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“We’re done.” I slid the chair back and rose.
Zander did the same, then Gorgo. Dawn taking Tank out made my skin crawl though I had no reason to suspect we would get ambushed.
“So soon?” Gorgo jerked a chin toward the bar. “You’re welcome to stay and treat yourselves to ale and card games. Once you get a taste of intoxication, you’ll want more. It feels good. Some even get aroused, if you know what I mean.”
My face warmed and something below my belly tingled. My mind drifted to last night when Zander’s hands trailed all over me. If drinking ale felt similar to having sex, I might try it someday, but never in public.
The demons’ voices became louder as they smacked each other’s backs or headbutted at the card table, except for Asher and Sam, who sat like statues.
I should reply to Gorgo, but I was still angry with him. Even if he was telling the truth about a traitor among his people and almost getting me killed and destroying our hideout. What could I say? I would never trust him.
I lowered the cloak hood and sauntered out the door, crushing peanut shells under my boots along the way. Zander behind me, protecting my back. Always watching over me. He was one being whom I could trust with my life without a doubt.
Chapter Nine
The Beginning
Evangeline
I finally relaxed when we stood before Snow and Otis, even though the barn stunk of horse dung. They had stayed hidden toward the back with the horses, where they had a clear view through a small window by the tall stack of hay.
Otis shuffled straw with his feet beside Snow and angled his eyebrows at Tank, who swayed slightly by the door.
“How did it go?” Snow leaned against the wall.
“As expected. I’ll inform you when we get home. Let’s get out of here.” I walked toward Zander and glanced out the window.
No surprise attack or ambush so far, but I didn’t want to press our luck.
“What happened to Tank?” Otis asked.
“Too much ale.” Zander scowled.
I was just about to release my wings when Tank shoved away from Dawn and Zander and stumbled to the nearest horse. Dawn went after him while Zander headed toward the door.
“Oh horsey … you feel … so soft.” Tank rested his forehead against the stallion and caressed its mane.
The horse stomped, eyeing him restlessly.
Laughter reverberated from my team. It felt good to let down my guard just for a bit. Zander cracked the door open and peered out, and then focused back to us. He unsheathed his sword from his wings and stabbed through a lump of straw nearest to him, big enough to hide a body. I wasn’t the only one still on edge.
Tank lurched into the next stall and embraced another horse.
Otis walked toward Tank, shuffling through the straw. “Someone better get him away from the animal before he becomes too frisky with it. Can he fly?”
“This horsey … can … no … can’t fly.” Tank snuggled against its neck. “You can’t follow. I’m going to miss you so much.”
Good question. If he couldn’t walk straight, how would he fly?
Snow giggled. Tank would never hear the end of this from us, from everyone. He would never drink ale again.
“Zander and Eva, go on ahead.” Dawn patted Tank’s shoulder. “Otis, Snow, and I will take him home.”
Dawn pulled Tank away from the horse, but he shoved her and went back to the same position.
“It will take the three of us at least.” Otis chuckled, tugging Tank’s arm. “Especially if we can’t convince him to let go of the horse.”
One of you will die. One of you will betray your friends. And one of you will know torture beyond imagining.
