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Victus placed an elbow on the table, contemplating what Abacus said. Angels were just as conniving, vicious, and dangerous as vampires, demons, and humans. And yet, humans worshipped them as if they were some divine beings.
Humans failed to see the angels were merely warriors and many had gone rogue. Like the one they called the Angel of Many Faces. He should be called the Monster of Many Faces instead.
“The feather being is no fool.” Victus swirled his glass with his other hand, watching the crimson liquid tunnel. He took a sip. “Since there’s no proof Dawn betrayed her, she’ll be fair but act with caution.”
“What do you think Asmodeus will do with Little Bird?” Abacus pushed back into his seat and sighed. “As much as I hate Seraphim, I kind of miss her. She made me laugh. She was good entertainment.”
Markane twirled his seat to face Abacus. “What other reason is there to want her? He wants to fuck her. He’s got a thing for wings.”
“Don’t we all.” Abacus shrugged, then drummed his fingers on the chest looking lost in thought.
“I don’t know and I don’t care.” That was what Victus convinced himself. He stiffened, heat radiating from the ruby.
“Feel anything yet?” Markane drank from his goblet.
“She requested me to take her to Asmodeus,” Victus’s added as an afterthought, ignoring Markane’s question. “That was her reward for saving Nadira.”
He should be happy to get rid of that feather being and yet her intoxicating spring flower scent lingered and stayed with him. And her dark strands reminded him of someone and he couldn’t shake the thought out of his mind. He glanced at the empty seat she had occupied not too long ago and he could almost hear her voice.
Where’s Snow? Eva’s words haunted him. Dawn’s words came to his mind. Levia told me she was taken to be sold and some vampire bought her.
Victus narrowed his eyes at Abacus, then to Markane. “By any chance, did one of you go to the demon auction? And did one of you happen to by an angel named Snow?”
“Who is Snow?” Abacus flicked the lock on the chest, avoiding Victus’s gaze.
“Does Nadira know you’re home?” Markane drank from his goblet again, his face turning flushed.
Not an answer, but a good distraction. What was up with these two?
Speaking of which, he expected Nadira to run into the room and demand where he had gone. Victus didn’t tell his daughter before he had left. He didn’t want her to worry or get upset at him for taking the feather being away. She seemed to be fond of her.
Victus downed the rest of the blood and jolted up. “Fuck!”
He dropped the ruby on the table with a loud thump. He growled in pain as he rubbed at his palm sizzling, boils forming.
Victus recalled Eva’s strained features and the desperation when she tried to take off her necklace. He could have helped her, but he held back. Victus had refused to let her get under his skin. He would not care for that feathered being.
“Those fuckers!” Abacus pounded the table and mimicked Levia’s husky seductive voice. “As far as we know. We’ve never tested on vampires and demons.” Then back to his angered tone. “All lies. I bet Asmodeus has a ruby casket for each of us.”
Markane’s fingers tightened on his goblet. “They would never admit using vampires as their test subject in front of us, as we would never admit the same to them. Victus was smart to ask for the rubies with hematite. Hematite doesn’t affect us so the ruby is our threat. Maybe Nina can examine their effects.”
Victus couldn’t imagine any being locked in the casket for eternity. He wouldn’t even want that for his worst enemy, except maybe Asmodeus.
Victus flexed his fingers, the burning sensation and the boils had almost dissipated. “I’m going to find Nadira, then I’m headed on the road to find Queen Maria before she arrives at the castle.”
“Are you going alone?” Markane asked but didn’t get an answer.
Kara burst through the door and ran toward them, worry crossing her face. What did Nadira do now? His daughter was always getting into trouble.
Kara bowed, panic in her voice. “I followed Nadira to the market, but on our way home we were surrounded by demon soldiers. They took her and let me go free so I could give you Asmodeus’s message. He wants you to go to Mount Skulls in Whiten and bring him the Gate Key. You have three days. If you don’t, you’ll never see Nadira again.”
Victus growled and flung his goblet so hard, it soared across the room and shattered against the door. His anger radiating through his roar pierced through the air and bounced against the walls.
Abacus pounded a fist on the wooden chest, forming a spider-like crack down the middle. “I’m going to kill him. That fucker played us while we played nice at his castle.”
“What’s a Gate Key?” Markane drummed his fingers on the empty goblet, calm as the cool breeze in the room. “And what is he going to do with it?”
“Why are you not angry?” Abacus pounded a fist on the table. “Are you not concerned for Nadira’s safety?”
