He stiffened. “Is that an order?”
I took a careful step away from him. “No. It’s a request from a friend.” Hurt stabbed deep into my stomach, so deep that I dodged him when his hand reached out for me.
He used his wing to corral me closer. I scowled at him, but he’d already thrown his arm around my shoulder.
“I’m sorry. I’m not the most fun to be around right now. I got my uncle killed, Danica.”
“No, you didn’t.”
He opened his mouth, and I shook my head. “I was watching. The underworld allowed me to see what happened. Ag… he hadn’t spent enough time with you on the streets. He didn’t know that you were daring Daimonion to come closer.”
He was silent, and I sighed. “It was an accident, Vas. A terrible accident. But it wasn’t your fault. Ag left himself wide open because he loved you. Because he couldn’t stand to watch you die. Don’t destroy his memory by blaming yourself. He’d hate that.”
“I’m going to kill Daimonion, even if it means he takes me down, too.”
“I know.”
He studied me. “Where are your wings?”
I grinned. Everyone wanted to see them. Eventually, I was sure it would get old, but for now I enjoyed showing them off. I stepped away from Vas and concentrated. They appeared, beautiful and new.
“You always wanted wings,” he smiled at me, and there was a shadow of the old Vas in that’s smile.
“As soon as I figure out how to use them, I’m challenging you to a race.”
He rolled his eyes, but his hand darted out, stroking along the edge of my wing. “Can you feel that?”
“Yup. Feels weird.”
I shifted my balance, leaning forward and overcompensating. They looked like they were made of light, but they felt like they were made of tendon and muscle, heavy on my back.
“Just wait until you try to fly,” Vas said.
“Pffft, I’ll pick it up in no time.”
I wouldn’t, but some of the tightness had disappeared from around his eyes at my cockiness, so I counted that as a win. With a final hug, I left him in the stables, still watching the wyverns.
My head was aching, so I slowly made my way to the gardens, nodding at Sitri. Samael had obviously decided I needed a guard, and he fell into step behind me. I wasn’t going to argue. I had a feeling Samael had wanted to give Sitri something to do. He’d been close to Mammon.
So much blood and pain and death.
I glanced up as Lilith flew overhead, low enough that I caught her nod of greeting. As long as I lived, I’d never forget the sight of her storming toward Lucifer’s front-lines, her face covered in blood.
Taking a deep breath, I stepped into the walled garden, where I found Hannah sitting in a quiet corner, her face calm as she soaked up the warmth of the sun.
I nodded to her, about to leave and find my own spot, but she waved me over as Sitri leaned against a concrete wall nearby.
Hannah studied my face. “You’re sad, halfling. While I thank you for the meal, it’s not what I expected after such a victory.”
I rolled my eyes at her, and her lips trembled.
“I am sad,” I said finally. “There’s been so much death. So many from both sides.”
“And you miss your father most of all.”
“Yes. Well… I miss Keigan too. Does that make me a traitor?”
It was her turn to roll her eyes at me.
