“Fuck,” he and Mara mutter.
“Last chance to back out. We’re leaving now,” I say as I turn from them and march forward, starshooting the parchment and pen back to the dining room table at the house.
“Chasin! You’re in charge. We’ll be back.”
Gladian’s bellow reaches my ears as his feet pound the ground behind us. Mara reaches my side first.
“You’re serious right now?”
“Very.”
“So this is why you got dropped out of a starshoot on your ass in the Court yesterday, huh?”
“That bitch shoved me through a starshoot.”
Her sarcastic-ass chuckle forces a twitch in my lips. So glad she finds that funny.
“What’s the plan?” Gladian asks, and I peer over at him as he takes Mara’s other side.
“Meet us at the entrance of Hellveilious.”
Neither Sevryn nor I wait for them to ask or say anything else. Our starshoots carry us away and we step out two seconds later in front of the shimmering barrier.
The warm rays of sun heat my back, and I roll my shoulders out.
“You sure about this? I don’t trust that big fucker.”
“He’s more help than a threat right now. Plus, if he tries some shit, I can just leave him here.”
“That’s comforting to know,” Gladian scoffs, and I glance over my shoulder as he and Mara finally join us.
“It’s best you know now that betraying my men will land you here. Oh, and also, you can’t say a fucking word about this to Mellcom or Jeremiah.”
“That’s a given.”
I hum in response as I face the barrier once again.
“V, we’re stepping into Hellveilious. You’re sure I’ll be able to starshoot the parchment to me in here?”
“Yes, as long as you don’t have to travel out of the Division. If it looks like you have to, starshoot it then and carry it with you. Also, I don’t see the God of Strength’s signature. What happened?”
I give him a brief recap and let him know what’s going on. His chuckling hoot has my eyes rolling.
“He may have a point,”he says.
“Yeah, yeah. Don’t take his side over mine.”
“Never.”
I smirk as I take a step forward.
“I’ll keep you updated.”
The barrier welcomes me in, bathing me in a warmth that sinks into my bones. All the tension in my spine flees me for a moment until we step out on the other side.
“Where to now?” Mara asks.
Sevryn laughs beside me.
