Part 14 (2/2)

I stare at him, my mouth open. ”Blokes? Who talks like that? Where're you from, anyways?”

Gyan smiles. ”So flattered you asked. I'm from Ireland originally, but spent about fifty years in London before heading over to the New World. After a brief stint in New York-”

”Aw, sweet h.e.l.l, I don't care. Just don't be running your mouth to anyone about our plans or I'll send you back over the rainbow. Got it, Lucky Charms?”

I'm starting toward Bones when I hear Gyan say, ”I want to go with you.”

I turn and give him a look. ”No.”

”Why not?”

”Why?”

”These are the blokes that attacked my bar, yes?”

”Yes.”

”Well, that's why. Where I come from, that's akin to attacking family. Besides, I need to get out of here for a spell. I haven't been outdoors in almost two weeks.”

”You can't help us,” I tell him.

”It can't hurt to let me go. I'll stay out of the way. And who knows, maybe I'll come in handy. We Vaporans have our uses.”

Before I can blink, he disappears from behind the bar, only to appear right beside me. He s.n.a.t.c.hes the drinks from my hands and disappears again. Before I even know what happened, he's back in his usual spot behind the bar, cleaning a mug with a towel and a smirk. ”Your drinks are waiting for you on Bones' table. Why don't you tell him of our plan?” He winks again and I shrug. Maybe he'll come in handy after all.

”We leave in one hour.”

Bones barely looks up as I sit down across from him. ”You okay?”

He shrugs one shoulder while raising his gla.s.s to his lips. The same lips that kissed every inch of my body last night. But I can't think about that now, no matter how delicious the memory.

The Bar isn't as crowded as I'd expect it to be this time of night. Alik and Khalil are chugging beers with other demons by the pool table, and as Alik bends over to take a shot, I catch Micah staring at me. He flashes a c.o.c.ky smirk and blows me a kiss. Venom fills my eyes, and I turn my attention back to Bones. How badly I want to wrap my hand around his right now. But I can't. I cannot torture myself any more than I already have.

”Wanna go over the plan?” I ask quietly.

Bones stifles his guffaw. ”You trying to say we actually have one?”

I give him a dirty look. ”Of course I have a plan. And it's a pretty good one, too. Nice and simple.”

He stretches out his arms and laces his fingers behind his head, amus.e.m.e.nt lighting up his eyes. ”Let's hear it.”

I ignore the patronizing tone to his voice, as if he's humoring a five year old child who claims she knows how Einstein's theory of relativity works. Bones may think I'm completely insane, but I don't really care. As long as he's got my back, he's free to feel however he wants.

”Well, there's some slight modification needed now that Gyan's coming-”

Bones' eyebrows shoot up. ”What? What's he wanna go do something stupid like that for?”

”Guess he's got some crazy Bar loyalty or something. I dunno. Maybe 'cause he's Irish...or English, I think...?”

”I don't care if he's from Mars, he's not going.”

”Why not? What do you care?”

”It's another demon to look after, and frankly, I have enough on my plate trying to make sure you and Aria stay safe.”

I don't like the way he lumped Aria and me together like that, but I suppose in a way he's right. Aria's weapons are all mental, and as powerful as they are, she's still physically vulnerable. And as much as I hate to admit it, she's probably our most important a.s.set.

”Maybe he can help. He's a Vaporans...I'm thinking he can do some recon for us. It puts him in the line of fire, but he insisted on going. Besides, I already told him he could.” I take a long drink, mostly to avoid Bones' disapproving glare.

”All right, General Custer, tell me your plan.”

I roll my eyes. ”Very funny. It's not that hard, really. We ride over to the Hlbafa side, staying out of sight. If we encounter any attacks, I have the stones and arrows. From what I read in the demon grimoire, most of the tribe resides in a small village in the western-most part of their territory by a lava river named the Putloges. The other side of this river is most likely where Kieron is being kept...there are several communal buildings, and it's pretty well protected. It's by their Energy source, and they probably want several guards on him at all times. Just makes sense they'd keep him close.”

Bones looks unimpressed. ”Yeah, then what? Just gonna march on in?”

I shake my head. ”No. Aria will be scanning and reading the area. When she feels we're close, we send in Gyan to do a quick recon to get Kieron's exact location and condition. He'll flash in and out before anyone even realizes he's there.”

Bones meets my gaze and for the first time shows a spark of interest. ”Then what?”

”We can use Khalil and Alik to create a distraction if needed. After Aria has commanded any remaining guards away, then we march on in and rescue him.”

I set my gla.s.s down and smile triumphantly. It really does seem so simple. And even if we do encounter some resistance, which I'm fully expecting, it's tough to outmatch three h.e.l.lhounds, a powerful telepath, an uncatchable Vaporans, and a Justice demon with an a.r.s.enal that's second-to-none. But my stomach has been churning and flipping ever since I sat down. Maybe it's because of the unspoken words in Bones' eyes.

He reaches his hand across the table and gently covers mine. ”Don't,” I whisper, pulling away. Bones stares at me as if I've slapped him.

”So, the big party is tonight, huh?” A mocking laugh interrupts the tense moment. Micah stands beside our table, looking like he's ready to pose for the cover of a trashy romance novel. His bronzed, bare chest is puffed and proud, and his long blond locks seem to flow in some invisible breeze. ”I'm almost tempted to join in the fun, if only to watch this crazy b.i.t.c.h get what's coming to her.” His amber eyes lock with Bones', challenging him.

But Bones doesn't take the bait. He slowly gets to his feet and heads back up to the bar. I follow him, deliberately turning my back on Micah. Gyan slides over, an impish grin lighting his freckled face. ”Hey, guys, did I ever tell you that I'm also part Veritas demon? So if you need to get the truth outta some feller, as long as he's got at least a few drops of Sapie blood in him somewhere, I'm your guy.”

”You're just full of hidden talents, aren't you?” I mutter, still simmering over Micah's rudeness. He has a gift for crawling under my skin in a way no other creature can. Like a perpetual itch I can't scratch. Maybe when this is all over, I can show him just what a 'crazy b.i.t.c.h' I really am. But not tonight. Tonight my rage is already spoken for. All my energy, all my desire, all my strength...all my everything is focused on one thing and one thing only.

Getting Kieron back.

Khalil and Bones take the lead. I race behind them on Diablo, followed by Aria and Gyan riding double on Aria's mount, a pure white Arabian mare named Kyrie. Alik brings up the rear. I'm reminded of another hunting party not too long ago...the one where Bones, Kieron and I went looking for Ivy and Cody. That had ended with disaster. But this time will be different.

I glance over my shoulder and bite back a smile at Gyan's terrified face as he clutches on to Aria as if his life depends on it. Which, at the speeds we're travelling, it probably does.

We reach the border and slow down. For some reason my heart is strangely calm. I'm supposed to be here. I am supposed to do this. Whatever happens tonight is exactly what is supposed to happen.

We gather in a circle, and Bones phases into human form. ”Okay, the border is right past that clump of trees over there. Once we cross it, we're fair game.”

”What do you mean, 'once we cross it'? Obviously we've already been fair game; we were attacked under our own roof!”

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