Page 72 of Burn of Obsidian
“Yes, well, he’s after the power the chalice could unlock.” Cassiel nodded. “Even if he had all three pages, he still wouldn’t be able to solve its secret without assistance.”
“We can’t allow him the chance.”
“Of course not.” Cassiel’s glare was dark, edged with threat. It was the first time Jax saw the warrior beneath his cool exterior. “My fellow council members seem concerned about his power, but alas Gideon will never hold all three of the pages. I’ve made sure of it.” His wings snapped against his back, fast enough it created a draft. “However, even with a single page, he could strengthen the chalice’s connection. He just needs someone to decipher it.”
Jax stilled, allowing the councilman to sweep closer.
“The Council may be too insouciant regarding the threat, but I am not.” Cassiel stopped an inch or so between them, Jax only marginally taller. “The Guardians have been nothing but a disappointment, becoming a hazard to the integrity of the Council.”
“We don’t give a shit about the Council.”
“Clearly, which is a concern.” Cassiel sneered. “I’ve come to inform you that if the Guardians fail, you will all be destroyed.”
“Try it.” Jax felt a threat vibrate his throat, knowing his eyes had shifted to silver.
KILL? Thunder snapped his jaws inside his mind, adding pressure beneath his skin.
Not yet.
“Take this as your only warning. The chalice is an ancient celestrial relic, not an artefact thought lost. Yet the Daemon king holds it.” Cassiel held Jax’s gaze, his irises the same copper as his wings. “Find and destroy him before I have to intervene. An Archangel may have created you, mutt, but I can end you just as easily.”
Chapter 27
Thea
“You can add ‘unable to follow instructions’ to your list of personality traits,” Ruhne muttered, the wind strong enough he gripped onto her hair tightly.
“You’re pulling.”
“Sorry,” he muttered, but didn’t release the strands. “I forget how cold it can get here in the evenings.” He shuffled along her shoulder, his weight uncomfortable, but not heavy. “We should have listened to monster dick and stayed home.”
“Ruhne!”
An older woman cleared her throat, looking over at Thea with a look of disgust. Shaking her head, she moved to the next stall, the owner selling hand dyed T-shirts.
“He hasn’t got a monster dick,” Thea whispered, not that she really knew. It wasn’t like she’d looked. “And stop talking about Jax’s dick; it’s weird.”
“Look, all I’m saying is that if I hadn’t interrupted, you’d be walking funny right now.” Ruhne tapped one of her earrings, glancing up at the ‘Camden Town’ sign. “I’m only looking out for you and your vagina. You should be grateful.”
Thea ignored him, wrapping her jacket tighter around herself. She’d stayed home for as long as she could, but she couldn’t just sit there and do nothing. Grey may be dead, but that didn’t mean he was the only lead. She’d been attacked over a stupid document she couldn’t even read. No way was she sitting and waiting for it to happen again.
“Hey, can you buy me one of those deep fried sticks over there?”
Thea followed Ruhne’s pointed finger, finding a van selling fresh churros. “If I buy you one, will you shut up about Jax?”
Ruhne clapped his hands in excitement, making her jump. “No promises.”
Shaking her head, she paid for one churro, jostling her shoulder to shoot Ruhne into the air. His wings immediately slowed, and it wasn’t long before he drifted lower. Landing by her feet, he ate half far quicker than she expected, considering their size wasn’t much different.
“Fucking toadstool, it’s cold.”
“You moaned about being left behind last time,” she said, finding Ruhne fit amongst the eccentric and colourful stalls and shops.
He snorted, face covered in sugar and cinnamon. “I might break a membrane if I get caught in a gust.”
Waiting for him to finish his food, she picked him back up. Rather than putting him on her shoulder, she shoved him under her jacket, zipping it up with his head and arms hung out the middle.
Ruhne wiggled. “This would be more comfortable if you had bigger tits.”