I remembered that Costa hadnt volunteered to come with us. Zach had just stated that Costa was going without bothering to ask his opinion on the matter.
Do you not want to be here? If so, we can drop you off somewhere, or...do something else?
Costas pointed look stopped my awkward attempt at letting him off the hook. Ive come this far, Ivy. Im seeing it through to the end or Ill die trying.
I flinched. Costa had been through enough to know that death was a real possibility. As he continued to stare at me, his real age seemed to creep into his dark brown gaze. Costa was a good-looking Greek guy who appeared to be in his late twenties, but time moved differently in the realms. In the one Costa had been trapped in, it had slowed to a near standstill. Hed be seventy-five on his next birthday, and every moment of those years filled his stare as he spoke again.
Im okay with that, Ivy. His voice was very soft. The question is, are you ready to see this through, no matter what?
I hoped so. I attempted a confident version of a smile. Of course. Its my destiny, right?
He leaned back, flicking away wavy black hair that, along with his olive-toned skin and deep brown eyes, highlighted his Mediterranean heritage. Destiny is only foreknowledge of choices you have yet to make.
Youve been spending too much time with Zach, I muttered, wishing Id kept watching the movie instead of trying to lighten the mood. Boy, had that backfired.
No, Costa said, a harsh smile twisting his mouth. I just know you want to get through this without hurting anyone except demons or minions, and thats impossible. Youve busted your ass training to fight them, but you havent accepted the fact that you might have to sacrifice everyone on this bus to win this war, and until youre ready to do that, youre not ready.
I looked away, my jaw clenching. Im doing this for everyone on this bus. I already lost my parents, my friends and any hope at a normal life, so if I lost all of you, too...itd probably be easy for the demons to kill me, because I would have lost everything Id been fighting for.
Costas smile was wiped away. Then you need to find something else to fight for, because theres a good chance that some or all of us will die before this is over. So find that something else, Ivy, because one day, youre going to need it.
As if I needed any more pressure. If this was Costas version of a pep talk, he sucked at it. I looked at him, Jasmine, and then snuck a glance at Adrian, who drove without the aid of any mirrors because hed smashed all the ones the bus came with. Breaking the mirrors negated a demons power to use them as mini-gateways or as spying tools, but they must make driving the bus a little more challenging. If so, Adrian didnt show it. He stared fixedly at the road, but I knew hed been listening.
Did he agree? Did Jasmine? She looked grimly resigned to what Costa had said, but she had admitted herself that she wasnt a fount of objectivity at the moment. Didnt matter, I decided, renewed determination filling me. I didnt need to find something else to do what had to be done to win this war.
I had all the motivation I needed right here.
* * *
I ROLLED OVER and stuffed the pillow in a new position under my head. Useless. The bed was comfy, the trailer was quiet, and yet Id lain here, wide-awake, for hours. I blamed Costa, of course. His little chat had been as encouraging as listening to demons debate my chances, and needless to say, they were pretty sure I wouldnt succeed, either.
Costa meant well, but like Jasmine, I figured hed been through too much to be optimistic. I couldnt blame him. Id only been dealing with minions and demons for the better part of five months, and I still felt like Id aged decades inside. If Id been imprisoned by them for as long as Costa had, or lost my best friend to them the way Costa had lost Tomas? Yeah, Id be a bowlful of doom, too, with a side order of bitterness.
Ivy.
My gaze flew to the door, but it was still closed. A quick glance revealed that Jasmine was the only person in the room with me. I hadnt imagined hearing Adrian say my name from just a few inches away, though, so I strained my ears and waited.
Ivy, come outside. Adrians voice was low but clear, and I realized that he was speaking to me through the exterior wall of the trailer. I need to show you something.
I got up, mostly because I couldnt stand to toss and turn anymore. I doubted something was wrong or Adrian wouldnt be whispering. Plus, wed parked at the edge of an old cemetery. Hallowed ground meant no demons, even if they could roam around our world at night. It wasnt a deterrent to minions, but thered need to be a lot of them to pose a threat with Adrian, Brutus and Costa here, not to mention me.
The thought cheered me as I moved quietly through the room. I wasnt the same helpless girl Id been when this whole thing started. What doesnt kill you makes you stronger, right? Well, Id had lots of things try to kill me, so by extension, I had to be stronger by leaps and bounds.
Once out of the bedroom, I tiptoed past a snoring Costa, who was on the sofa bed. The lone pillow on the floor must have been where Adrian had slept. He rarely used blankets, having long ago become well acclimated to the cold. Like Costa and Jasmine, I piled on the blankets to offset my memories of the dark, icy realms, but Adrians time there had consisted of him being treated better than a king, so maybe he didnt mind.
Adrian had left the door open a crack, so it made no noise when I opened it to go outside. Hed moved away from my side of the trailer and stood near one of the old tombstones. It took a second for me to realize that Brutus was perched on top of a crypt next to him. If I hadnt spotted his red, iridescent eyes, I mightve mistaken the gargoyle for an elaborate statue.
Whats up? I said, keeping my voice down although we were the only ones who seemed to have difficulty sleeping.
Adrian wore a jacket and jeans, and until he turned to face me, I didnt realize that was all he had on. The jacket was open, and moonlight reflected off the muscles in his chest while shadows gave his abs more definition than they already had. As he walked toward me, every ripple of muscles reminded me of the power contained inside his stunningly sculpted body.
Is this what you wanted to show me? I asked, a tiny crack in my voice belying the quip. If so, thats playing dirty.
A slow smile curled his mouth. If I were playing dirty, I wouldnt be wearing anything.
Yeah, I thought, dragging my gaze away from his physique, that might do it. Since Id never admit that out loud, I said, Why did you want me to come out? Is it what I said to Jasmine?
His smile faded. No, but now that you mention it, that did piss me off. I dont care what your sister thinks of me, but you shouldnt lie about what you feel, and we both know our lineage has nothing to do with whats between us.
Feel, not felt. His deliberate use of the present tense told me that he wasnt buying my being over him. The problem was, I was starting to doubt whether or not I was myself.
Tell that to every Archon and demon alive, I muttered, mentally kicking myself for bringing the subject up. I should just keep a piece of tape handy so I could slap it over my mouth every time I had the urge to say something reckless.
I dont care what they think, either, Adrian said silkily, closing the distance between us.
I dont care what they think, either, Adrian said silkily, closing the distance between us.
I backed away, holding out my hands to ward him off. Dont. If this is why you called me out here, Im leaving.
Hard assessment filled his features, as if judging whether I meant that, but he stopped. Its not why, but its been so long since Ive been near you that I cant help it. Dont say you havent missed me, too, or Ill know that youre lying.
Really? How will you know that? I said, deciding that Id much rather challenge him than admit to it.
He came close enough to brush my hair away from my neck, and I told myself it was the night air hitting my skin that made me shiver. His fingers trailed over my neck, lingering on the spot where it felt like my heart was trying to escape through my jugular.
Because when you lie, your pulse pounds even harder.
I moved away. Damn the memories that had come flooding back at his touch, taunting me with how his hands had felt when theyd explored other parts of my body.
Youre wearing the necklace. The masculine satisfaction in his voice scattered more shivers over me. I closed my hand over the pendant, as if concealing it made that any less true.
With its history, I couldnt risk Brutus losing it, I said defensively.
Adrian laughed, but the knowing sound was nothing compared to the intensity in his gaze. This time, I dont even have to look at your pulse to know youre lying.
What was I going to say? That some crazed part of me had been so touched by Adrian giving me a priceless stone from his childhood that Id put the necklace on right before I went to bed? I hadnt thought that anyone would see my momentary act of weakness, yet since Id forgotten to take it off before I went outside, now it was being used against me.
Brutus interrupted the moment by hopping off the crypt and stretching out his wings to their full extension. Then he chuffed at Adrian as if to say, Hey, pal, remember me?
Adrian threw a rueful look at the gargoyle. Youre anxious to get started, I know, but your timing sucks.
I actually loved the gargoyles timing. In fact, the next hunk of raw pot-roast meat I came across had Brutuss name written all over it. Then I looked more closely at the gargoyle, noticing that he had something around his neck, too.
Whats that? I asked, pointing.
Adrian cast one more look at the diamond in my cleavage. Then he walked over to Brutus and fingered the straps.
Its why I called you out here. Youre about to have your first flying lesson.
CHAPTER SEVEN
I KNEW MY ears werent malfunctioning, yet I still repeated his statement as if Id misheard him. Flying lesson? Are you serious? my mind added in a screech.
He patted Brutus, murmuring to him in Demonish before he answered me. Ive had Brutus since right after he was born. He was so small, I could carry him around like a baby, and he broke every fragile object in my house when he was learning to fly.
The mental image of baby Brutus learning how to fly was adorable, but it didnt quell my apprehension. But I dont want to learn how to ride Brutus when he flies.
The half smile that had curled Adrians mouth while he reminisced about Brutus vanished. You remember why I had to leave you when we rescued Jasmine from the Bennington realm?
Yes, I said hoarsely, fighting the memories from that day, but the most painful one came, anyway.
Adrian grasped my head, his silver-sapphire gaze almost burning into mine. He cant fly with all of us, and Im the heaviest. Brutusll take you to the B and B, then you need to cross through the gateway.
I was appalled. Adrian, you cant
He pulled my head down, his mouth searing mine in a kiss that matched the blazing intensity in his eyes. Desperation, desire and despair seemed to pour from him into me, but when he lifted his head, he was smiling.
I love you, Ivy. I love you, and I didnt betray you. For the first time in my life, I feel like I can do anything.
Then he stuffed the slingshot into my pocket, slapped the gargoyle on his side and yelled, Tarate! Those mighty wings began to beat at once, flying Jasmine and me away while leaving Adrian to face a horde of minions alone...
His stare crashed through the memory and compelled me not to look away. I dont regret staying behind to make sure that you and Jasmine made it out, but if a similar situation happens again, I want us all to be able to escape. Thats why Ive spent the past couple months learning how to ride Brutus when hes flying, and why I trained him to strengthen his wings so that he can fly while carrying very heavy loads.
I had to look away and blink several times to clear the sudden blurriness in my vision. Thats...thats smart.
And brave, ballsy, thoughtful and so many other things I didnt dare say out loud. Id spent the past two months trying to convince myself that I felt nothing for Adrian. Hed spent that time thinking up new ways to protect me and Jasmine, and while it didnt make up for everything that had happened, it did leave a dent in my heart.
He shrugged, although the intensity didnt leave his gaze. The bus has its perks, but speed isnt one of them. That makes it terrible for getaways if we come under attack. Brutus has speed, maneuverability, and his hide is so thick, minions would need a rocket launcher to bring him down.
Brutus chuffed, lifting his head a notch higher. If I didnt know better, Id swear he understood every word because then he fluffed out his wings as though he were preening.
Youre all that and a bag of badass, I told him, smiling when he chuffed again as if in agreement. Then I returned my attention to Adrian. I get why you wanted to learn how to ride him, but why do you want me to?
Adrian fingered the straps around Brutuss neck, which I now realized was a harness. It takes strength and concentration. If I were injured, I wouldnt be able to do it, and Brutus maxes out at carrying three people in his arms.
I swallowed hard. I didnt like heights and I hadnt even been good at horseback riding the few times Id tried it. The thought of trying to ride on a flying gargoyles back made my stomach roil, but the thought of Adrian being left behind again was a thousand times worse. Id rather puke my guts out than risk that. Hell, Id rather die, but Id keep that to myself.
Okay, I said, forcing a smile as I approached Brutus. Lets get the flying lesson started.
* * *
AGAIN! ADRIAN SAID, followed by a command of Tarate! to Brutus. The gargoyle vaulted us upward like he was a reptilian version of a roller coaster.
I slammed back against Adrian, forgetting to hold on to the reins again. Only Adrians hold on them, plus his thighs gripping Brutus, kept us from falling as Brutuss torque made my stomach feel like it bashed into my spine. The rush of wind turned my hair into tiny whips, and when Brutus propelled us higher with another powerful flap of his wings, my guts left my spine to plummet downward like a free-falling elevator.
The fact that I hadnt thrown up yet was a miracle.
Hold the reins, Adrian ordered, pushing them into my hands. I grasped them and held on because refusing and begging for this to stop wouldnt help. Id learned that the first time.