Page 73 of Blood So Brutal

Still, it was hard to care when I was this ecstatic.

The rest of the day was more of the same. I flew until my back screamed at me, took small breaks to recover, and got right back out there. Learning the limits of my own wings and pushing my body harder and harder had me panting for breathand collapsing onto the roof by the time the sun began to lower on the horizon.

“Alright, alright,” Jessiah said, standing over my collapsed body as I lay on my back. “I think we can consider this a successful first day of flying lessons.”

I smiled, still too breathless to reply.

He approached and sat beside me, relaxing backward on his hands and extending his legs out in front of him. “Wolf will be thrilled for you,” he started.

Ugh. I really tried toavoidthinking about Wolf all day. It gave me fucking whiplash every time I did. Hells, I didn’t understand him or his reasoning. He wanted to help me save the vampyres, but now he wanted me to show his father my power?

When I didn’t respond, Jessiah continued. “He’s doing it all to help you, you know. Everything he does is to keep you safe.”

“It really doesn’t feel that way,” I spat.

“Our father threatened to torture you again if we didn’t show him something. Wolf would die before he let those men touch you again, Huntyr. Showing Asmodeus a small amount of your power was the compromise.”

Well, shit. Why hadn’t Wolf said that? He could have started withHey, Huntress, my father’s going to hurt you if we don’t give him something, so let’s work together and figure out what we’re going to expose.

Instead, he let me believe he had ulterior motives for gaining his father’s trust.

Again.

“Your brother can be a huge asshole,” I replied. “It’s hard to trust him when he’s changing direction every five minutes.”

“He always has a plan. He’s always thinking of the greater good. I may not know the details of it all, but I can promise you that he is trustworthy. He’s doing his best to get you out of this, even if we don’t know the specifics.”

The guilt started to creep in again, but I shoved it aside. I had nothing to feel guilty for. Wolf shouldn’t be surprised I expected his betrayal again.

Even if, this time, he had his reasons.

We laid there on the roof for a few more minutes, watching the sun lower until darkness shadowed around us. I was beginning to see more and more of Jessiah, of what type of man he was. He was loyal to his brother, even when he had no clue what Wolf had planned for us.

And Jessiah was smart, calculated. He surely had his reasons.

“Come on,” Jessiah said after a few more minutes, wiping sweat on the back of his arm and reaching down to hoist me up to my feet. “We deserve a drink after that.”

Chapter 23

Wolf

The second ale was much easier to drink than the first, and the third was even better. One after another, I let that bitter liquid slide down my throat. The air was starting to warm, and this liquid was everything I needed.

“Careful,” the barkeep warned. “I won’t be the one carrying you through these streets back to the castle tonight.”

“Who cares about the damn castle?” I muttered. “Nobody would notice if I didn’t show up tonight.”

She placed a fresh drink in front of me. “Maybe not, but the last thing we need is more angels creeping around this place.”

A large hand fell onto my shoulder. “I’ve got him from here.” Nathan pulled himself into the seat beside me. “I’ve got some catching up to do with my old friend, anyway.”

I turned and faced him, using all my energy to pull a smile onto my face. “Nathan,” I greeted. “Shouldn’t you be off planning the world’s demise?”

He laughed but eyed me carefully. “Even I deserve a cold drink every now and then.”

I held my mug up to him in salute. “That, I understand.”

We both drank, letting the low buzz of conversation in the pub surround us. My senses were comfortably dulled, and I wasbeginning to feel the relaxation I had been searching for since I arrived here tonight.

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