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Tank’s nostrils flared. “Why are you asking Michael what our next plan is? We’re going to Asmodeus’s castle. Unless …” He reached across the fire and yanked Gorgo up by his tunic. “Did you lie to me? Where’s Evangeline?”
Asher and Sam rose with daggers at the ready on either side of Gorgo. Funny how we ended up sitting angels and demons on opposite sides of the fire. I’d guess those two didn’t know each other well.
Tank didn’t trust Gorgo. I didn’t blame him. Sometimes I wondered about his true motives.
“Easy there, friend.” Gorgo’s face was as serene as a lake. “I’m not your enemy. Put me down, you hunk of beast.”
Tank scowled and shoved Gorgo. The force of his push would have flung Gorgo into the tree behind him, but Asher and Sam grabbed his arms in time to stop the momentum. He slammed hard on the log instead. Gorgo snarled, his eyes flickering black to hazel.
“Anyone want an apple?” Otis chomped down on one, calming the intense mood that suddenly coated the forest like a thick fog.
Where the hell did he get that?
No one said a word as the fire crackled and embers floated.
“Where’s Evangeline?” I broke the silence.
I didn’t want to deal with her or any OA members, but it seemed Tank and Otis were part of her team. Though I’d wondered what happened to her and Snow ever since I rescued them.
“Why are you asking?” A muscle in Tank’s jaw ticked.
Protective. My assumption proved right. Before I could say a word, Gorgo stepped in.
“This is Michael, the one who rescued Eva and Snow when they were attacked by vampires.” Gorgo gave me a nod in acknowledgement.
“Michael? The Michael?” Otis glanced up then took a bite of a whole apple.
My cheeks warmed. What did Eva say to them about me? But was that his second apple? I could have sworn he had eaten half of his first already.
Tank’s scowl disappeared and his lips twitched with a hint of a grin. “Eva has told us so much about you. How you brought down a handful of vampires on your own. I’m glad you’re here. You can help us. According to him …” He pointed a finger at Gorgo. “Eva is convincing the vampire king to take her there as his prisoner and we’re supposed to meet them at the castle.”
“Why on earth would she work with the vampires?” My gaze pinned on Gorgo.
Gorgo scrubbed a hand down his face. “A long story, but her team, which includes Tank and Otis, was attacked by Asmodeus himself. He captured Zander whom you’ve never met, and also Dawn, and Snow, who you already know.”
The OA had set their sights on taking down Asmodeus, so I wasn’t surprised Eva had thought of a way to get inside the castle. Allying with the vampire clan was an act of desperation, but now it all made sense. She was going in for a rescue mission first, and then would use any means necessary to bring down Asmodeus while she was inside.
“Well, I’m sure Eva is in good hands.” I shrugged and shuffled pebbles under my feet. “I’m on my way to Silorn, Mount Stones, to rescue my mother and sister.”
Sam, who hadn’t said much narrowed his eyes. “What will you do there?”
“I’m going to bring it down,” I said as if it were that simple.
“What about Eva?” Otis’s eyebrows pinched together as he dropped two apple cores by his feet.
I scratched an itch by my spine under some loose feathers. “You have your goal and I have mine.”
“It’s better if we work as a team.” Tank’s voice dropped softer as if he almost didn’t mean to say it, as if he knew I would turn him down if he asked me to go along.
Gorgo threw a couple of sticks into the flames. “The big guy is right. You could use our help finding your family, and we could use yours bringing down Asmodeus.”
I released a long sigh, guilt making its way to the surface. Levia had given me five days to get to the castle. If I found my family first, they would be safe and I wouldn’t need to pledge my allegiance to Asmodeus.
“Let’s find my mother and sister, then we talk.”
Chapter Twenty-Five
To the Castle
