by Lexi Ostrow
One moment, McKenna had been staring at the dark haired Alliance leader, and the next, a pair of shimmering white wings blocked Odette from view. An Angel. The man’s hair was tied back into a queue, and his broad chest was muscular and bare. Every meter of her body hummed with a desire she had never felt before. She wanted to touch the creature in front of her, she wanted to touch him something fierce.
She felt it as her arse rose off the seat, and she took a step towards the mysterious man. A second later, she crashed into the wooden railing in front of her seat and slammed face first into the floor. She felt a heavy weight on top of her, and sort of heard Jacob speak.
“Put the bloody goggles on, Miss Caffry, before you touch a damned Angel,” he growled.
She felt the uncomfortable snap as the goggles slid over her eyes. Instantly, the urge to stroke the Angel was gone. She no longer saw a shimmer around him either. He simply looked like a very handsome man. Jacob’s weight lifted, and he did nothing to help her off the ground. McKenna cursed him in her head and pushed off to stand up. Everyone was staring.
“My apologies. Had I known someone unaccustomed to my kind was here, I would have used a door,” the Angel’s voice was as sinfully seductive as his body. Not even earplugs would be able to change that. “I am Layel, we’ll call me the patron saint of the Alliance of Silver and Steam.”
She shook her head, baffled that an honest to goodness Angel was in the room, and returned to her seat, carefully stepping around the wood splinters.
“We must work on that. You can’t simply show up whenever it agrees with you. Either you are a member of this council, or you are not. I am not my father, and I will not have this occur again.” Odette’s words were barbed.
“I am here now. That is all you need to know.”
McKenna thought she heard Felicia inhale, but she wasn’t certain.
“You are all here to discuss the matter of Kellan. McKenna, what you are about to hear will seal you into this mission. Do you accept?” Odette asked.
Suddenly McKenna felt her throat swell, and her ability to breathe diminish. She could hear her heartbeat, and she swore she could hear Jacob’s as well. She had been in there less than a quarter of an hour, and she had not only come face to face with a Royal but an Angel. She couldn’t fathom why she was hesitating.
“I accept,” the words were garbled, but she said them.
“Good. Eliza, this is your show now.”
The delicate head-inventor smiled politely at McKenna before speaking. “We led the Guild, and the Alliance members, to believe that Kellan had simply chosen to retreat to Ireland for a time. We lied.”
McKenna sucked air in through her nose so hard, she grew slightly dizzy for a moment. Kellan’s departure had seemed abrupt, and now she knew for certain the council kept secrets. “Is he—” she fumbled over the words. “Is he dead?”
“We do not know. We can only hope for the best. He is in Hell, McKenna, and we would like to bring him home. You’ve been brought on for a rescue mission.”
If she had been dizzy a moment before, she felt as if she falling off an impossibly high cliff now. They’d lied to everyone, and Kellan had been trapped, literally in Hell, for months. McKenna wasn’t sure if her face exposed her inner disgust, but Eliza continued on anyway.
“There is a way to get him back if he can be gotten back. There lies an entrance to Hell approximately five-hundred and eight kilometers off the coast if Layel is speaking truthfully.” Eliza paused and flushed. “Which all Angels do, as they are unable to lie. The entrance is deep beneath the surface in an underground cave. We plan to take a small crew of Alliance members into the caves, and with Layel’s help, dash in and out of Hell.”
No one said anything. No one pointed out how they had no possible way to survive underwater long enough to get to the entrance or the potential dangers of the entrance. In fact, they all looked as if they’d heard the plan before. Which they might have.
“Won’t a small group result in disaster? If I remember, you took a small group without telling anyone the last time, and you came back after allowing our Guildmaster to be killed and Kellan to be captured.”
Chaos broke out around her the minute she said the words. Philippe’s voice was the loudest in the room, and the only one she heard clearly, even if she had no clue what he was shouting at her.
“Vas te faire encule. Je ai fait tout ce que je pouvais!” his words were repeated over and over.
Fear latched onto McKenna quickly as Felicia slammed the barrel of a crystal gun in her face by. She hadn’t even seen the woman stand, let alone get close enough to touch her with a weapon. Unfiltered rage shone out of the other woman’s eyes, and McKenna’s body began to tremble. She had no idea if Felicia would open fire on her.
Jacob stepped in front of her, shielding her from the weapon and pushing Felicia back. “Enough! Everyone do shut up!” his voice rang out loud and definite in the turmoil.
Slowly, the shouting died out. McKenna could still hear Philippe’s French shouts, but the rest of the room grew ever so silent. Jacob stepped out from in front of her and took his seat beside her. When McKenna got a view of Felicia once more, the woman’s gun was down, but the anger was still shining out of her eyes.
“J'ai essayé. J'ai essayé,” Philippe’s shouts were lowering. The pain written all over his face indicated he had been the one to fail to save Master Agardawes.
“Jacob is right. We are all reacting far too hastily. She has no idea what we went through—what Philippe went through. Her question is valid, and we are asking her to risk her life. You all put your lives on the line to save me because you held special powers in the Alliance and likely felt obligated. McKenna has never even been on a hunt without other hunters to protect her, to train her. She was only pointing out truthful statements. It is not her fault, and the violence will not occur again inside these walls. Do you all understand?” Odette’s voice waived.
McKenna could see the tears streaming down her face as she spoke.
“I will not apologize. I am a soldier, and when we are accused, we defend ourselves,” Philippe’s words were blunt, and his tone dry.
“I understand, I do not blame you, Philippe, not anymore, and that needs to be enough.” Odette turned her head from Philippe to speak to the room again. “My father is dead. Kellan is not. There will be no more talk of what occurred, now or ever. Let him rest in peace as he has so earned.”
McKenna felt herself slowly nod and saw the others in the room do the same. Felicia snorted and walked back to sit beside Greyston. Layel stood, arms crossed over his bare chest with an intense stare, but she couldn’t tell if he was upset by her words too. Lucius looked rather nonplussed by the situation. Eliza was still shaking, presumably in anger, but she spoke anyway.
“Those are valid questions. For the past few months, I have been working on schematics and a power source for a vessel that can be driven underwater. It will be towed out to sea, to an extent, by one of the king’s best sailing ships. The crew on board will know nothing about it, because it will have the power to silently move itself along, merely using the shape of the big ship for protection from any other sailors that we pass. It will take time to complete, and trial and error to learn to steer, but this is our best way into Hell. This is Kellan’s best chance.” Eliza stopped speaking, her voice level and calm by the end of her explanation.
“Why not just go to Hell in the vessel then?” Greyston asked.
“It is not large enough. Not enough rooms and food stores for so many mouths. Three of you at best could survive a full-length journey in it. Three of you is not enough,” Odette responded before Eliza had a chance.
McKenna had long since learned not to question the abilities of the inventors that worked within the Alliance. Yet, the idea of a ship that could move underwater and keep them from drowning seemed impossible. She didn’t dare risk another explosion. It would seem no one questioned Eliza’s ability to deliver such a device.
“I assure you, there will be danger this time, just as there was the last. There is still a member of your family with their life on the line. The hunting party will still be small, and demons will be present the moment they know we are there. I promise you all, I will do everything in my power to keep you safe. Odette and Philippe know firsthand the power an Angel’s protection can give. I will not fail you. I will not fail the organization I created.”
Layel’s words were like a punch to the stomach, and McKenna heard herself actually gasp. Layel had created the Alliance? Angels truly had brought it about then. She blinked rapidly, trying to focus on what Eliza was saying about the vessel she was creating but could not get herself to. Layel’s statement about Odette and Philippe knowing had been strange. What had happened when they’d gone to save Odette’s life months before?
“McKenna, I advise you listen to this part. I can see your eyes practically glazing over. I assure you, the council is always this cryptic, and the fight you caused was by far smaller than the one Lucius created when he was on trial,” Jacob said with a sneer.
McKenna did her best to smile politely at him, despite wanting to strike him, and stared at Odette hard, trying to will herself to listen. Odette mentioned a name, Seraphina, and it finally drew McKenna’s attention. She’d never heard the enemy given a name beyond their species before.
“There will be a small party again. We cannot sacrifice more. Too many people knowing is dangerous, and if Seraphina finds out we have a large force, she could attack us here. Eliza will not be making the journey. If we have learned anything, it is that fate does not like her to be on missions.”
Odette gave a small laugh, and again, McKenna felt as if she was missing something.
“Lucius will be fully trained in captaining the vessel, he is our biggest asset down in Hell, and I promise you, one Kellan fully needs coming to his rescue. Philippe will be going as well, for his knowledge of Hell, should any of the corridors be the same. I will not. It is my duty to protect the Alliance and London. I am needed here. Greyston will be the final Alliance council member to attend, for his strength alone, he is an asset.”
“Over my dead body,” Felicia interrupted. “I sat home the last bloody time, only because I was pregnant with Thomas. I will not stay behind again.”
“Felicia, be reasonable. Someone needs to watch Thomas,” Greyston’s voice was deep and commanding, the same way he sounded every time he gave an order.
“Oh my dear, foolish, simple-minded husband. You will stay behind. As Captain of the Royal Guard, you cannot vanish again. Four weeks was easy enough to write off as caring for my pregnancy. This journey will take just as long, if not longer. No, my dear, commander or not, you will be turning your place over to me.”
McKenna found herself sitting on the edge of her seat, enthralled to see just how the situation would play out. Anger flashed over Greyston’s face, and even from her distance, McKenna could see his green eyes darken with annoyance. His hands clenched at his side, and his jaw was clamped so tight, she could see a small vein on his forehead.
“My wife is correct,” he said through clenched teeth. “I will remain behind, so as not to draw the country’s suspicion.”
Odette nodded. “Very well. Felicia, you will be going in his place, and your duty will be to ensure that the path in and out of Hell is safe for Lucius. Lucius is the key. His demonic power will likely save you all. Trust me.”
Odette didn’t continue speaking, and McKenna’s fear and excitement changed to confusion. Her name had not been called, she couldn’t have missed it whilst focusing on other things, or Jacob wouldn’t have suddenly made her listen after the fact.
She took a deep breath, fearful of speaking up. “My name was not called. Why am I here if I am not being assigned a place?”
Odette sighed, “The King is demanding a Royal be on board. He has considerable funds tied up in the mission from allowing us to use one of his ships and the funding of building Eliza’s underwater ship. Someone, Jacob I am told, will be there to oversee the interest of the Crown. Which means someone must oversee him.”
Awareness slammed into McKenna, and she growled low. “I am not a fucking bodyguard. I am a bloody hunter!”
Philippe barked out a laugh. “Now why does that sound all too familiar?”
“I can assure you, your position is important, and it is likely Jacob is as furious as you are. I was assigned a bodyguard against my will. I promise you will grow to work together. There is no discussion in this matter. I will not take an untrained man into the mission without protection. This is not a horrible assignment, McKenna. It is, by far, the most dangerous mission. Even if you will not be going into Hell yourself.”
“If I may, I don’t need a bloody nanny. Felicia and Greyston have sparred with me enough that I can hold my own.”
A disturbing smile spread on Odette’s face. “I have heard that before, from my own lips. If you think you are ready, by all means, let us test it. Lucius, if you wouldn’t mind.”
McKenna held her breath. She knew what was about to happen, but she had never witnessed it. Her eyes trained on Lucius. The demon’s eyes slid closed, and he appeared to simply be sleeping in his chair. The seconds passed on slowly, and McKenna began to wonder if Lucius was, well, broken.
A scream shattered the silence, and she jumped. Jacob’s wails of terror slammed into her, almost like a physical force, and she flew out of the seat so quickly, she heard it drag along the floor as it slid backwards. She looked at him and almost screamed herself. Jacob’s eyes were open far wider than anyone should be able to open them. The skin around his eyes stretched so fully, and his mouth was contorted open in much the same fashion, it almost made her uncomfortable to look upon. He clawed and punched at the air to no avail.
McKenna’s body shook. He had protected her twice, but she knew, during trials, hunters did not help each other. A hunter had to be strong on their own in order to be strong together. Her whole body ached to grab him, to help him stabilize himself. Gigantic arse or not, she harbored feelings for him, and no man should feel fear that great.
“That is enough, Lucius. Before you kill him, and we have to label you a threat,” Odette’s voice was oddly unshaken by the moment they had all witnessed.
Jacob’s screams stopped as suddenly as they’d begun, and his body dropped to the floor, shaking. McKenna could hear faint sobs, and as much as she didn’t want to guard him, her heart broke for him at that moment. Without thinking, she dropped to her knees, grateful for the breeches she wore, and stroked her hand down his back.
The moment they touched, his warmth seeped into her again. She wanted to pull back, but she couldn’t find the strength to break the connection. She’d known him most of her life, even if he couldn’t remember her. To protect him was almost a sense of obligation. Did Odette know she’d served him before? Was that why she was picked?
“Please back away from him, McKenna. You are a hunter, you know our trials. He will recover on his own.”
Hesitantly, McKenna pulled her hand back and actually stepped away from Jacob. apprentices didn’t deal with Lucius, as he was essentially the last of his kind and on the Alliance’s side. She had no idea what Jacob was going through. She’d had many sleepless nights in her life, but not brought on by an attack to drain her.
“I’m sorry, Jacob. I know I’m an arse to deal with on any given day, and this is the second time you’ve been through that. It’s nothing personal, I think you’re a good bloke for a tight-laced Royal.” Lucius rubbed the back of his head as he apologized, and the soullessness in his eyes faded out just a bit.
Jacob stopped sobbing, and a moment later, pushed himself up off the floor. His blue eyes locked with hers, and for a moment, she thought they bonded. However, a gate of sorts dropped over his expression, and he looked much like an uptight, spoiled brat once more.
“
I did not do that to harm you, Jacob. But rather to show you that you need McKenna. McKenna, your instinct was to help him. That is what makes you a hunter, but also what makes you perfectly suited for this job.” Odette stood up from her seat. “This council meeting is adjourned. The contents spoken within are not to be told to any party, not apart of the Council, nor are you to speak of them outside this room with each other. There are ears everywhere.”
The Guildheads left as Jacob finally spoke, “I do not need a guard. I can go on this mission and protect myself just fine.”
McKenna felt as if she had been slapped. Jacob had no clue who she was, and likely, simply because she was a woman, he didn’t want her around. Despite being a council member, he wasn’t very forward thinking.
“Too damn bad, Jacob. The Guildmaster is head here, answering only to the King. You have been given an order, and like it or not, there is only that way or leaving your spoiled arse behind,” Philippe said.
“There will be no more fighting. You must all work this out amongst yourselves before you leave. One mission failed because there was no teamwork. I will not be responsible for another unsuccessful mission. Fix this, fix yourselves, or I will not play my role,” Layel’s voice rolled through the room, and, in an instant, he was gone.
Her head was still uncertain if up was up and down was down when Layel flashed out as easily as he’d appeared. Lucius rose and nodded again at Jacob before escorting Eliza out. Felicia and Greyston rose, bickering quietly betwixt them. Philippe pulled his goggles off, and his eyes were a mix of mirth and anger as he rose.
“Do not take this lightly, Miss Caffry. I made that mistake, and as you said, people are now dead. Mr. Tresay, do not be so quick to push her away. I think you will find this strange bond one that could be useful,” Philippe said with a curt nod before offering Odette his arm.
“Jacob knows these things. Please, for Kellan, find a way to come to peace with your assignments,” Odette murmured and walked from the room with her escort.
