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.
Brutus tilted his massive head to glance back at me, as if he could feel that the reins had changed hands. Then he dipped slightly, angling his body downward and to the right. The shift tore a scream from me and it was all I could do not to drop them while grabbing wildly for the sturdier base of his wings. How had Adrian ever mastered this alone? If he hadnt insisted on staying behind me, I wouldve fallen off a dozen times over.
Youre doing better, Adrian said, putting his mouth closer to my ear so he didnt have to yell.
Liar! was my instant response. He chuckled.
I told you, no more lies. Now, try looking straight ahead, itll help with the nausea. Then, try to steer Brutus.
I opened my eyes into mere slits, wishing Id worn the goggles Adrian had offered me. Hed insisted on giving me his jacket, which Id thought was his excuse to show more skin, but now, I was grateful that he hadnt taken no for an answer on that. March in the Florida panhandle was cooler than expected, or maybe Id gotten too used to Miamis perpetual heat. Either way, my fingers felt stiff from the cold, and it might take weeks for the feeling to return to my toes. Between Adrian covering my back and legs and Brutuss large form blocking the wind from my front, the rest of me was warm enough, at least.
The few times Id previously opened my eyes, Id looked down out of a masochistic need to see how high we were. Answer: high. Now, I took Adrians advice and looked straight ahead.
At first, I couldnt see much. There were lights, but they were faint, like indistinct stars. After a few hard blinks to clear wind-induced tears, I was able to see more clearly, and another few minutes of concentration later, I realized that Adrian was right. With Brutus flying relatively parallel to the ground and me staring straight ahead, the urge to puke faded.
Steer him, Adrian urged, touching my arm for emphasis.
I pulled the reins a little to the right. Brutus didnt alter course. I pulled harder and the gargoyle turned, dipping down at the same time. Immediately, I yanked up, and Brutus responded by increasing velocity and torpedoing straight upward.
Level him out, Ivy! Adrian yelled, molding his body tighter around mine.
Through my instinctive panic, I remembered the simple lessons Adrian had given me. Pulling up on the reins meant fly higher to Brutus. Pulling down meant dive. I needed to pull straight out for the gargoyle to go back to cruising position, so I did, although harder than I probably should have.
Brutus leveled out, allowing my organs to realign back to their proper positions. Adrians grip on me turned less bruising, and when I pulled on the reins again, I made sure to keep them absolutely straight. This time, Brutus turned smoothly in the direction I indicated. Emboldened, I steered him toward the cluster of lights ahead. Within minutes, we were soaring over a city, the tops of tall buildings well below us and little dots in the nearby bay all that marked what might have been large, luxurious yachts.
I surprised myself by laughing as exhilaration replaced my fear. It was scary, yes, but I could, in fact, do this. Adrians laughter joined mine, and when he gripped me tighter, this time, it had nothing to do with keeping us from falling off. The gargoyle was the one soaring over the city, but in that instant, I felt like I was able to fly, and sharing that indescribable feeling with Adrian only made the moment more unforgettable.
I was almost sorry several minutes later when Adrian took the reins and turned Brutus back around. All too soon, it seemed, the lights from our house on wheels were back in view. One frightening dive later, we were back on solid ground, and Adrian issued a command that had Brutus lying down so I could slide off instead of jumping like Adrian did.
Once I was on my own feet, Adrian took the reins off Brutus, then said something in Demonish that I loosely translated as Whos a good boy? The gargoyle took his praise as his due, even tilting his head in invitation. Adrian scratched him for a minute, then left Brutus to come toward me.
If Id thought he looked luscious with his jacket open, that was nothing compared to how he looked with it off. His shoulders were so broad, my arms wouldnt fit around them. Muscles flexed under skin tanned a deep gold, and his taut abdomen was set off by jeans that now hung so low, one tug would probably bare everything beneath.
I had a sudden urge to test that theory, and I clasped my hands together to stop myself before I did something crazy.
So, some ride, I said, more than a little breathless.
He came closer, and the raw hunger that flashed across his features almost leveled me. The ride isnt why your hearts pounding, Ivy.
He almost growled that last part, and his roughly sensual voice felt like it rubbed me while he spoke. I couldnt admit that he was right, so I took a step backwardand almost tripped over a headstone. Adrians hand shot out, steadying me, and I shook it off while mentally berating myself.
Smooth, Ivy. Real smooth!
I pushed him away, feeling my heart hammer at the brief sensation of him beneath my hand. Touching him was more than enticing; it was addictive, which was why I had to get away from him before I let him do everything his darkly erotic stare promised me that Id love.
I took his jacket off and held it out to him. His fingers closed over mine, but instead of taking the jacket, he used it to tug me into his arms. His hair brushed my face as he leaned down, and willpower alone caused me to turn my head at the last second, so that his mouth landed on my cheek instead of my lips.
He didnt fight the movement, but slid his mouth lower until he reached my neck. A moan left me at the feel of his tongue, and I shuddered when he pressed his lips more firmly against my throat. Flicks, circles and light suction had me reeling from sensations, until I needed the arms he wrapped around me. Without them, I might have fallen.
Ivy. His voice was rough, and the hands that slid over me were achingly possessive. I want you.
I could feel that in the hard flesh that pulsed against my belly. Deep inside me, an answering throb responded. Id been overwhelmed, angry, lost, betrayed, burdened and brokenhearted over the past several months, but right now, all I felt was passion that threatened to boil over until it scalded me, and I knew that I would love being burned.
But I couldnt. Doing so wouldnt just be epically stupidit would be greedy, and greed was something to be avoided at all costs when it came to Adrian and me.
Judas had been guilty of three betrayals: trust, when he stole from the communal funds; greed, when he accepted those thirty pieces of silver; and death, when he identified Jesus to the Temple guards with that final, infamous kiss. Adrian had already betrayed my trust by lying to me about my real destiny. I wasnt about to help him succumb to greed by saying yes now.
No, I said, pushing him away. Adrian let me back him up. He didnt go far, and his hands flexed into fists as if he were fighting a fierce inner battle.
Okay, so I still want you, I went on, because that was obvious. Whether thats destiny, lust or something else, I dont know, but if you care about me like you claim to, youll stay away from me unless you can prove that youre not going to betray me again.
And the only way he could prove that was if we succeeded in finding Mosess staff and used it to repair the realm walls, then found the final, hallowed weapon, and did all of this without getting killed in the process. I may as well have told him that Id give him a chance only if we were the last two people left on earth.
Even still, I couldnt stop the emotions that rolled over me, breaking through barriers that hadnt been strong enough to hold them. Adrian was rightI did still care for him. And that weakened me in ways my enemies would be too quick to take advantage of.
I need to stay focused if I have any chance at winning this fight, I continued, my tone hardening. So, once again, if you really want to show me that youve changed, walk away from me. Now.
He said nothing for so long that I wondered if he was going to walk away without a word. If he did, it would be for the best, which was why I refused to say anything else.
What if I can prove that I wont betray you again? he finally asked, surprising me.
I let out a short laugh. If any of us are still alive after this whole thing is over, sure, I might be up for a date.
Theres a way I can prove I wont betray you without waiting until then, but Ill need Zach. Then his voice dropped, becoming rougher and softer at the same time. If I can prove to you that you can trust me, that theres no way Id even be able to betray you again, will you give me a chance? A real one?
I should say no. It might sound like a simple question, but it still possibly had destiny-affecting consequences. Then again, it was as realistic as my saying what Id do if I won the Powerball, although I had better odds of doing that than Adrian had of proving hed beat his destiny without actually having to beat it first.
Still, even as the word no formed on my lips, something rose up in me. What was wrong with saying what Id do if an impossible dream came true? the part of me that couldnt stop caring for Adrian whispered. After all, millions of people talked about what theyd do if they won the Powerball, and 99.9 percent of them would never find out.
In the end, I gave Adrian the same answer Id forced myself not to say earlier. Yes. Prove that...and Ill give you a chance.
CHAPTER EIGHT
DESPITE BEING AWAKE for half the night, I woke up before Jasmine. After I brushed my teeth and threw a cardigan over my tank top, I went out into the main room. From the swaying motion of the tour bus, we were already back on the road, but I was surprised to see Adrian driving. Brutus sat behind Adrians chair, and someone had thrown a large blanket over the gargoyle so that he was completely covered. Costa was awake, yawning as he opened a carton of eggs in the kitchen.
Oh, let me make breakfast, I said, smiling as I gently moved him aside. Its not that I thought cooking was my duty as a girl. Costa loved to cook, but he also wasnt very good at it, as the past several weeks had proved.
He gave me a hopeful look as he went to the wet bar, where a coffeemaker was now set up. French toast?
Sure. Adrian? I asked, a little unsure about how I should act. Things between us hadnt changed, and yet Id agreed that they might, if he could prove that hed conquered his destiny.
Nothing for me, I already ate, he replied.
That neutral response told me nothing about his frame of mind. Come to think of it, Adrian had been blunt to the point of aggressiveness about wanting me, yet he hadnt said that he wanted more than sex. Months ago, hed told me that he loved me, but in fairness, he said it right before he thought he was going to be killed by minions.
Did he still love me? Orin truthhad he ever loved me? Maybe his saying that back then had been impulse instead of sincerity? He had thought he was about to die, after all.
I began breaking eggs and mixing them in a bowl. Noises in the bedroom had to be Jasmine waking up, so I called out, Jaz? Want French toast? while still mentally stewing.
Did you mention breakfast? Jasmine said with a yawn, appearing in the doorway.
I turned toward her, smiling to cover the confusion that had started to swirl inside me. Yep. Hungry?
Starving, she began, then stopped, staring hard. I dont believe it, she hissed before going back into the bedroom and slamming the door.
I exchanged a bewildered glance with Costa. Beats me, he said to my unspoken question.
Ill be right back, I muttered, wiping egg residue from my hands. Then I slid the door open. Jaz? Whats wrong?
She was as far away from me as the room allowed, and when she swung around and glared at me, I came in and shut the door. Whatever it was, she obviously thought it was my fault.
You snuck out to see Adrian last night, she accused.
How had she known? Shed been asleep when I came back in! Then, I pushed my guilt back and straightened. I was a grown woman and I didnt need my little sisters permission to meet with anyone. Plus, I hadnt done anything with Adrian.
Not for what you think, I said, trying to find a balance between you cant tell me what to do and I love you, sis. He taught me how to ride Brutus while hes flying. Adrian used that trick to fight the demon from the other day, so its important that I know it, too, with what were up against.
An angry kind of hurt filled her gaze. Oh, so Im supposed to believe that Brutus gave you that hickey?
For the hundredth time, I cursed my inability to look into a mirror. Id gotten pretty good at putting on makeup using other reflective surfaces, but they werent clear enough to show everything, like an incriminating hickey that needed covering.
I expect you to trust me, I settled on, meeting her gaze squarely. Nothing is going to happen between me and Adrian. The only, highly unlikely exception to that is if he can prove that he can beat his fate, and thats a very big if.
Jasmine didnt reply. She just stormed past me and headed toward the front of the former tour bus.
Jaz, dont! I shouted, chasing after her.
Lets get something clear, she snapped when she reached Adrian. If you betray my sister again, Ill kill you.
I wanted to drag her away, but Adrian held out his hand to me in the universal gesture for Wait, Ive got this.
If I betray Ivy again, Ill let you kill me, he told Jasmine, a hard little smile playing on his lips. Deal?
Youd better believe it, she muttered, spinning around. Forget the French toast, I lost my appetite.
After this, so did I, I snapped.
Dont worry, Ivy, Adrian said, his tone deceptively mild. Now that your sister and I have an understanding, all thats left is coming through on what you and I agreed to.
Costa raised a brow, but after Jasmines little scene, I wasnt about to explain my ultimatum to Adrian last night.
Tell you later, I said with a sigh.
Then, taking a deep breath, I went back to the kitchen and began mixing the eggs again. All the while, I repeated shes been though a lot until it cooled my anger. Jasmine just needed more time to see that Adrian wasnt the same person shed heard so much about while trapped in his former realm. Right now, the only thing she knew was that fate predicted him to betray me two more times, the final one being permanent. No wonder she wasnt his biggest fan. She didnt have to be so bitchy about everything, but then again...