Page 20 of Broken Shadows

Poor, Baby Brother. Seduction is a powerful tool, whether it’s used in your favor or not. My eyes widen as Rosa bends at the waist, grabbing the weighty, ceramic lid to the toilet that she planted by the door jamb earlier. She lifts it over her head and bashes Asher’s head over and over. A laugh rushes from me as dark blue blood and chunks of brain matter splatter in every direction.

“Although I’m loathe to admit, she’s an intelligent woman. She at least knows that one strike won’t keep a prince of Hell down. Even Asher.”

Ezra hums in agreement. “Mhm.”

Rosa’s eyes ping frantically around the room, her hands shaking so hard she can barely grasp the handle of Fluffy Fucker’s cage when she lets him out, then steals from the room.

“Hey, Sugar,” Ezra calls. “Don't forget about us.”

Rosa curses, snatches the mirror, then exits her makeshift prison. The reflection of the mirror turns into a phantasmagoria of colors as she jostles it around.

I hiss, “What the fuck are you doing?”

“Tucking my compact in my cleavage. I need to use both hands,” she states, her words broken with nerves.

Ezra grins too widely. “I’m honored, Sweetness.”

She snorts. “Enjoy it. It’s the first and last time you’ll find yourself there.”

A sliver of crescent shaped bare skin crowds two sides of the compact as she hastily unlocks Aiden's door. The door flies open before she has a chance to turn the knob, and Aiden grins on the other side.

Handing Ezra the mirror, I plunge through the bond into Aiden’s mind. Strangely, a sense of mild fondness swarms me as my consciousness weaves into his.

“Bro Demon!” Aiden shouts.

Rosa’s dainty, manicured hand rises, then slaps over his mouth.

A fierce growl rolls from my chest.For fuck’s sake.I clench my jaw and stab my fingers through my hair.The goal is to not get caught. Stealth is important,I snap in his mind.

“Sorry, sorry. I just got so excited,” Aiden replies sheepishly.

Listen closely. I’ll relay instructions to lead you and Rosa to Evie, then continue to aid your route through the catacombs once you have her. Youmustwalk as quickly andquietlyas you can, but don’t run.I pause, making sure Aiden is absorbing the information.I sense my brothers in the East wing. Thank fuck. Luckily, it’s on the opposite end of the abbey, so as long as you are tactful, they won't be alerted to your movements.

I don’t bother explaining this to Rosa, as she’s intelligent enough to grasp the nature of the situation.

As Ezra raises the mirror in my peripheral, my vision splits, one part of me looking through Aiden's eyes, and the other monitoring my brother as he brings the mirror so close to his face only his beard surrounded lips are in the frame.

“Be careful, Sweetness,” he purrs. “Follow Aiden. Lorcan is telling him where to go.”

“Okay,” she squeaks as a tremble fans from her hands to her extremities. “Also, stop calling me that, you big brute.”

Aiden rubs his hands together, his excessive energy zipping along the bond and raising the hair on my arms.Fucking move. We don't have much time,I order.Turn left at the end of this hall.

“What now?” he whispers. I roll my eyes.

Continue straight, I reply.

I strain my ears for any detrimental sounds, but the only things I detect are Aiden’s obnoxious tromping steps, and both their panting breaths. Even Fluffy Fucker knows to remain silent as he flies with the humans. The duo quickly reaches the grand staircase and moves down them swiftly.

Stay quiet, I remind him.

“You got it, bro-demon-boss-man,” Aiden says in an attempt to whisper, but it’s still loud. This kid doesn’t know the concept of an inside voice.

“This is a good view, but it would be a better one if you turn this thing around so I could watch those gorgeous tits of yours bounce instead,” Ezra propositions.

“Ugh, you’re a fucking pig,” Rosa whispers in response.

Ezra chuckles as my view through Aiden tilts, then distorts wildly as he trips on the bottom step.Fuck me, I knew the escape was going too smoothly.

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