Burning Skies (Guardians of Ascension #2)(79)
Author: Caris Roane

Greaves smiled. “There is one more thing, which ought to please you. I want you to know that I very much approve of the incendiary bomb you used at the Superstitions. I regret that Warrior Luken did not die, but the attempt was quite lovely. Rith provided a DVD of the event. Very well done.”

“Thank you.” He was startled by the praise.

“Yes, the bomb was quite effective, and I understand you have a little demonstration planned for the spectacle over White Lake.”

Crace couldn’t withhold his smile. “Yes, master, I do.”

“More firebombs?”

“Combined with fireworks.”

Both of Greaves’s manicured brows lifted in approval. “I look forward to the event with great interest. In the meantime, tell me what happened at the villa.”

Crace drew in a deep breath. He spoke of the breach in the mist by the mortal-with-wings, which seemed to interest Greaves very much. He detailed the loss of the three squads to the Warriors of the Blood and ended with the inexplicable disappearance of the women.

“They vanished without a trace?” Greaves asked.

Crace stared at his master. Had he just made a joke? “Yes, master, without a trace, without a single trail of light to follow, and you know I have power in that area.”

Greaves leaned forward slightly and his eyes flared. “You know what I think this means?”

Crace shook his head, but his heart rate had started to climb and a shiver slid down his neck and arms. He was about to receive a revelation.

“One or both of these ladies have darkening capabilities.”

The moment the word was spoken, Crace knew it to be true. Shit. The darkening. Of course. Rith had even told him of the Seers’ prophecies. “Yes,” he said. “That fits the situation exactly. I should have thought of it.”

“Well, what do you know. No wonder the future streams have been all lit up about these women. Very, very interesting.” He nodded then said, “I expect you to continue your vigilant efforts to find the mortal-with-wings, but I think I want her alive in case she is the one with darkening abilities. Are we in agreement?”

Before Crace could reply, Greaves once more dove within his head, a torpedo of sensation that hurt like a bitch. The sweating started all over again. “Yes, master,” he cried. “I will see to everything.”

As quickly as it had begun the pressure released. He was left with a f**king migraine.

The Commander rose from his chair. “Excellent. Then I’ll leave you to it. Rith, you will come with me.” He lifted an arm and both men vanished, Rith folding away while in the middle of his most obsequious bow.

Darkening capabilities.

Coordinate Thorne’s assassination.

Shit.

Crace leaned over the side of the chair he hated so much and threw up.

The teacher sometimes needs the lesson.

—Collected Proverbs, Beatrice of Fourth

Chapter 17

Havily always felt like she was facing a firing squad whenever she approached Endelle’s office. After Thorne had reported to Endelle on the attack at the villa, Her Supremeness had summoned her to the administrative offices even though the hour was now past nine o’clock.

Marcus had insisted on accompanying her while Alison remained with Parisa, to continue to counsel her. Havily knew Marcus didn’t like leaving the women alone, but Endelle had repaired the breach in the mist so they were once more under a cloak of safety. Also, because of Alison’s bond with Kerrick, the warrior would know instantly if the women were in trouble and could fold directly to his breh, without the assistance of Central or anyone else. In that way, both Parisa’s and Alison’s safety were ensured.

Havily knocked on the door, her heart an annoying thump in her chest. Endelle’s answering bark, “Come,” didn’t help.

She straightened her shoulders and gave the door a shove. She walked in with Marcus right at her back as he had been since the attack. She could even feel his breath on her neck, his left hand a light touch against her waist.

The attack had nerved up his warrior instincts, and he’d become a second skin. Damn her for liking it as much as she did. And seeing him in battle gear? Whoa. She was a sucker for a man in a kilt, always had been. Besides, the wing-serving weapons harness displayed his muscles to perfection.

She was still distressed by the whole thing, by having watched Parisa lose herself in the thrill of flight only to fly straight through the mist barrier and initiate a crisis. Dammit.

Now she was here, facing her personal firing squad, yet again.

She’d exchanged her flight suit for jeans and a light blue silk tank top. She wore lime-green heels as well for the simple reason that if she didn’t add the inches to her height, Endelle would tower over her. The last thing she needed with any interview in this office was an extreme disparity in height. It was really hard to stand up to someone who was a foot taller by means of her stilettos and your flats. So, yes, she wore heels.

She folded her arms over her chest and met Endelle’s gaze squarely. The woman wore the same outfit as earlier and scratched at the fur halter. She couldn’t figure out what kind of fur it was, only that it seemed to irritate Her Supremeness. Her suede pants were spotted like leopard.

She had no idea what fault Endelle intended to find with her tonight, but the bitch could kiss her ass on this one.

However, the wooded appearance of the Supreme High Administrator’s eyes somehow knocked sideways what little confidence she possessed. Havily couldn’t imagine having lived on Second Earth for nine thousand years. What had Endelle seen during that time? What had she been forced to endure as Supreme High Administrator of Second Earth?

Endelle said, “I wanted to let you both know that tomorrow I have a meeting with COPASS so we can figure out what to do with Parisa. I will insist on a ruling before I’ll ever allow her to return to Mortal Earth or whatever the hell she’s supposed to do next. I know those ass**les won’t have the sense to discipline Greaves as he should be disciplined, like put his ass in a sling and keep it there. However, I intend to make public that some of Greaves’s high command have been after Parisa without cause.”

“Well,” Marcus said, nodding, “it’s at least a place to start.”

Havily frowned as she looked up at Marcus. He was being reasonable … again. She wished everything was different. This situation had started wearing on her, the powerful sexual nature of their current entanglement as well as all the ways this kind of intimacy reminded her of how much she’d loved being married and how much she’d lost.