Page 16 of Queens

“Are you about ready?” Aziel asks, eyeing my bag

I zip it shut. “Yes.”

He reaches for me, but I slink away. “I can take myself.”

My decision isn’t out of the ordinary. I stopped allowing my fathers to teleport me places the day I learned how to do it myself, and I don’t need them bringing me to the retreat as if I were a child being dropped off at school.

Aziel frowns. “But I want to take you.”

“That’s too bad.”

We stare at one another, but I know I’m going to win. I always win.

Several seconds pass before Aziel blows out a slow breath and dips his head, silently conceding. It takes every bit of inner strength I possess not to grin and rub it in. It’s something I’d do to Valeria and David, but Aziel doesn’t accept defeat the same way my siblings do.

Aziel may be old as dirt, but he’s still a Wrath. If I taunt him, he’ll retaliate. He’ll forcibly teleport me and my things to the retreat, and he might even go as far as to check me in. No amount of kicking and screaming on my end will stop him.

I can’t let that happen.

Mom steps between Aziel and me, breaking the budding tension.

“We’ll see you in ten days, then,” she says, pulling me in for a hug. I return it, still maintaining eye contact with Aziel over her shoulder.

“Ten days,” I repeat.

—————

I repack my suitcase the second Aziel and Mom leave, replacing the leisure clothing with functional items.

I’ve heard there’s a large market just outside the front gates of Mammon’s estate, and that’s my destination. I’ll post up there, and I’ll monitor her every movement until I find an opportunity to be alone with her. To kill her.

The air ripples, and David and Valeria appear.

Valeria’s in another red leather outfit, and she skips over pleasantries as she shoves two knives into the side pocket of my suitcase. She’s nervous that I’m going to die. If I’m completely honest with myself, I am, too. I haven’t been able to find much helpful information about Mammon or Greed, and I’m practically going into this mission blind.

“Is that what you’re wearing?” David asks.

I shoot him a look. “Don’t start with me right now.”

He shrugs, holding the glass container of black sludge in his hand. The mere sight of it sends a shiver down my spine. It always does, and I’m amazed I’m able to bring myself to drink it on a daily basis. Assuming I don’t burn through the tonic,I should only have to drink it every few days once I’m inside Greed. That’s what David said.

I’ll play it by ear.

David sets the container in my bag, then pulls a necklace out of his pocket. It’s a thin, golden chain with a black vial dangling from the center.

“I got this for you,” he says. “In case you need an emergency dosage. It’s concentrated, so it should be a full dose.”

That’s actually thoughtful. David gestures for me to lift my hair and spin so he can clasp the necklace behind my neck, which I let him do. The gold chain is light, and the vial hangs low enough to easily tuck into a shirt.

“Thanks,” I say.

He pats my shoulder. “I didn’t know you were capable of uttering such a word.”

Asshole.

Valeria takes it upon herself to look through my packed clothing, and she goes as far as to remove and replace several of my items. I don’t particularly love her meddling, but I can tell it’s done out of anxiety.

“Where, exactly, are you going to be?” she asks.