“Where did you hear this?” my father asks as his right hand makes a slight motion, summoning the Sulks into the room.
Room cleanup…. We have a rat somewhere.
“If you want, I can help you get her. She’s become a problem for my daughter, and I would do anything for her. So, I just need to know if you have a preference.”
“Preference?” Father clips.
The Sulks slip across the room in a flash, undetected as they quickly take out the servants silently listening to our conversation, who are standing along the walls. They don’t even have time to warn the others as they turn to ash within seconds.
“Dead or Alive?”
I’ll give it to Father; his demeanor doesn’t crack as he stands and looks over the elf king.
“Let’s continue this discussion in my office. You can tell me what you suggest doing with Asmodeus.”
Anyone else, he would have already sent them flying across the room if they mentioned Nerezza that way. Then again, I don’t think anyone knows she’s related to us either. I wonder if that’s a secret a normal father would share. Knowing him, that’s one he will keep close to his heart.
I have mixed feelings about Nerezza. I do understand she’s important, but I’m not completely on board with Dad’s plan. He hasn’t seen her or been around her like I have. I would take better care of her, and with my plan, she would live longer.
I wait until everyone leaves the room before I exit, but I’m stopped by someone stepping in front of me, blocking my way. Cocking an eyebrow curiously, I take in the creature brazen enough to draw attention to itself.
“Hello, Cain,” a sultry voice purrs out. “My name is Emer Elverson, and we have a common enemy,” she says with a smile.
Ahh. Now the backstabbing starts.
CHAPTER 1
Know Thy Dark Knight
Lynx
‘Ican hear your teeth grinding from here, Doorknob,’I growl out as I watch Knots sit back down from jumping to Rez’s defense. His wings and Jillian's body were gone, presumably back in his S.I.N. box. I can only imagine his wings would have set off more of a disturbance than what we did when we came through the portal from Hell.
She doesn’t want his help, nor does she need it after the way he’s treated her. Plus, look at her, she’s a fucking badass. We just survived the Trail of Worth and lived to brag about that shit. I know I want to go around telling the world we made that trail our bitch.
‘Fuck off, Boots.’Knots’ clipped reply receives an eye roll from me as I watch Rez reluctantly follow Emer to the stage.
It sucks that I can’t go up there with her, but alas, the Doorknob and I didn’t come here wearing those magical bracelets measuring our magic. Sliding over into Rez’s chair, I smirk when Knots’ jaw clenches, yet his eyes still scan the area. He has yet to look at the students sitting around us or me. He’seither been looking at all the parents standing separately from us or at Rez.What’s going on there?
‘What’s got you all tangled up in knots, Knots?’I chuckle to myself.
‘Something is going on. See all of the extra guards around here?’He motions to the parents, completely dismissing my obvious dig at him.
‘No. I see theparentsstanding around,’I emphasize, and he sighs with frustration.
‘Take a closer look at them, you damn furball. What parents do you know who wear uniforms to an assembly?’
Grudgingly doing as he suggests, I notice for the first time the difference between the actual parents and the crowd members wearing similar, darker fatigues. Yep, those look like subtle uniforms, while some even have weapons attached to their thighs.How did I miss those?
‘What is Matthew talking about anyway?’I continue to push his buttons.
‘The Gauntlet.’
‘What?’I stare at the side of his head, trying to burn a hole through it, wondering what it’s full of. Feathers, since he’s an angel? Nah, maybe wood since he’s dense like the Door Knights. Oh! Maybe it’s air since he broke up with Rez.
‘Do you not know what the significance of the Gauntlet is?’He shoots me a bored, pompous look before zeroing in back on the stage.
‘Rez mentioned it once when we first arrived, but I don’t remember the significance,’I admit, before focusing back on the stage where Rez finds her place between Ryker and Emer.
