Burning Dawn
Page 48
“Until we meet again.” With a last warning look at the seething Orson, Thane flared his wings and returned to the sky.
Remove the prisoners from the stakes, and lock them in the cells, he projected. He would have liked to do it himself, but the time to face Zacharel for his part in the destruction of the Rathbone building had come. I have an errand. I shouldn’t be gone long.
Bjorn and Xerxes didn’t know about the meeting or what would be done to him, and that was the way he would keep it.
Consider it done, Xerxes said.
You don’t have to worry— Bjorn stopped, hovering in the middle of a sun-drenched cloud. Thane and Xerxes had to backtrack. The warrior’s face was pained. I must go. He glanced over his shoulder. She’s— He pressed his lips together.
She? Thane looked but saw no evidence of...what? The shadow demons? Or had his friend been summoned by their queen?
I’m sorry, but I can say no more without breaking my vow. Bjorn, his features tormented, vanished.
Thane bit his tongue until he tasted blood. The Lord of the Underworld, Lucien, has the ability to follow a person’s spiritual trail, he said to Xerxes. After my errand, I’ll hire him to follow Bjorn.
Good plan.
Lucien was the keeper of the demon of Death, responsible for escorting certain souls to the hereafter. He was a good man. Honest. Honorable. Rules mattered to him.
“I’ll see you soon.” Thane branched to the right.
Xerxes called out, stopping him. “What about the girl?”
“She is to be protected at all costs.” When he returned, he would talk to her. She would assure him of her ancestry.
All would be well.
CHAPTER FOURTEEN
ANOTHER WHIPPING, YES. That was what Thane expected. Or, finally, the end of his immortality. He would have begged for another change. Instead, when he came to rest at the edge of Zacharel’s cloud, the leader of the Army of Disgrace was waiting for him. He cupped the back of Thane’s neck and pressed their foreheads together, the wind blustering around them. “You could have killed hundreds of humans,” the Elite soldier said.
“I know. The prince—”
“Acted because you did not heed my order.”
He gave a stiff nod. “I know that, too. I regret my actions.”
Surprise whisked through eyes so green they could have been mistaken for emeralds. “Do you?”
“Yes.” Arrogance had cost him a much-desired victory. Maybe more.
“I hope so. Because every decision you make affects more than your life,” Zacharel said, black hair brushing his cheek. “It affects the lives of those who love and depend on you.”
The words struck a very sensitive chord inside Thane. He knew his actions affected the lives of his loved ones. He’d chosen to stay at the building, and Bjorn and Xerxes almost died. Elin almost lost her protector. His club almost fell under new management. Immortals from all over the world would have made a bid for it.
“I have a new assignment for you,” Zacharel said, and Thane realized with startling clarity that he would not be receiving punishment.
“Have you nothing more to say about Rathbone?” he demanded.
“No. You endangered lives, but you also saved them. Now, listen.”
Dazed, he nodded. In that moment, he felt...loved by his leader. Accepted.
It was humbling.
“It’s imperative that we diminish the prince’s growing army.” Determination pulsed from the warrior. “One of his many hordes has been found in New York. I’ll send you the coordinates when you reach land.”
He flexed his fingers with anticipation. “How was the horde found?”
“Maleah.”
Maleah. Of course. A fallen Sent One. She monitored the world and its happenings, never resting. Once, she had been one of the most beloved members of the heavenly armies. Now she was determined to help the people she’d let down when she gave up her wings—for whatever reason. Speculation was rampant, but facts were few and far between.
Once, Thane had lusted for her. Now, he mentally placed the pale-haired gothic beauty next to the dark-haired, delicate Elin. There was no contest.
“Take the soldiers you need and kill the demons,” Zacharel instructed. “Kill them all. Leave no minion standing.”
Very well. No mercy. A policy he still excelled at. Thane nodded, anticipation already slithering through him. “And if we come across the prince?” he asked.
“Summon me.”
“All will be done as you have said.” Unfortunately, his meeting with Lucien would have to wait.
As he dived from the cloud, he communicated with Magnus, Malcolm, Jamilla and Axel all at once, commanding their presence on the roof of another building owned by Rathbone Industries in Times Square. Now.
Zacharel gave him the coordinates he would need as he landed. Thane tucked his wings into his back and peered down at the colorful human world. The streets were crowded. Neon lights flashed. The atmosphere was thick with scents of food, perfume and exhaust. Voices chattered; cars honked. Some footsteps click-clacked. Some thumped.
He heard the warriors arrive behind him. He turned, told them what Zacharel had said and where they were going. The same anticipation he felt was mirrored in their expressions.
“I want one demon left alive,” he announced. “Doesn’t matter which one.” Post-battle interrogations were always fun.
Nods of agreement met his words.
“Let’s do this thing!” Axel said with a whoop.
In unison, the group leaped from the building and arrowed toward the ground below. Because the warriors were in the spirit realm, their bodies were like mist as they bypassed the road, the subway system, and entered a labyrinth of dark, dank, forgotten tunnels.
At the bottom, Thane solidified his body and palmed a sword of fire. The others did the same, and the flames acted as torches, casting golden light in every direction. The smell of sulfur stung his nostrils. Cackles echoed up ahead, but it was impossible to tell where they originated. The blood-splattered walls provided too many options.
Thane held up his free hand and signed the direction he wanted each warrior to go. The group split up, everyone snaking their assigned corner.
Alert, on guard, he raced forward, using his wings to propel him faster and faster despite the tight, cramped space. The voices grew louder. He heard humans now. Whimpering. Pleas for mercy that would never come. He gave up following the man-made tunnels and ghosted through the walls, the vibration of the sounds guiding his feet. But he took a wrong turn and ended up in an empty room.
Remove the prisoners from the stakes, and lock them in the cells, he projected. He would have liked to do it himself, but the time to face Zacharel for his part in the destruction of the Rathbone building had come. I have an errand. I shouldn’t be gone long.
Bjorn and Xerxes didn’t know about the meeting or what would be done to him, and that was the way he would keep it.
Consider it done, Xerxes said.
You don’t have to worry— Bjorn stopped, hovering in the middle of a sun-drenched cloud. Thane and Xerxes had to backtrack. The warrior’s face was pained. I must go. He glanced over his shoulder. She’s— He pressed his lips together.
She? Thane looked but saw no evidence of...what? The shadow demons? Or had his friend been summoned by their queen?
I’m sorry, but I can say no more without breaking my vow. Bjorn, his features tormented, vanished.
Thane bit his tongue until he tasted blood. The Lord of the Underworld, Lucien, has the ability to follow a person’s spiritual trail, he said to Xerxes. After my errand, I’ll hire him to follow Bjorn.
Good plan.
Lucien was the keeper of the demon of Death, responsible for escorting certain souls to the hereafter. He was a good man. Honest. Honorable. Rules mattered to him.
“I’ll see you soon.” Thane branched to the right.
Xerxes called out, stopping him. “What about the girl?”
“She is to be protected at all costs.” When he returned, he would talk to her. She would assure him of her ancestry.
All would be well.
CHAPTER FOURTEEN
ANOTHER WHIPPING, YES. That was what Thane expected. Or, finally, the end of his immortality. He would have begged for another change. Instead, when he came to rest at the edge of Zacharel’s cloud, the leader of the Army of Disgrace was waiting for him. He cupped the back of Thane’s neck and pressed their foreheads together, the wind blustering around them. “You could have killed hundreds of humans,” the Elite soldier said.
“I know. The prince—”
“Acted because you did not heed my order.”
He gave a stiff nod. “I know that, too. I regret my actions.”
Surprise whisked through eyes so green they could have been mistaken for emeralds. “Do you?”
“Yes.” Arrogance had cost him a much-desired victory. Maybe more.
“I hope so. Because every decision you make affects more than your life,” Zacharel said, black hair brushing his cheek. “It affects the lives of those who love and depend on you.”
The words struck a very sensitive chord inside Thane. He knew his actions affected the lives of his loved ones. He’d chosen to stay at the building, and Bjorn and Xerxes almost died. Elin almost lost her protector. His club almost fell under new management. Immortals from all over the world would have made a bid for it.
“I have a new assignment for you,” Zacharel said, and Thane realized with startling clarity that he would not be receiving punishment.
“Have you nothing more to say about Rathbone?” he demanded.
“No. You endangered lives, but you also saved them. Now, listen.”
Dazed, he nodded. In that moment, he felt...loved by his leader. Accepted.
It was humbling.
“It’s imperative that we diminish the prince’s growing army.” Determination pulsed from the warrior. “One of his many hordes has been found in New York. I’ll send you the coordinates when you reach land.”
He flexed his fingers with anticipation. “How was the horde found?”
“Maleah.”
Maleah. Of course. A fallen Sent One. She monitored the world and its happenings, never resting. Once, she had been one of the most beloved members of the heavenly armies. Now she was determined to help the people she’d let down when she gave up her wings—for whatever reason. Speculation was rampant, but facts were few and far between.
Once, Thane had lusted for her. Now, he mentally placed the pale-haired gothic beauty next to the dark-haired, delicate Elin. There was no contest.
“Take the soldiers you need and kill the demons,” Zacharel instructed. “Kill them all. Leave no minion standing.”
Very well. No mercy. A policy he still excelled at. Thane nodded, anticipation already slithering through him. “And if we come across the prince?” he asked.
“Summon me.”
“All will be done as you have said.” Unfortunately, his meeting with Lucien would have to wait.
As he dived from the cloud, he communicated with Magnus, Malcolm, Jamilla and Axel all at once, commanding their presence on the roof of another building owned by Rathbone Industries in Times Square. Now.
Zacharel gave him the coordinates he would need as he landed. Thane tucked his wings into his back and peered down at the colorful human world. The streets were crowded. Neon lights flashed. The atmosphere was thick with scents of food, perfume and exhaust. Voices chattered; cars honked. Some footsteps click-clacked. Some thumped.
He heard the warriors arrive behind him. He turned, told them what Zacharel had said and where they were going. The same anticipation he felt was mirrored in their expressions.
“I want one demon left alive,” he announced. “Doesn’t matter which one.” Post-battle interrogations were always fun.
Nods of agreement met his words.
“Let’s do this thing!” Axel said with a whoop.
In unison, the group leaped from the building and arrowed toward the ground below. Because the warriors were in the spirit realm, their bodies were like mist as they bypassed the road, the subway system, and entered a labyrinth of dark, dank, forgotten tunnels.
At the bottom, Thane solidified his body and palmed a sword of fire. The others did the same, and the flames acted as torches, casting golden light in every direction. The smell of sulfur stung his nostrils. Cackles echoed up ahead, but it was impossible to tell where they originated. The blood-splattered walls provided too many options.
Thane held up his free hand and signed the direction he wanted each warrior to go. The group split up, everyone snaking their assigned corner.
Alert, on guard, he raced forward, using his wings to propel him faster and faster despite the tight, cramped space. The voices grew louder. He heard humans now. Whimpering. Pleas for mercy that would never come. He gave up following the man-made tunnels and ghosted through the walls, the vibration of the sounds guiding his feet. But he took a wrong turn and ended up in an empty room.
