Court of Sunder (Age of Angels #2) - Milana Jacks Page 0,15

sitting at the table with me in a place so loud, I could barely hear my own thoughts. Before us were plastic coins and cards.

My palms started sweating, and I fisted my hands, wished the image away by focusing on where I stepped. Before we reached the stairs, the hostess let go of us and lifted her skirts high enough that I had no doubt she’d invited Lord Raphael to look. I glanced at him to see if he watched and found him watching me instead, a smirk on his face. Even with a beard and no violet eyes, hunched, dirty, and partly unrecognizable, he was still beautiful. Definitely better looking than the commander. The commander was pretty and youthful—at first glance, of course. Raphael was sexy, malely. That is definitely not a word.

The woman showed us into a room at the end of the hallway. Spiderwebs hovered in the corners, and dust thrived on the small desk against the window. I approached the single bed that would fit only one Lord Raphael or two average-sized mortals. “It’s nice,” I said and sat on the mattress. Under me, the springs announced their age. Three hundred years and counting.

The woman smiled, but it didn’t reach her eyes.

She spun on her platforms I would surely break my leg off on and swayed her hips down the hall. “This way, mister.”

Two things came to me. One, Lord Raphael appeared as a mortal man. Two, this was a brothel-hotel, and she was offering her services. Subtly, of course, so as not to offend his sister.

“One room,” I said.

Lord Raphael smiled.

The woman turned, golden locks bouncing off her shoulders. “Your room is for a single person. A man of his size won’t fit.”

“He’ll make it fit,” I said.

She stared me down. I stood firm. Gurl, bring it on.

Lord Raphael cleared his throat. “As fascinating as this exchange has been for me, one room will do. Thank you. Goodbye.” He went to close the door.

She returned and blocked the entry with a hand. “Not so fast, mister.” She pointed at me. “She’s a soldier from the Court of Command. Hiding one could jeopardize my business, even my life. There’s a price for that, and I deal only in coins.”

“These coins,” he said. “Where did you get them?”

“From the people who come here, of course.”

“Loyalty is currency, my dear.”

“Not anymore and even if it were, this soldier deserted her post and you betrayed our Court by helping her.” The woman extended a palm.

“I’m not a deserter,” I bit out, ready to punch this woman.

Lord Raphael handed her something, and her eyes grew wide. She pocketed the object and made a zipping gesture over her lips. “Your secret is safe with me.”

“Thank you, Mary Ann. Bring the girl a bath, clothes, and food.”

The woman visibly startled at the mention of her name, but dipped her head, eyes on me.

Lord Raphael lifted her chin. “I dislike the way your eyes stray. They’re such pretty eyes.” He swiped a claw under one. “It would be a shame if they could not see. Do you agree?”

The woman nodded.

“Then we have an understanding. Dismissed.”

Lord Raphael kicked the door shut in her face, then spun around. Hands on hips, gaze on the bed, he smirked. “I’ll make it fit?”

“I’ll take the floor, Commande—” I cut myself off before I called him commander again. “It’s a habit,” I explained.

“One I am certain I will spank right of you.”

Whaaa…? I blushed profusely.

Unfazed that he’d just threatened me with spanking—which I was sure I would enjoy far more than he thought I would—he continued, “You will have the bed. I’ll spend the night in the river.”

“That’s not weird at all.”

“Sarcasm?”

I nodded.

“Healing waters,” he said. “All the waters in my Court have healing properties. I heal faster in the water, as do all my people.”

“Oh, like the healing baths the angels use in the House of Command.”

“Like those, though they are just salt water now. I removed the healing properties.”

Ouch. They depended on those. “While we’re talking about the waters… Why don’t mortals get to bathe in the House of Command?”

“Limited resources. Not all angels have permission to enter either, and besides, much of the House is training grounds. Battles are waged elsewhere. But here, in the Court of Sunder, the waters are in abundance. You are safe here. Mary Ann, if suspecting and overly promiscuous, is well-meaning. She serves me.”

“I’m sure she serves quite well.” Petty, Nevaeh. Petty.

Lord Raphael smirked.

A knock came from the door, and