were attempting to steal, who hired them, and how in the gods’ names they got a hold of the prison’s defense plans.”
“Should I prepare an airship for you, Colonel?”
“No, you need your ships here to keep the mercenaries’ ship in check.” And I would be using the Diamond Tear to bring me back to New York anyway. “I’ll get there on my own power.”
I walked out of the vault, trying to look calm and collected. Trying to look like I wasn’t rushing. Angels did not rush. We moved with purpose, always in control, owning whatever space we passed through. I knew this because my father had been telling me it since I could talk.
As soon as I got to the roof, I spread my wings and flew off. I passed right by the mercenary airship. It was tied down with many thick iron chains, tethering it to the prison. It wasn’t going anywhere.
As soon as I was out of sight of the prison, I pulled out the Diamond Tear. I contemplated teleporting to Colonel Holyfire’s ship and sabotaging it. It would serve him right for the stunt he’d pulled. Colonel Holyfire would survive a crash, but it would delay him.
That plan was both very satisfying and very childish. I couldn’t just damage one of the Legion’s airships. Not to mention, if anyone saw me aboard, it would tip my hand and show I had something special up my sleeves: an immortal dagger that could teleport me anywhere in an instant.
No, I had to get to Damiel. That was my plan. I had to talk to him, to warn him, to get him the hell out of New York before Colonel Holyfire arrived. But how? How could I help Damiel without turning us both into the Legion’s most wanted criminals?
I still hadn’t figured out that part. And time was running out.
My hand closed around the dagger’s hilt. I pictured New York in my head, the medical ward of the Legion’s office building. Right where I’d left Damiel. Right where I needed to be right now.
I teleported into a nearby empty office, a room I knew was hardly ever used. Then I marched across the hall to the medical ward, still trying to formulate a plan. I needed to be ahead of Colonel Holyfire, not responding to his actions. As long as I was responding, I would always be at least a step behind him. That was no way to win. It was a doomed strategy.
Maybe I didn’t have any strategy, any way out of this mess, but I refused to believe it was impossible. There had to be a way. I just couldn’t think of it yet.
What I needed was Damiel. We needed to brainstorm together, to strategize on how to fix this.
I entered the medical ward. And Colonel Holyfire was already there, along with twelve of his own soldiers.
“How did you get here so fast?” I blurted out before I could think.
He looked at me, victory shining in his eyes. “I know how to coax some extra speed out of an airship.”
My time had run out.
“I have the authority to take Dragonsire in for questioning now.” A savage smile lit up his whole face. “And I will get to the bottom of his treachery, right here and now.”
I stepped in his way.
“Move, Colonel,” he growled. “Or I’ll have you branded Dragonsire’s accomplice.”
Damn him. He looked like he didn’t want me to move. Like he wanted to take me down too. I should have crashed his airship into the Black Plains, after all.
When I moved aside, he looked disappointed and gleeful at the same time. He sure was loving the power rush of telling other angels what to do.
I followed him into Damiel’s room. But my husband was nowhere to be seen.
10
Treachery
Colonel Holyfire whipped around to face me. “What have you done with Dragonsire?” he demanded.
I folded my arms across my chest and dug my heels in. “I don’t know where he is.”
“I know you warned him. Tell me what you did with him, Lightbringer, or you will be branded a co-conspirator right here and now.”
“Your own deep-rooted paranoia does not constitute as evidence, Holyfire.”
I turned at the sound of my father’s voice. He strode into the room and took up position beside me, facing Colonel Holyfire.
“But my suspicions are enough to bring her into an interrogation chamber for questioning,” Colonel Holyfire replied coolly.
“Not according to the Legion’s regulations,” said my father. “She is an angel, not some frightened human citizen