Darkblood Prison - G.K. DeRosa Page 0,65
snores filling the air.
He’d be pissed if I went to see Delacroix without him. Good.
The loud whoosh of the glass door sliding open broke the stillness in our quiet cell and I cringed, my eyes on my dragon bodyguard. I released a breath of relief when his eyes remained closed. Hurrying out of our chamber, I followed Dembrat.
“Do I at least get points for coming when called?” I deadpanned.
He grunted, a shock of greasy hair tumbling over his wide forehead. “From what I understand, you’ve been back for a few days.” He motioned toward the end of my corridor where three more of Delacroix’s men waited.
Figures, he’d have back up. “I almost died,” I grumbled, keeping my spine ramrod straight when the three goons closed ranks around us. “I was in the infirmary healing. It’s not like I was avoiding your boss.”
The irritable elf shrugged. “You can discuss the specifics with him.”
Once we reached the atrium, instead of turning toward Cell Block Eight, Dembrat spun toward the corridor to the mess hall. I must’ve been meeting with the demon mob boss in his office, a.k.a. the janitor’s closet. That meant no cameras on us, and now with the blood bond between Talon and me gone, he’d have no way of finding me.
We reached the door in question, and Dembrat motioned for me to enter. I scanned the quiet hallway. Just my luck, not a soul in sight. Maybe I’d been a little hasty agreeing to this meeting. I took a step back, but the three goons closed in around me.
“You’re not backing out are you, girl?” Dembrat’s raspy voice froze my backward motion.
“No, I just remembered that I’m supposed to meet with the warden in a few minutes, so I don’t want him to come looking when he can’t find me.”
“Don’t worry, he won’t find you in here.” Dembrat smirked, showing off a toothless grin.
The three other guys closed in tighter around me, so I was forced to move forward. I grabbed the knob, twisted and hauled the closet door open. A dim light was on and the secret passageway revealed.
“I believe you know how to find your way to the back?” the elf asked.
“Yeah. I’ll figure it out.” I squeezed through the opening and as I straightened to my full height, a pair of onyx eyes pinned me to the tunnel wall.
“I didn’t think you’d show up today, Azara. I must say I’m pleasantly surprised.” Delacroix’s dark form loomed over me.
I pushed off the wall and straightened my spine. “I didn’t do anything wrong so why would I avoid you?”
He let out a wicked chuckle. “Nothing wrong? Then how is it that Thax still sits on my throne?”
“You didn’t tell us about his harem of warrior women. Sad to say they were more than the guys could handle.”
He rubbed at his hairy chin, his lips twisted. “Ah, well that explains it then. Apparently, I’m not privy to all Thax’s little secrets. However, I was one of the few who knew about the tunnels and given your disastrous assault on the castle, the dark lord has decided to cut me out. Word around the Underworld is he believes I’m a traitor.”
I gulped. That couldn’t be good.
“I’m sorry. We tried our best, believe me. I almost died.”
“Yes, I did hear about that most unfortunate event. It was a good thing the fallen angel was there to save you.”
Geez, how did this guy know everything?
His eyes narrowed as they scanned over me, icing my blood. “How’s Vander doing? Have you had a chance to speak with the young agent?”
I shrugged. “He seems okay. And yes, he told me that he was assigned to protect me for the past two years. I still don’t understand why though.”
“I’m sure you will eventually.” He smirked, his gleaming white teeth brilliant against dark charcoal skin. “I only hope Vander’s rescue wasn’t the reason for the failed mission.”
“Listen, Delacroix, I told you we would get him out, and no, it didn’t have anything to do with our epic failure.” That was my fault.
“Well, fortunate for you, I’ve decided to cut my ties with the dark lord.”
I tried to control my eyes from bugging out of my head, but I didn’t think it worked. He began to speak again before I could form a sentence.
“It’s really a mutual decision that will be best for us both. I’ve grown tired of my residence here, and your little disaster has planted the seed of doubt in Thax’s head when it