Naasir grinned as Suyin smiled in angry satisfaction. “What a beautiful irony that the instrument of my torture will now help us escape.”
“I’ve contacted Jason,” Naasir told them both, and suddenly, he was the dangerous man who was part of an archangel’s innermost circle. “He’ll soon cause a disturbance in another section of the citadel—when he does, you must become my shadows.” An order. “I am the alpha. You follow.” His extraordinary eyes held Andromeda’s. “Not for always. For this.”
Andromeda was oddly pleased that he’d clarified his statement. “Until we escape,” she agreed.
Naasir went silent, his head slightly bent. Then he grinned again, his teeth bright white against the lush dark of his skin. “Jason is very clever.”
Andromeda didn’t know what he’d heard, but the ground vibrated with the thunder of running feet seconds later. All were heading to the other side of the compound. Screams sounded soon afterward.
“Reborn,” Naasir said with a feral smile. “Jason has driven them home.” A deep breath that made his eyes glint. “And he’s set a fire.” Opening the door, he said, “There is no one here now. Let’s play.”
14
Let’s play.
The statement should’ve sounded dismissive given the level of danger, but it made Andromeda grin. When she glanced at Suyin, she saw the other woman was also smiling—an astonished, startled kind of a smile. Naasir had that effect. Together, the three of them moved quickly down the corridor. Naasir made no noise; Andromeda and Suyin weren’t as quiet, but they did their best.
When Naasir held up a hand, she froze and caught Suyin when the wounded angel would’ve stumbled. Lifting a finger to his lips, Naasir jumped. He was on the ceiling before Andromeda knew what was happening. Her mouth dried up. Watching him make his way around the corner, she had to force herself not to follow on foot, her protective instincts bristling.
He returned not long afterward. When they turned the corner, she saw one of her vampiric escorts propped up against the wall. “Is he—”
“Alive,” Naasir said, and without warning, opened a door. “Inside.”
They ducked inside and he followed them in. Shutting the door, he put his ear to the wood, eyes gleaming liquid silver in the darkness. “Xi has sent people to check on you and Suyin.” Opening the door, he stepped out.
This time, Andromeda followed.
Naasir had already incapacitated one guard, and as she watched, he put his forearm around the neck of another and twisted. Clean and efficient, with no desire to cause unnecessary pain, his actions were honest in a way that spoke to the warrior in her.
Returning to the room, she brought out Suyin, and the three of them moved as fast as possible down the corridor. They had to slide into another room to escape a patrol and while in there, Suyin suddenly said, “I know this room. I built a special entrance to the tunnel in here.”
They both stared at her.
“What tunnel?” Andromeda said, wondering if her instincts had led her wrong after all. “You said there were no other escape routes but the secret gate in the wall.”
Suyin’s delicate face was so sheepish it couldn’t be disbelieved. “I forget things,” she admitted. “The Sleep has that effect, as I’m never awake long enough to truly recover.” Walking to an elegant sofa with curved wooden legs, she said, “I think the trapdoor lies beneath.”
Naasir moved the sofa and pushed the rug aside to expose a smooth, flawless floor. “Where?”
Tucking the knives into the strips of fabric that bound her wing to her body, Suyin went to bend down. Andromeda caught her arm. “Careful,” she whispered. “Don’t bend your back; use your knees.”