Page 38 of Burn of Obsidian
Lucifer groaned. “This is going to fucking hurt.”
“I thought you were into pain?” Kace smirked.
“Yeah, but not when your ugly mug does it.” Lucifer pursed his lips, red eyes glowing. “We managed to hit Bishop last time, but I don’t know if the current level will keep Gideon down for long.”
“Leave the explosive side to me.” Kace brushed a hand through his dark red hair. “And I swear, if you add fucking glitter again…”
Lucy clicked his tongue. “I don’t know what you’re talking about.”
Kace shot him a glare, but didn’t argue further.
“Once I get the shell created, I’ll then let you know when we can test,” Jax said, bringing them all back to the conversation at hand. They’d already tested numerous designs, and nothing so far had been successful. They’d been lucky with other Daemons, but they were nothing compared to the king himself. “You think you’ve mastered the compound?”
Kace looked over at the vial of powder at the edge of one of Jax’s work benches. It was black, but there was definitely a slight shimmer. He shot Lucifer another sharp scowl, who’d suddenly found the ceiling very interesting before he turned to Jax.
“We need to test it with the metals of the shell. I think the iron and steel act as catalysts, activating the explosives early rather than neutralising the energy until impact. It’s affecting the spell’s quality.”
Jax rolled the crystal between his fingers. “Obsidian’s supposed to neutralise negative energy.”
Kace raised a brow, glancing over at Lucifer.
“Hey, don’t look at me,” Lucy said with a shrug. “You guys are the brains. I’m just the target practice.”
“The target practice that keeps adding fucking glitter,” Kace growled.
Lucifer sneered. “Look, I’m not saying I did anything. But if I had added glitter, it wouldn’t affect the explosive compound because I only use the bio-degradable stuff.”
“Yes, because saving the environment from your fucking glitter is more important than destroying Gideon.” Kace shook his head. “Grow up.”
Lucifer snarled, black veins rising beneath the skin of his neck. “I’m not a child.”
“You sure about that?” Kace shot back. “Hunter’s more mature, and he’s fifteen.”
“Now you’re just hurting my feelings.” Lucifer grunted, folding his arms with a huff. The black veins retracted, leaving only smooth, golden brown skin. “You’re moaning at me, yet Jax is standing there, clearly having an existential crisis. Some friend you are.”
Jax growled, his beast stretching the limits of his mind. Beast wanted to show Lucy his fangs, but was content for Jax to remain the man for now.
The tension along Kace eased, his brows raised when he returned his attention to Jax. “This about the faerie everyone’s talking about? The same one who hit you when you were your beast?”
Lucifer smirked, which turned to a grin when Jax shoved him in the shoulder. “Hey, I didn’t say anything. Scouts honour.”
“You don’t even know what a scout is,” Kace muttered, but there was amusement.
Jax shook his head, pulling the throwing knife out of the wall behind him and placing it back on the rack. They’d been commissioned by a European prince, one who planned to display them like a piece of art. They were the sharpest he’d ever created, a single silver piece that thickened into its handle. Jax had planned on refusing the commission on principle. His work may be art, but they weren’t created to be put on display. The prince had convinced him otherwise.
Kace hummed low in his throat. “So J, tell me about the obsidian.”
Jax gripped the crystal tight enough it cut into his palm. “You’re right. The problem with metal is it absorbs too much of the energy. I think adding something that keeps the spell contained until impact will work.”
“So, you want to use a crystal?” Lucifer picked at some lint from his shirt. “Not unheard of, but obsidian is like glass. Fragile.”
“Obsidian’s sharper than steel when cut correctly.” Kace nodded to himself. “When the bullet hits it doesn’t matter if it shatters, as long as the shards penetrate.”
“I need to run a few tests.” Jax wasn’t familiar with the strength and dexterity of the crystal. “We done here?” he asked, placing the obsidian on the table. He already knew what he needed to do, the design adapting in his mind to fit the plan.
“Why, you want to get back to your mate?” Lucy asked casually, and Kace froze.
Fuck’s sake.