Page 46 of Into the Abyss
“Is no excuse for turning against us!” Olgonbellowed. “Killhim!”
While some of the jinn continued to balk atthis command, most of them looked more than happy to follow throughon it as they came toward us.
“You or them?” I inquired of Amalia.
“What?” she asked as she edged closer tome.
“Youorthem, Amalia? Will youstay with them and fight with them, or will you choose yourself andcome away with me? You must decidenow. There is no time tothink about it.”
Tears filled her eyes as she looked from herparents, to me, to Olgon. A shiver ran through her slender bodywhen her eyes met Olgon’s.
“Me,” she whispered.
Turning, I wrapped my arms around her.
CHAPTER 20
Magnus
Sliding my hand over Amalia’s mouth, I covered it asI swiftly weaved a cloaking illusion over us. This illusion may notbe my strongest, but I could hold it and keep us hidden from thejinn. The bigger problem was that it drained me far more than anyof my other illusions, and I’d be unable to do much else for alittle while after this.
The jinn froze when we vanished before them.They glanced questioningly at each other before a few edged awayfrom where we stood and distrustfully surveyed the air.
My hand fell to the knife at my side as Istared at Olgon. He was focused on the area he’d last seen us andwhere we remained standing though he couldn’t see us anymore. Theblade was long enough I could decapitate him with it, but Icouldn’t do it in front of Amalia, and I’d give away our locationif I went after him.
The jinn didn’t know what I’d done to hideus. For all they knew, I’d somehow transferred us from one place toanother, as someveryrare demons were capable ofteleportation. If I killed Olgon, they’d immediately be on me, andAmalia might turn against me for attacking him that way. Patiencehad always been my strong suit; there would come a time when I’dhave the chance to go for Olgon, but now was not it.
Lifting Amalia, I pinned her against mychest as some braver jinn crept toward us. At first, she was stiffagainst me, but when her muscles relaxed, I realized she understoodwhat was happening and removed my hand from her mouth.
Her body warmed mine as I edged furtheraway, and I couldn’t deny that she feltrightin my arms. Myheart raced with the knowledge she’d chosen herself andmeover them.
The jinn stopped where we’d stood, and oneof them threw out his hands to search for us, but we were a goodten feet away now.
“Where are they?” Olgon demanded.
The one searching for us lowered his hands.“Not here.”
“Find them!” Olgon commanded. “And I don’tcare what it takes, bring that demon to me!”
“What about my daughter?” Vya asked as shestepped toward Olgon. Like a horse running from a wolf, her eyeswere wild, and the whites of them showed.
“Unless she gets in the way, she’ll befine,” Olgon replied. “If she gets in the way, then she will sufferthe consequences.”
“She’s yourniece!”
“I am aware of that, Vya, but you mustrecognize her betrayal cannot go unpunished.”
“Punishedhow?”
“We’ll decide that when we have them,” Olgonreplied and turned dismissively away from her.
Eron caught his Chosen by the shoulders whenshe lunged after Olgon. “Not now,” he whispered to her. “We’lldiscuss thisifAmalia is caught.”
“But they could hurt her!”
“No one is going to hurt her.”
“But he said to kill her if she got in theway!”
