Page 77 of Reaper Unhinged
“I’ll send out the bat signal,” Bastian said.
Uri was still studying Kristoff. “If they don’t come for him, then he might reactivate at some point and try to run. Or maybe this is it for him. He’s been abandoned and will remain locked in his own head.”
But we needed the information in his head. We needed someone who could crack the code and get inside.
Shit. “We need Conah. He can read memories of the dead and the living.”
Cora nodded. “I’ll jump into the Underealm and find him.”
“No. It’s too dangerous with Mammon so close to Imperium. It’s safer to send a phoenix. It’ll find him, and if he can get away, he’ll come. In the meantime, contact Vi and see if there’s any witchy shit she can do. I’ll fly back to quarters and send the phoenix.”
“Fee?” Uriel said tentatively. “Do you know how to send a phoenix?”
Crap. “You better come with me.”
Grayson pulled me into a hug and kissed my forehead. “Stay the night.” He locked gazes with me. “If…if you want to.” He looked to my left to where Uri stood waiting.
“Grayson…”
“I love you,” he said. “All of you.” He released me. “Take care of her,” he said to Uriel. “The rest of you, let’s clean this fucking place up.”
With a final look at our trashed home, I headed out the busted front doors.
I had a phoenix to send.
Chapter Twenty-Six
It was strange entering the Dominus quarters, knowing it would be empty of the guys. But Iza was there to greet us.
“Fee, you’re back.” She looked so happy to see me that I didn’t have the heart to tell her I wasn’t staying. “I put fresh sheets on your bed,” she said. “Will Masters Azazel, Malachi, and Conah be back soon too?”
“I don’t know, Iza. I think things will be…quiet around here for a while. In fact, I think you and the others should take some time off.”
Her eyes went wide. “You want us to leave?”
“Just for a few days. Go see friends and family. I’ll send a message to the tavern when things are…normalish.”
“So, the rumors are true…” She wrung her hands. “Lilith has been taken.”
Oh shit. Now was the time to lie to her, but I couldn’t bring myself to do it. “Iza, can I trust you?”
She looked offended that I’d asked. “Have I ever given you cause to doubt me?”
I bit back a smile. “No, which is why I’m going to tell you the truth.”
She held her breath.
“Lilithwastaken.”
She let out a sharp cry and staggered slightly. Uriel caught her, and she shook him off indignantly and flung herself at me.
I hugged her to my thigh. “It’ll be okay. Azazel, Mal, and Conah will find her, and everything will be fine, but you cannot tell anyone, do you understand? We can’t add fuel to the rumors, or it will incite fear and panic.”
She tipped her head up, eyes brimming with tears. “Our poor queen. Taken by the usurper.”
Oh, God. I hadn’t realized how dramatic imps could be. “I promise you we will fix this. But you need to keep this to yourself. You’re in the circle of trust now. You mustn’t break it.”
She shook her head vehemently. “I vow it.”
