“This way.” I took it easy for the first few steps, but it was immediately clear I really was feeling fine.
Ryder fell into step next to me. Myra was on her phone, and all I caught was, “now” and “the station.” I didn’t know who she was calling, but that didn’t matter. What mattered was taking control of this demon situation once and for all.
“But where? Where, Delaney?” Xtelle shouted as she trotted along beside me, the goat attached to her like Velcro. “Where are you taking me?”
“To the scene of the crime.”
“Which one—I was never even with that monkey!”
I let that go, because there was only so much I could handle at one time. And right now, I was going to handle the demon who had bound himself to my soul.
Chapter Twenty-Two
“This isn’t a forest,”Xtelle grumped.
“Enough of one,” I said.
“There’s something more here, isn’t there?”
“Yep.” I kept walking through the grass and underbrush. Ryder walked with me and so did Jean. Myra had stayed behind.
“What is it?” Xtelle prodded. “Is it a secret? It’s magic of some kind. I know it has to be magic.”
“It’s magic.” I took one more step, and the building appeared.
Xtelle stopped so quickly, she left little skid marks in the dirt. “No. I’ve followed almost all the rules. I demand a lawyer. The cute one on TV.”
“I’m not locking you away. But you are coming with me.” I pointed at her, and took another step, passing right through the door and into the jail.
Xtelle passed through the door with me, caught by my command. I hadn’t expected Pan to come with her, but he must have been standing close enough, he’d ridden on her coat tails.
Pan whistled. “I’ve always wondered about the inside of this place.”
Jean opened the door for Ryder, whose gaze immediately found me, then took in the demon behind bars, the pile of metal the dragon pig had left behind, and the screen of baby ducks that Jean turned off. He walked to one side of the room, closer to the cell than the door and waited.
“My Queen,” Avnas said, startled.
“Avnas,” she replied, bored.
“Some demon knight,” Pan snorted. It had a weird musical quality to it, like he had a horn stuck up his nose. “Not impressed.”
“Delightful,” Avnas said through his teeth. “The goat who thinks he’s a god.”
“That is so enough of that.” I pointed at Pan. “You. Be quiet, or I’ll throw you out.” I pointed at Xtelle. “You, listen. Avnas, now is your chance to talk.”
Everyone was quiet, except for Ryder who brought me a wooden chair and positioned it so I could sit and keep them all in my sight. Not that I really had to guard them. It was impossible for anyone to leave without Reed permission and help.
“Talk,” I repeated.
“I do not know what you expect me to say to you,” Avnas said stiffly, shoulders back, head held high.
“Not to me,” I said. “To her.”
He glanced at Xtelle, but his facade did not crack.
“Tell her what you told me. Tell her what you want. Tell her why you really bound yourself to my soul. Tell her what your real goal is.”
“My current goal is to be out from behind these bars and to never see another adorable baby mammal chase its tail again.”
