I can’t rely on Sable’s protection alone. At the very least, she’ll be outnumbered if the Council tries to pull something. For all his boasting of unparalleled cosmic powers, as far as I can tell, Tinkle’s main ability is shading me from Fallen and Forsaken . . . and shooting sparks out of his butt.
“I think,” Greyson starts, the last of our group to speak up. He waits until it’s clear he has our attention. “We’re missing the obvious opportunity this presents. If we manage to track down Steel, we can use Emberly’s trip as a cover. We could slip away to help him and go with her to Egypt as backup.”
Sterling leans forward, obviously intrigued. “How do you figure?”
“Sable wants to take you to the Council’s compound over break, right?” I nod. “So we campaign to go with you, but ask if we can spend a few days with our family in New York first. We tell our parents we’re going straight to Egypt and tell Sable to pick us up in New York at a set date. Boom, we’ve just created a window of time to be wherever we want to be. With a bit of luck, we’ll be able to help Steel and make it back to New York before anyone knows we were gone.” Greyson makes it sound so simple, but I doubt it will be.
The table is silent for a beat while his suggestion sinks in. It’s Sterling who reacts first, by whooping and jumping to his feet. He pounds his fist in the air and starts chanting “road trip” over and over again. Someone throws a balled up piece of paper at him.
“Sit down,” Ash orders. “You’re in a library, you putz. And also, the Council resides in the Middle East. You can’t road trip over the Atlantic Ocean.”
“Same difference.”
“Not really.”
“You guys can’t come,” I cut in. “This is one of your only yearly breaks. You should be with your families to celebrate the holidays.”
“I could swing it.” Nova’s still working on her nails. I think she’s filing them all to points. “My parents won’t miss me,” she says with a shrug.
I don’t have parents and even I know that’s sad. My features must soften because Nova snaps, “Stop giving me Bambi eyes. My parents and I are solid. We’re just not big on traditions. I come from a long line of powers. We’re not the most touchy-feely bunch. If I tell them I can’t make it home for Christmas, they’re just going to use the time to pick up an extra mission somewhere, and I’ll see them next break. Angel-born are incredibly long-lived, you know. What’s one holiday in the grand scheme of things? Not to mention having an audience with the Council is considered an honor—”
Sterling snorts.
“—for some,” she finishes.
I suppose that makes sense. I’m sure there are lots of different dynamics within families. No two are alike and all that business.
“I think Sterling and I could make it happen as well. Otherwise I wouldn’t have brought it up.”
“I was just thinking Mom will have a fit if we don’t come home over the holidays. You really think she’d go for it? I feel like we might have to pull some next-level deception to get away with it.” The look on Sterling’s face says that the idea of using trickery is even more exciting than getting permission.
“If she knew we were petitioning for help to find Steel, I’m pretty sure she’d be on board. She was pretty chill about him going off for the first month, but she’s been freaking out the last few weeks. Who we really need to worry about are Blaze and Aurora. They’re going to make us pay for missing Christmas. You know it’s their favorite holiday after their birthday. We’re probably going to be picking fire ants out of our underwear for the next year.”
“But worth it, right?”
The grin that works its way onto Greyson’s face makes him look even more like his brother. “Absolutely.”
Ash chews on her lip, looking uncertain. If powers aren’t known for being touchy-feely, the same can’t be said for dominions—Ash’s angel-born line. They’re a tight-knit group that’s big on loyalty, friendships, and family. In a lot of ways, rulers are the glue that keep the angel-born factions held together. That’s Ash to a tee.
I can make this easier for her.
“You guys, as touched as I am that you would sacrifice your holiday and time with your families for me, that’s not something I can ask you to do.”
“We’re your friends. You don’t have to ask. Besides, families extend further than blood. You’re part of ours now.” The sincerity in Ash’s eyes causes my chest to tighten.
Who are these people? Yes, we’ve had an intense few months together, but I’ve never experienced acceptance like this before. And I don’t know exactly what to do with it. There’s security in being part of a group. Feeling included, accepted, and adopted by these angel-borns is what the buried part of myself has always longed for. But my flight instinct is so overdeveloped that there’s also a part of me that wants to shove them away and run in the opposite direction.
The emotions percolating inside my gut are itchy and prickly and wholly unfamiliar. Warmth spreads from my center outward, making my blood buzz. Utterly overwhelmed by their care and concern, my fingers tingle and feet go numb.
I start to collect my few belongings. Shoving my Book of Seraph in my bag, I almost eye-roll myself. Did I really think I’d get any studying done with this bunch? Maybe if Sterling hadn’t been there.
“I think maybe it would be best—”
“If we came along with you. Yes, we totally agree. It’s decided. I’ve always wanted to see the compound where the Council of Elders chills. I hear they have a kickin’ training center. Their VR is supposed to be superior to ours.”
“Seriously, Sterling?” Unlike me, Ash doesn’t hold back her eye-roll. “You were just claiming the Council was going to experiment on Emberly, and now you’re excited about their training center?”
“What?” Sterling holds up his hands, palms facing the ceiling. “If they don’t try to kill her, it could be a really cool trip.”
“Come on, bro. Let’s go rip off the Band-Aid and call Mom.”
“Good call. Ash. Em. I’ll see you ladies tonight,” Sterling says with an eyebrow wiggle. I hold in my groan. Tonight is day five million three hundred and twenty-seven of our sleepover with Sterling. If Steel doesn’t call soon, I may never get another uninterrupted night of sleep.
Pushing out of his seat, Greyson heads toward the exit with Sterling in tow, asking if he thinks there will be any hot chicks who like younger men at the compound. They’re out the door before I can hear Greyson’s response.
“So, I guess this is happening,” I say. Despite myself, I feel a level of relief knowing I’ll have backup on this trip.
“You okay?” Ash asks. Nova simply regards me over the top of her nail file.
“Yeah, this will be . . .” Scary? Horrific? A giant cluster? “Fun.”
Chapter Five
Steel
Silver-blonde strands slip through my fingers. Soft as corn silk, each piece a delicate thread of tinsel sliding over my palm. Following the metallic length up, I bury my hand in the mass and draw her closer. Her scent is heavenly. Not flowery like some girls, but sweet, like a sugary treat.