That grin sharpened. “No promises.”
Calyx just sighed, then swooped an arm around Eliza’s waist.
She slid out of reach with a sharp laugh. “Oh, hell no.”
The look on his face told me he hadn’t expected that reaction from her. “What’s wrong? You flew with me before?”
“And I hated every second of it,” she shot back. “You purposely banked like a drunk bat and almost dropped me twice—because you thought it wasfunny.”
“But Ididn’tdrop you,” he said, bristling. “I wouldn’t do that.”
“You absolutely would,” she grumbled. “I’ll take my chances with an actual angel, thanks. Not a devil in disguise.”
Levi’s smile deepened, and I caught a flash of teeth.
“Ha!” Calder shouted behind me. “That had to burn.”
Thankfully, Levi didn’t gloat, but the look he gave Calyx was enough. A quiet, knowing satisfaction. Then he turned, slow and deliberate, and lifted Eliza into his arms. She wrapped hers around his neck without hesitation. In one smooth motion, he unfurled his pure white wings, the sharp snap stirring the ash at his feet.
Calyx’s mouth flattened, but he didn’t utter a word.
“Do try to keep up,” Levi mocked.
“Don’t worry about me,” Calyx retorted, already stretching out his own black wings.
“Play nice,” I told them. “And if you two are going to stab each other, do itafteryou return with everything.”
Levi shot me a glance, his eyes sparking with something more devious than mirth. “Understood.”
He was enjoying this way too much.
“I’ll return with your damn cat and imp, Lily,” Calyx said. “But don’t be surprised if the angel doesn’t make it back.”
Levi only sneered.
I just sighed. Clearly, this problem wasn’t going to resolve itself anytime soon. I had a feeling we’d just have to let it play out, and hopefully not find ourselves caught in the middle.
Levi launched into the air, Eliza tucked tightly against his chest. Calyx followed a heartbeat later but was mindful to stay tight behind them, like the backup he was.
“Alright,” I stated. “We have work to do here.”
The entire place was in ruins. Nothing but slag and stone. The watchtowers lay in two smoking heaps, and the ground was a patchwork of blood and bodies. Mephisar stalked the stone wall, his tail swinging as he patrolled the perimeter, his attentionon the wasteland. With him keeping guard, I felt secure enough to focus wholly on the outpost itself.
“Korrak! Rathgor!” I called.
From across the courtyard, two heads popped up. A second later, they tromped over, splattered in blood and gore up to their knees, but grinning like thieves after a successful heist.
“I’m leaving the barracks assignment in your care,” I said. “It’ll be up to you two to decide who gets one. We don’t have room for everyone, so make it fair.”
They barked a simultaneous laugh and stared at each other. I swear, their horns twitched with eagerness.
“Fair,” Korrak rumbled.
“Sure, Princess,” Rathgor added, grinning. “We’ll keep itfair.”
I rolled my eyes—hellspawn. “Well, keep it non-lethal then. We can’t afford to lose anyone to stupid fights.” Though, I suppose I could simply resurrect anyone who died.
Rathgor tipped his head back and laughed, his fangs flashing. “Whatever you say.”
