Andras clutched at his belt possessively. “What? No! I stole that fair and square!”
“Andras,” Zach growled warningly.
“It’ll hopefully buy you a little extra time and goodwill,” Drew explained.
Pouting, Andras relented. He drew the intricate dagger out of his belt and begrudgingly handed it over. “I want it noted that I’m doing this under duress!”
“We’ll be sure to forward your complaint to head office,” Zach drawled.
Drew clapped his hands together. The urco was just licking the pot clean and snapped its head up at the sound. “Come on, boy. Time to go,” Drew said. It trotted over and stood amiably at attention next to them.
Andras still looked dubious. “Am I just supposed to ride him like a pony?”
“From what you’ve told me, I thought you were used to riding things?” Drew asked archly.
Shooting him a withering glare, Andras grabbed hold of the folds of skin on the back of the urco’s neck and used them to steady himself as he launched himself onto its back. He seemed to hold his breath, but when he wasn’t immediately thrown off and eaten, he relaxed a little. He met Drew’s eyes and nodded. “Thank you.”
Drew smiled, reaching out to give the urco one last pet.
“Be smart. Lie low. Don’t do anything stupid,” Zach said gruffly.
Andras shot him a sultry smile. “I knew you still cared, darling heart.”
Zach rolled his eyes. “Get out of here, Andras.”
He blew Zach a kiss, winked at Drew, and then the urco was lurching forward, carrying Andras away under the still-churning sky.
1. 'Freeze!'
Chapter 9
There’s no place like home
Zach watched as the urco bore Andras away, and he hoped his old friend would be safe. Andras could be a pain in the ass, but for a demon, he was one of the good ones. Good . . . ish ones, anyway. He’d made Zach laugh and had kept him sane for over two centuries. He really hoped Andras would make it through this unscathed.
Turning back to face their current predicament, Zach saw Orias on the edge of the newly formed ravine, watching them. He held out his hand to Drew. “Probably best if I toss it over,” he said, nodding at Lucifer’s dagger. “You’re more likely to end up throwing it into my foot or something.”
Drew rolled his eyes but didn’t dispute this, happily handing over the blade.
“Orias, this is for your master,” Zach called, and threw the dagger across the chasm. It thudded into the ground a foot away from the commander, the bejewelled hilt glinting in a flash of lightning. “Call it an act of goodwill.”
Orias bent down and plucked the dagger from the dirt, then carefully wiped the blade clean and slid it into a sheath on his belt. “Do you really think this meagre offering will appease my prince, considering the sheer insult and disrespect the miscreant, Andras, bestowed upon him?” Orias shook his head. “Lucifer will not let such irreverence slide. Andraswillpay for his actions.”
“Stealing from Lucifer was a dumb move, I get that,” Zach admitted. “But surely there’s no need to waste the time and resources of the Shadow Blades now that the dagger has been returned?”
“I see Andras has not been entirely forthcoming with you regarding his actions,” Orias said. “The dagger is not the most valuable thing he stole from my master, though I thank you for its return.” A Shadow Blade approached and whispered in his ear. Orias nodded once and then turned his attention back to them. “I have no quarrel with you and your companion. You are free to go.” He turned to his troop and began calling orders, dismissing Zach and Drew entirely.
“What the hell did Andras do?” Drew asked.
Blowing out a long breath, Zach tried to ignore the pang of hurt at being misled by Andras. “No idea, but it’s no longer our concern. Let’s go home, sweetness. I’m tired of this place.”
Drew gave him a sympathetic look and rubbed his back. “I’m sorry he lied to you.”
“It shouldn’t have come as a surprise. I let my guard down and trusted too easily.”
“Still, it sucks.” Drew turned and looked towards the horizon, peering into the distance. “Do we go that way?”
Zach dredged up a smile and nodded. “Yep. The borderlands are in that direction. Let’s go.”
