Darkblood Prison - G.K. DeRosa Page 0,1

bring him home,” Logan added. “But not without a good plan in place or with a disorganized team. We’ve already seen what can happen when we’re caught unaware. I won’t have a repeat of that or worse.”

The three of us nodded.

“Now get some rest. Hopefully by tomorrow we’ll have proof of life, and we can begin to set things in motion.”

“Night, Logan.” I wiggled my fingers and gave him a smile. He threw me a tight grin in return. Yup, he’d definitely seen something between Talon and me, and he was not happy about it.

When the door whooshed shut behind the warden, I slumped back into bed. I had no idea what time it was, but between the fiery kiss with Talon and the news about Vander, my adrenaline was on full throttle.

Or maybe it was an echo of Talon’s surging emotions.

My grumpy bunkie paced the length of the cell, his jaw clenching in time with his heavy footfalls.

Hayden lumbered back to the bottom bunk and sank into the mattress. His long legs hung over the side of the bed as he stretched his arms and let out a big yawn. “I’m really happy for you, T. I know what losing Vander did to you. Your brother will be back for good now. This is really great news for everyone.”

Talon momentarily stopped his manic pacing to meet his BAFF’s—best angel friend forever’s—eye. “Thanks, man. I hope you’re right.”

An indecipherable expression flashed across Talon’s face, darkening his eyes. Uncertainty? Fear? I searched the tangle of emotions swirling inside me, but it was too difficult to decipher the twisted mess.

“One thirty-eight, you up for a little training before the sun comes up?”

My jaw dropped when I realized he was talking to me. “Seriously?” This guy’s mood swings were giving me whiplash.

“Yeah, why not? You seem a little amped up, and I know I could use a little release.”

“Just make sure that little release doesn’t result in demon-dragon babies.” Hayden chuckled. Talon shot him a scathing glare and the angel pressed his lips together, smothering the lingering laughter.

“Everyone’s got jokes.” I leveled my blonde cellie with my own narrowed glare.

Talon pivoted to me once again. “I’m not forcing you to do anything, Azara, but if you want to redeem yourself after your earlier comments, this is your chance.”

I hated how the sound of my name on his lips melted the mounting anger in an instant. I wanted to hurl a volley of insults his way but instead the word, “Okay,” popped out in its place. What the Hades? Did this ridiculous blood bond control my ability to speak now too?

“Have fun, you two. Try not to kill each other, huh?” Hayden smirked and lay back down on the bed.

I shot the comedian angel a good eye roll and followed my mercurial bodyguard out into the hallway. Darkness and a heavy silence pervaded the corridor. Talon lifted his index finger to his lips, and I nodded.

Keeping the Triad’s SIA spy identities a secret was essential to their success here at Darkblood Prison. If anyone saw us traipsing around the penitentiary in the middle of the night, we’d be busted. Especially one of Delacroix’s crew.

My hackles raised at the thought of the hellus demon. With all the commotion in the past day, I hadn’t had time to dwell on the fact that Thax, the dark lord of the Underworld, had recruited the prison mob boss for some nefarious reason we still didn’t have the answer to. I should’ve been more scared, but for some crazy reason I wasn’t.

Maybe it had something to do with the looming giant walking beside me.

When we finally reached the training room in the basement of the sprawling fortress, I let out a sigh. The mystical cuff siphoning my powers blinked off, and the tightness in my chest magically vanished.

The door slammed shut behind us, and a series of cracks drew my attention to Talon. His shirt was already off and his arms were stretched over his head, the pop, pop, pop of his spine disturbing the quiet. “Much better,” he muttered as his massive wings unfurled behind him.

I wagged my finger at him. “Put those bad boys away if you want to fight me. They give you an unfair advantage.”

He stepped closer, one brow arching. “Oh, and your magic doesn’t?”

“My magic isn’t exactly under my control. It shows up when and if it feels like it.”

“I’m glad to hear you finally admit that.” A satisfied grin curled his lips. The