Page 68 of Wolf of Ashes
Diavolo tips his chin up, as if this is exactly the reason he pretends to be a warlock.
“As for you.” Vanguard points at me. “You’re not a pixie and you’re not a wolf shifter.”
I remind myself that he can’t identify me from my powers, only from my blood and my real eyes. He won’t associate my claws or teeth with my late father since there’s nothing angelic about them, and I was careful to hide my other attribute that might raise eyebrows.
The furrow in Vanguard’s brow deepens as he continues to scrutinize me.
“I am what I am,” I say.
His lips part, as if he’s going to ask more, but he presses them closed again.
“Very well.” He leans back in his chair while the snake tattoos seem to darken across his chest. “I hope you can forgive the reception I gave you, but I needed to uncover your true powers, since I sensed you were concealing them.”
I screw up my nose, pretending his comment doesn’t unsettle me. “Eh, I’m not really inclined toward forgiveness, no.”
He gives a sudden laugh, his brown eyes filling with crimson swirls. “That’s fair.”
His smile quickly fades. “Now that I’ve verified your skills, I believe you’re both in a position to be of use to me.” He unfolds his arms as he continues. “But you can’t simply waltz in here and expect me to trust you. Trust has to be earned.”
Grudgingly, I say, “Well, I suppose that’s also fair.”
“The Ultima Nostra demands complete loyalty,” Vanguard continues. “Until you prove yourselves, you won’t be welcome into the outer circle of his soldiers.”
“Fuck the outer circle,” I snap, speaking without filtering my thoughts, but there’s no way I want to fuck around in the outer circle for years. “We want to be in the inner circle. Serving the Ultima Nostra himself. You’ve ascertained that we’re strong enough. We can be useful in ways that others can’t.”
Vanguard raises his eyebrows at me.
My jaw clenches as I realize I’ve potentially made one small mistake: I described the Ultima Nostra as ‘himself.’ I have no idea if leadership has changed hands multiple times. If the current leader is female, then I’m fucked…
“You’re ambitious,” Vanguard says, and I inwardly breathe a sigh of relief.
“Ambitiousandproud,” I say, again speaking without a filter. “I don’t want to grovel for scraps. I want a place where our skills are recognized.”
I take a few steps forward, daring to narrow the distance between us.
“I promise you,” I growl, speaking another truth, “in return for such a place, I would give my life.”
CHAPTERTWENTY-FOUR
Vanguard’s lips part at my promise. He considers me quietly for a long moment.
Jonah, too, surveys me with a resurging curiosity in his eyes. Again, I’m aware of the heat he controls, once more like a burn from my hair to my toes.
For the entirety of that long moment, I worry that I pushed too hard, was too truthful, too vulnerable in speaking my truths. I’ve stepped past Diavolo and I can’t see his reaction, but I sense his growing tension. But there’s no taking my words back now.
Finally, Vanguard breaks the silence. “Every dark creature who comes to me wants a place in the inner circle, but very few make it there. Most come to understand that their place is in theoutercircle, and they accept whatever is given to them. However, I will acknowledge that very few can challenge me or Jonah. Your skills may well put you in a different position.”
He folds his arms across his chest again, the fingers of his right hand tapping his left bicep. He casts the quickest look at Jonah, an unspoken communication, at which Jonah nonchalantly picks up his lighter and plays with the lid, theclick-clackfilling another silence.
I want to break the moment, to argue our case further, but Diavolo’s hand slips across my lower back, his presence now at my side, and it feels like a warning to stay quiet.
Around me, the panthers have raised their heads from their bowls of water and are also waiting quietly.
“Okay.” Vanguard leans forward. “I have a delicate task that can only be completed by the most skilled supernaturals. If you succeed, I will give you a path into the inner circle.”
He’s not exactly opening the door directly to the Ultima Nostra, but it’s a start.
I speak without hesitation. “Tell us what the task is, and we’ll get it done.”
