Page 94 of Ruby Red Sky

“Thank you.”

“I’ll contact Kiam, too. Just in case.”

My head swiveled toward him, and suspicion tingled my spine. After what I’d done to him, this behavior was unprecedented.

“Lukas, it's fine. Maybe he’ll assist, maybe he won’t.” His voice was rough and after I looked, I couldn’t see any malicious intent. His aura was sound, and his pulse, normal.

If he had the right, Kiam would have pinned me to the ceiling as well.

Perhaps “chance” was the better word.

It was nearly impossible for me to tell if it was Cassia’s influence that gave me the near-microscopic prickle of guilt that trailed through my chest or if I really did feel bad.

I went with the former. Kiam knew better than touching her, and I’d turn him into a chandelier again if the occasion called for it.

Elijah cleared his throat and set his elbows on his desk. “What can you tell me about how they operate?”

I knew he meant the First’s army. If I said one word, it would be a high treason. I’d eviscerated and boiled thousands of men alive for much less. The very thought of divulging any information gave me a headache and made my skin itch. But there was no going back to the man I was before, now.

I took a deep breath and tried to relax my spine. “The main difference will be the use of highly potent magic. Poisons. Lack of defensive time for anyone posing a threat. The physical weapons themselves will be magic.”

I reached over my shoulders and withdrew two long swords. They were cloaked, but they’d been there. Despite Elijah’s strength and the fact that he was half pureblood vampire, he wouldn’t have been able to detect them. No one around here could.

“Shit,” he muttered. “Okay.”

Returning them to their sheaths, I walked to the window. “I’m not returning to the First. That will leave them with no choice but to come here to retrieve me.” I glanced at him over my shoulder.

“I cannot bring Cassia and leaving her alone would guarantee her death. I may be powerful, but I’m not powerful enough to be certain of finding her. Fate knows where’d Annalise or Wyvon would send her. I would burn every Realm to the ground trying to locate her.”

Elijah stood and walked to the sideboard. He poured himself a drink from the same bottle I’d used. “That would be inconvenient for me.”

“Highly.” I gave him a small, closed mouth smile. “No matter the outcome, I won’t be returning home.”

He glanced down, staring into his glass. He swirled the contents. “It is a special kind of heartbreak, being forbidden your home.”

He peered up at me, and I ran my tongue along my teeth, my gums aching slightly from being so agitated.

“Staying here may not be the wisest decision for you. It would likely cause you some discomfort, given your previously high position,” Elijah remarked.

He was letting me know he wouldn’t step to the side—not that I’d expected him to. It would have been my right, but neither did I have any desire to rule over a motley crew of demons, humans, witches, and vampires.

I faced him, crossing my arms. “I will take the Second.”

Elijah’s eyes flickered blue and stayed that shade. “Funny, how this is all working out.”

“You will be welcome. Cassia and Selena seem to be quite taken by each other.” I wasn’t sure how much I liked the feisty girl and her sassy mouth, but I wasn’t going to take Cassia’s one friend away.

He pursed his lips and then brought his glass to his mouth and downed the remaining contents. He wiped the back of his hand across his lower face, staining it red. A flick of his fingers cleared the mark.

“Hm,” he hummed.

That settled, I crossed the room. “One more thing.” I waited for him to meet my eyes. “I will be making some renovations to the suite you kindly allowed us to reside in.”

“Oh yeah?”

I smirked at him. “I’m sure you’ll approve.”

Cassia, probably not so much...