Page 29 of Wolf of Ashes
I dare to step closer to her, but I stop several paces away. A safe enough distance. She’s still gripping the hilt of her sword in her left hand. The blade is mostly a useless stub, but it has some sharp edges. My claws are indestructible, but the rest of my body isn’t.
“What about a Sentinel?” I ask. “Can you command one of those?”
Shadows grow around her eyes, unexpectedly dark for such a pure being. “This city is mine. No Sentinel acts here without my permission.”
I’ve struck a nerve, but I don’t know why. Her claim was emphatic, but there’s an edge to her voice that makes me wonder if she’s lying. It sounds more like a prideful statement than an accurate one.
I speak cautiously, testing her. “There’s a Sentinel named Zadkiel. If you can guarantee he won’t follow us, then we will leave you in peace.”
More than anything, I want to kill Zadkiel, but taking revenge on him is second to punishing the man who hired him. I can’t do that if I don’t make it out of this city. Once I reach my destination, Zadkiel won’t be able to touch me. Even a Sentinel wouldn’t dare step into the stronghold I plan to conquer.
For some reason, the Commander flinches at the mention of Zadkiel’s name, but she tips her chin up. “I can guarantee it.”
I consider her for another second before I untie the black sash from around my waist and use it to wipe some of the blood from my legs, as if I’m taking my time to consider her offer.
I’m happy to see that my skin is healing.
The Commander’s eyes narrow briefly at the material, as if she, like the angels in the kitchen, recognizes the sash, but her lips quickly press together. She seems to be working hard to stop herself from commenting on it.
I re-tie the material around my waist, ignoring the damp of my blood, using the seconds to think through her claim and the high chance that she’s lying.
With a loud scoff, I shake my head at her. “What am I thinking? You don’t have that sort of power. Even as Serene Commander, you can’t control the movements of Sentinels—”
“I can guarantee it!” Her voice is sharp, spoken through gritted teeth.
I narrow my eyes at her. “How?”
She swipes at the smudge on her cheek. “Because right at this very moment, my sisters will be preparing to lower his body into the ground.”
CHAPTERNINE
My eyes widen. I can’t stop myself from recoiling.
I was not expecting the Serene Commander to tell me that her angels are putting Zadkiel into the dirt.
My breathing is faster than it should be. My voice is a stifled snarl. “He’s dead?”
Decades of hatred rise up within me. Earlier, I wondered if Zadkiel was called to join whatever battle was fought here and the Serene Commander’s claim would support it. What’s more, the keeper said earlier that he could smell a legion of angels outside this building and hear the clanking of metal and scraping of soil.
It would certainly explain why there are so few angels within this building and why others haven’t converged on us yet.
“Shovels and dirt,” I murmur. “They’re busy digging graves.”
My distrust of any angel’s word runs deep. Sure, the Commander’s sisters might be burying the dead, but that doesn’t mean Zadkiel is one of the deceased.
“Why should I believe you?”
The Commander’s eyes gleam. “Go and see for yourself.”
I don’t try to hide my disgust at the way she’s trying to lure me into danger. She wants me to step outside this building and expose myself to a whole legion of angels. Zadkiel could be overseeing the burials and the Serene Commander wants me to walk right into his arms. Especially given that she’s discovered she can’t beat me herself.
“Fuck you,” I whisper before I call the panthers to me with a soft, “Come. We’re leaving.”
The keeper has edged closer to me, and a brief glance at him gives me the chance to see his firm nod, as if he agrees with my decision. Although I’m not sure if it’s because I’m letting the Commander live or because I’m taking my chance to run.
“You have another way out?” I ask him, remembering his earlier shout.
“I do.” He surprises me by scooping his arm around my waist and practically lifting me off my feet. He seems now to be in an even greater rush to get me out of here. “This way.”
