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He chuckled and combed his fingers through her hair. It made the skin on her scalp tingle and a warm feeling slidethrough her body. Once he tied it off at the ends from a thin leather strap he kept in his pocket, she ran her hands over the plaits. “Thank you. I can tell just from feeling that it is perfect.”

“It is, rest assured. We’re ready, Presco.” He wrapped his arms snuggly around her waist, and it made her stomach flip.

“Hold on,” Presco said.

His great wings spread out and he trotted forward, gathering a little speed before liftoff. Rising from the ground tickled her belly and she let out a laugh. The city was lit up with torchlight. Elves still walked the main streets. Soft music drifted up even as they rose high above the tallest trees. The stars glittered and the moon was almost full. The warmth of Thane pressed against her warded off the cooler temperature.

“This is amazing!” She grinned. “I love flying!”

“There’s nothing else quite like it.”

Presco evened out and went into a steady glide. Feeling brave, she let go of the spike and held out her arms. “Wahoo!” Thane’s laugh rumbled against her back. It was good to hear him laugh. He’d been rather melancholy since she’d met him. “Try it. Hold out your arms.”

Once he let go of her, she glanced back because she had to see his face, and it didn’t disappoint. He was lit up with joy, and even if he was beautiful broody, his perfect white smile made her heart flutter.

Tonight was about freedom and taking risks. She tucked her legs up in front of her, then slowly rose to her full height and held her arms out again.

“Katana.” Thane sounded worried, and his hand wrapped around one of her ankles. “Please sit down. You could fall.”

The last time they rode, Presco said he didn’t lose his riders and even if someone fell, he’d catch them. She trusted that. “Oh, but it is so fun!” The little hairs around her face whipped in the wind and she closed her eyes, with her arms spread wide as if shehad wings herself. Maybe she’d ask the god of magic to give her a set one day. Would it be hard to learn to fly?

“Katana.”

Glancing back at him, he did look a little scared. What would he do if—She pretended to lose her balance and wobbled, waving her arms and gasping. Lightning fast, he was on his feet. His arms caged around her, pinning her back against Presco’s spike. He was breathing heavily, and his pulse visibly throbbed in his neck. “Please, sit down,” he said, all throaty and raspy.

She gripped the front of his suit jacket and started laughing. “I am sorry, that was mean.”

His jaw dropped. “Youpretendedto lose your balance?”

“It was just a bit of fun. I will not fall.”

He let out a low growl and pulled her down with him to sit. “You scared the shit out of me.”

Still smiling, she gripped Presco’s spike again. “I will hold on just for you.”

“Thank you,” he said grumpily. “No more tricks.”

She twisted to wink at him. “Promise, as long as you keep holding onto me.”

Chapter 18

HEL

Hel tossed Thane’s boots at his gut and stood over him. Thane shot up out of sleep, wild-eyed and ready to defend an attack. The sun was already up, and the birds were chirping. The fool should be awake already or at least sleep lighter.

Hel bent over and patted Thane’s rosy cheek. “Get up, princess. And how in Maker’s name do you sleep like the dead when a vast number of peoplewantyou dead? Late nights with a certain blonde goddess?”

With a groan, he rubbed his sleepy eyes and dropped his feet to the floor. “Can’t I just simply be tired?”

“Better cut that shit out right now. If I’d been an assassin, you’d be dead.” With his hands tucked behind him, Hel headed for the door. “We gave Rogue three days. It’s been three days.”

“Shit, and not a word from Rogue?”

Hel paused in the doorway with a grin. Oh, to finally get some decent revenge. It would be sweet. It was time to take his gloves off. “Nope. Prepare to get those hands bloody.”

Hel adjustedthe sleeves on his black suit and rolled his neck before stepping through the front doors of Rogue’s apartment building in the capital of Runevale, a city not ruled by any one god or goddess but the council in Dramalin. It was a beautiful desert oasis with tropical flowers and distant rolling sand hills. It didn’t take a genius to know he wouldn’t be at home in his own territory after he, Valeen, and Thane so easily slipped past his defenses.

By making him and Thane invisible, they bypassed the people on the busy streets, where large-brimmed hats and head scarves were standard to combat the hot sun. The feline shifter guards at the entrance to the four-story building kept chatting about the drunk night they had before, unaware that two dangerous assassins walked right by. Up the stairs they strutted, their feet quiet as a mouse. He came upon Rogue’s door and touched it with his fingertips. It hummed with magical wards. Other than the Drakonan’s treasury and Valeen’s magical wall around House of Night, it was rare he met a magic barrier he couldn’t get through in minutes if not faster. And Rogue was no Valeen.