Page 173 of Starborn Husbands

“When you take off without permission, it’s hard to believe that. Call for your pet, and we’ll be on our way.”

It’s easy to watch the decision-making play out on Merrick’s face. The odds are bad. With angels outside, and a Guild who’s happy to have Treyu off their hands, they’d ship him off themselves. Treyu’s only hand is that “he’s not an angel, he’s a demigod” but Daniel is counting on no one wanting to admit that.

Which leaves one option.

“Treyu,” Merrick grunts.

“You’re fucking kidding me,” my lippy-ass brother snarks. “He knows that I don’t belong with the angels.”

Zhang drags Treyu through the crowd, shoving him toward Merrick. When did they start agreeing on all things Treyu? It’s as if they’ve formed an alliance.

“Yeah, yeah. I’m going,” Treyu says. He’s going to end up on the end of the grand seraph’s sword by this time tomorrow if he doesn’t watch the attitude.

But can’t say I don’t agree with my brother, this whole thing’s been one pile of bullshit on top of another pile of bullshit.

Daniel’s stone face softens just enough—while he considers my brother—to confuse the hell out of me, but the stone returns quickly. “The Enochian on my son’s arm is clear. You’re his. He belongs to Heaven and so do you.”

Treyu’s brazen enough to scowl. “Guess it works for you now, eh?”

I doubt it does, but once he has Treyu away from here, he can do as he pleases with him.

“Merrick, shut him up,” Daniel orders.

“I intend to, General. My wings still don’t work, you’re going to have to fly us to the Garrison,” Merrick says.

Daniel’s lips form an unreadable line. “Very well.” He raises his arm, but a mightywhamagainst the closed stone entrance stops him. A massive crack snakes down the stone and an army of Boone-like men pour through. None of them have weapons on them. What are they going to do without weapons?

“Did we make it in time?” Boone asks.

“What in the name of the Gods is going on?” the king shouts.

Daniel’s eyes roll backward until they’re white, and blue energy sparks across them.

“Oh, shit,” Merrick says.

“Target the goons,” Daniel says with two fingers to his temple.

“Not that nice of yah ta call us goons,” Boone says.

Merrick dives to cover Treyu at the same time Daniel’s wings unfold. Wind gusts against my face, and powerful beats take him into the air.

“Run!” Merrick shouts to anyone who’ll listen. His black wings fall open the same way limbs would flop if they had no bones. Pandemonium ensues. Members of the Guild scatter, and guardians are on the king.

“Are you fucking crazy, Merrick?” Treyu shouts. “You’ll ruin them forever.”

“It’s the chance I’m going to have to take.”

“No. I forbid it,” Treyu says.

The muted hum of steel announces the arrival of Zhang’s twin starblades. “You’re a fool, Merrick.”

“Have you got a better idea?”

I’m going to have to let them figure out their marital dispute on their own. This is the distraction I needed.

Someone crashes into me from behind. “Oops!” The cuffs binding my hands drop to the floor and so does the bracelet blocking all my runes and my star.

“Madame Luella?”