. His expression softened as he peered down at the tiny town, the forest, and the mountains.
I could almost see the wheels turning in his head as he embraced this new perspective. To my surprise, he even thanked me.
When we soared over the bailey, no soldiers attacked us with shooting arrows. Asmodeus must have told them to let me be since he was expecting me back from Mount Skulls. Won’t he be stunned to see Victus by my side?
We touched back down on solid ground without a hitch, and I even walked inside the throne room with Victus without being stopped by the guards. When Asmodeus wasn’t there, we rushed to the dining room. Sure enough, he was eating a feast of roasted chicken, a platter of fruits and vegetables, and desserts.
Four human women, two on either side of him, giggled, and about ten soldiers lined the wall. When our footsteps pounded across the stone floor, the laughter and conversation faded. Asmodeus’s eyes widened in surprise, more so when they landed on Victus.
“Welcome back, friends. Would you like to join us?” Asmodeus extended his arms outward.
All the gemstone rings on his fingers and the golden crown on his head glistened in the sunlight pouring down from the dome-shaped glass ceiling.
“Yes, we would.” I sauntered over to the woman with long curly hair and yanked her out of her seat. “Go, all of you before my friend bites you.”
Victus’s lips spread then hissed with his fangs showing. I was pleased he went with the flow and was so spontaneous.
The women screamed and dashed out the door. When the guards rushed toward us, Asmodeus raised a hand and they lowered their swords and went back to their posts. A good thing they didn’t attack. I was just about to reach for my dagger inside my boot.
Asmodeus took a long gulp and set his goblet down. “I didn’t know you were the jealous type, Eva. And when did you two become friends?”
“Cut the crap.” Instead of throwing the chair at him, I gripped the top rail. Calm. Acting rash will not get you Zander. “I’d like to get this over with. Why did you send us both? Did you think I couldn’t do the job?”
Asmodeus leaned back and licked his greasy fingers one at a time as he spoke, “Actually, you two weren’t supposed to be there at the same time. I had delayed Eva so Victus would arrive first. And …”
“To get rid of me?” Victus seethed through his fangs.
“Something like that.” Asmodeus popped a blueberry in his mouth as if this was a casual conversation.
Victus’s eyes turned crimson and the dark veins throbbed along his cheekbones. I stepped in front of him just before he pounced on Asmodeus.
“Show us Nadira and Zander,” I said in a hurry, and the tension in Victus’s body eased.
“You have the Gate Key?” Asmodeus twisted the diamond ring around his finger.
“We have it.” Victus snarled.
“Before I do anything, give me back the sword I let you borrow.”
I was hoping he would have forgotten about it, a foolish hope. I released my wings, took out the divine sword and slammed it on the table in front of him. The plates rattled.
“Come with me,” Asmodeus said to us.
