That was going to be the difficult part of my plan: how to get the axe out of the library without Myra knowing. I was not letting my sisters walk into hell with me.
“Okay,” Jean said, “but killing the king won’t help us find Ryder. This is still a rescue mission, right?”
She was looking at me, so I nodded. “Killing the king isn’t our priority. We don’t need firepower, we need stealth. You said we have until midnight tomorrow?” I asked Bathin.
“Yes. We’ll be able to travel quickly through the stones I’ve left in the Underworld.”
“Bathin, tell your mother to have her spies find out where Ryder is being kept.” I swallowed, hating this next part. Demons were liars, and that deadline might never have been real. “Tell them to find out if he’s still alive.”
“Delaney,” Myra breathed. "He's not…"
I put a hand out to stop her. “Jean, Hogan, get some sleep, and get prepared. We’re leaving at dawn.”
Jean narrowed her eyes, and I met her gaze. “Now,” I added.
“Don’t go anywhere without me,” she said.
“I know.”
“Don’t go anywhere without us,” she insisted.
“Jean. I’m not stupid.”
“No one goes anywhere until we have intel and weapons,” Bathin said.
“Get the intel,” I said. “Get the weapons. Go.”
They finally left, throwing grim looks at me, which I ignored.
“He is still alive, Reed Daughter,” Than said. “I would know otherwise.”
I swallowed and nodded. I should take that as comfort, but just because he was alive right now, didn’t mean he would be alive by morning. “Do you want applause?” I asked.
Than’s eyes went flint cold.
“Can I talk to you a minute?” Crow interrupted.
I turned my glare on him.
“This way.” He headed to the stairs, then changed his mind and walked instead to our spare room.
Dragon-pig and Spud usually hung out in this room, but besides the random stuffies, the two extra-thick dog beds, and the water bowls, it was still set up for guests.
I followed Crow into the room, and he shut the door behind us.
“I know you’re angry,” he said.
I crossed my arms over my chest and leaned against the dresser.
“But I need to know that you’re thinking clearly right now.”
“You,” I said, my voice hard, “are asking me if I’m thinking clearly? When am I ever not thinking clearly, Crow? I’m the one who keeps this place on an even keel. I’m the one who makes sure gods and demons don’t screw things up so badly we get wiped off the face of the earth. So, yes, I’m thinking clearly. I’m thinking I’m going to get Ryder back, and you aren’t going to talk me out of it.”
“Like you don’t even know me,” he sighed. “Of course you’re going. I want to give you this.” He pulled a necklace out from under his shirt. I was pretty sure it was the same necklace that was supposed to be locked up in the magic library so it didn’t fall into the wrong hands and accidentally start Armageddon.
“Your god weapon? How do you even have this? It was supposed to be locked up in the library with the other god weapons, Crow.”
“Well, I might have held onto it a little bit. The point is, I am giving it to you.”
