TheAatxedutifully stepped aside. Sam was the commander of the notorious Vincula legion, second only to theRoyals. Before walking inside, he turned to theAatxe. “I would like you to come inside to witness the trial, but I am commanding you to speak of this to no one.”
The guard bowed his head. “Yes, commander.”
Sam followed theAatxeto the holding cells and shoved the man inside.
“I haven’t been accused of anything by the law!” the man protested. He must feel brave with iron separating them. Sam’s armshot forward, bending the bars slightly, and his hand clamped around the man’s throat.
“I am the law,” he snarled, pushing a violent promise into every word.
The man shook, and Sam released him, turning to theAatxeguard. “No matter what anyone says, you do not let him out until I return with the Scales of Justice.”
“Yes, commander.”
Sam nodded, left the holding cells, and wound his way through the building. As he walked, he examined his arm with a frown. The iron bars of the holding cell hadn’t cut his impenetrable skin, but they tore his favorite shirt.
When Sam approached the guard outside of Adila’s quarters, his wings were still out, revealing his identity. To her credit, the woman’s expression remained stoic, but her pale cheeks filled with color as she said, “Commander.” Sam glanced at her tiny bull-like horns to see if they were red too.
“I need you to help guard a defendant in the holding cells,” he said. “I will bring the Scales of Justice down.” The guard hesitated. “That is an order.”
“Yes, commander.” The guard left her post and hurried to the holding cells.
Sam stomped up the stairs to Adila’s floor, tension radiating off of him in waves as he readied himself to see the woman who betrayed his best friend. His purpose was to have the imposter guard punished before Gedeon discovered his arrest, but Sam had a few questions of his own for the Scales of Justice.
Pressing his fingers to the keypad on the door at the top of the stairs, he unlocked it with ease and stepped inside. The small amount of power he could use in the realms afforded him small conveniences, including tripping electronic locks.
Sam had a badge to grant him entry, but he wanted no record of him being here tonight.
The air was thick, and he knew someone was there, but the hallway was empty.
Adila materialized in front of him, and he stepped back. Sam was not one to gawk, but his lips parted with the urge to. She deflated with relief. “What is this?” Sam demanded. She had been invisible, but that wasn’t possible.That he knew of.
Adila shook her head and held her finger to her lips. She paused before speaking, and her words threw him off guard. “I’ve been waiting for you,” she purred.
He stiffened and opened his mouth to ask what was wrong with her, but then she mouthed,“Play along,”and tiptoed to the door he’d just come through to lock it.
“Good,” was all he said back as he waited for her to lead the way.
Once inside her main chambers, she locked her bedroom door before waving her hand toward the bathroom. “Do you mind a little mood music?” she asked in a husky voice.
“No,” he replied as his senses heightened, wondering why they had to continue with this charade inside of her private chambers.
She turned on music and stepped into the bathroom. “Take your clothes off,” she said with a giggle before shaking her head furiously and mouthing,“Don’t you dare.”
He smirked as she hurried around the room, turning on every faucet.
Adila’s small hands fisted his shirt and yanked him close. “Keep your voice as quiet as possible.” Sam pulled his head back and stared at her. He didn’t know her well, but he knew she was telling the truth. “Gedeon has eyes everywhere. I don’t know why Caius switched places with Aurora Raven.”
Sam moved back to ask how she knew, but her hand clamped over his mouth. He nodded and bent forward to whisper. “How do you know he switched places? No one knows.”
She muttered something about men and idiots. “I waited for Caius in the bunker,” she admitted. “I saw you and Lauren enter a room, and I stood outside waiting, but instead of my brother’s voice, I heard you speaking with Aurora.” She twisted her mouth to theside. “The shapeshifting potion you used to change her face was impressive.”
“You couldn’t have been there without us seeing you,” Sam replied. She couldn’t have been there. The shape of the hallways in the bunker made it impossible to remain unseen.
She quickly disappeared into thin air and reappeared, making Sam jump. “Stop doing that.”
“I think myAeternumis aSylph,” she explained. “I can’t manipulate air, but I can turn into it.”
Sylphswere mystics who controlled air like Caius controlled shadows. Invisibility was an impressive skill not even he possessed. She shrugged and grabbed his shirt to pull his head down to hers.
