Phaedrus opens the front door and walks outside without his coat on, into the falling snow. He sits in the snow bank by the street, scrubbing his face with icy handfuls of it. Zephyr walks over to us with his eyes on the window. “We have to go before Phaedrus melts.”
I make a sound that’s halfway between a laugh and a sob. “Okay,” I agree. Reed says nothing. Zephyr nods and walks away, rousing the others to action as he goes. I lift my head from Reed’s chest and scoot to the end of the bench seat. Standing, I look back at my angel. I’ve only seen that look on his face one time before, it was when he knew Simone was dying and there was nothing he could do to save her—to save me. I try to smile, but I can’t. I hold out my hand to him. He takes it in his and presses it to his lips. He says in Angel, “I’ll fight for you and with you until my last breath.” It’s a vow he has made to me before, just days ago in Crestwood.
I speak in Angel, “Whatever comes we face it together—as one.”
“As one,” he agrees. He gets to his feet. With his hand in mine, I lead the way to the door. I don’t have a coat and neither does Reed, but it’s a short dash to Xavier’s SUV still parked outside. Reed holds the door open for me and I climb into the vehicle. He turns it on. Russell opens the door of a black SUV for Anya before he goes to collect Phaedrus from the snowdrift. He pauses at my window. I open it. “I got the Heat Miser,” he says, indicating Phaedrus with the point of his chin. “Do you know where to go?”
“Yes, you can follow us if Phaedrus lets you.”
“Okay. I’ll tell Buns to follow me.”
Zephyr, Preben, Buns, and Brownie get into the Golden Goose. Russell runs back to them, relaying the message, and then he gets into his black vehicle.
Reed pulls away from the curb. We resemble a small funeral procession as I direct Reed to drive to the shadier part of town. Passing rows of abandoned houses and buildings, we’re getting close. I know it because there’s no one on the streets for a couple of blocks. Then, I feel them. The coldness I associated with the Gancanagh when I first met them no longer exists for me. Since Brennus bit me, the awareness is more of a familiar tingle raising the hair on the back of my neck. Fellas watch us move closer to the seminary they inhabit. I don’t see them, but I know they’re there. That means they’re either under orders not to approach me, or they are afraid of me. Either way suits me just fine at the moment. I don’t plan to cajole them into fighting for me. I plan to lead from a position of power.
Reed pulls up and parks in the circular drive in front of the defunct seminary. He turns off the car. The view of the building from the passenger side window is gorgeous. The structure is old and gothic—something out of a fairytale. The fellas have been working hard to return it to its former glory. Snow has been cleared away from the cobblestone walk and the grand staircase in front. Intricate wrought-iron handrails lead up to heavy wooden doors. One of the doors opens. Brennus emerges from the shadowy foyer. He looks every inch a king in a dark suit and an exquisite black coat. Finn follows him. He’s similarly attired, a slightly paler version of his older brother. As they walk toward our car, wind stirs their black hair, causing it to fall and play on their foreheads.
When Brennus reaches us, he opens my door for me. Extending his gloved hand, he says, “Welcome home,” and waits for me to take it. I place my hand in his and allow him to help me. As soon as I’m out of the car, I let go of him. Standing beside Brennus and Finn in the cold, I wait for Reed to join us. Snow floats in the gray, overcast sky, making everything appear magical. Brennus takes off his coat and drapes it around my shoulders. The heavy fabric is warm from his body heat, which surprises me a little. He’s different, physically anyway.
Reed approaches us. Brennus hardly gives Reed a second look as he says, “We have a truce until dis is over, aingeal.”
“The moment that it is, you should worry,” Reed replies. He stands beside me. I look over at him and try to reassure him with a smile that falls flat.
Russell and Anya join us on the walkway. Russell doesn’t look happy to be here. He stands rigidly in front of Anya, ready to defend her at any hint of trouble. Anya reaches out and touches his side. Russell wraps his arm around her shoulder, pulling her beside him. Brennus’ sea foam-colored eyes rest on Russell. “Da other, I see dat ye’ve recovered from yer wounds. Ye and yer aingeal look grand.”
“It didn’t take me long to heal after I pulled your knife from my belly. But I guess I gotta thank you for savin’ us.”