Shades of Darkness (Guardians of Eternity #16) - Alexandra Ivy Page 0,45

my home, I would never have enjoyed the wonderous adventures that have been enormous fun. Nor would I have become a knight in shining armor and saved the world. More than once.” He shuddered. “I would be stuck in the Guild castle, scabbing with my brothers.”

“Scabbing?” Brigette had a crazed thought that he might be referring to some creepy gargoyle game. Then she rolled her eyes. “You mean squabbling?”

He waved aside her question. “And watching the moss grow on my very fine derrière.”

With a shake of her head, Brigette leaned forward, staring down at the cobblestone street below her.

“If you could change the past, would you?”

Levet made a sound of surprise. “Certainly not. My past has molded me into the extraordinary creature that I have become. And as a bonus, there is not a smidge of moss on my derrière.” He glanced over his shoulder in sudden concern. “Is there?”

About to inform him that she wasn’t going to check his ass for lichen, Brigette abruptly shoved herself backward. Doing a flip, she landed in a crouched position, peering over the ledge of the tower at the vampire and slender female dressed in black strolling down the sidewalk directly beneath them.

“Shh,” she hissed. “It’s Chaaya.”

“Really?” Levet rose to his feet, his wings quivering with excitement. “We should say hello. I do not like that bad-tempered leech, but Chaaya is always fun. She is my sister from another mustard.”

“Mister,” Brigette corrected before she could help herself.

“Oui, mister. Bonjour—”

“Stop, you idiot.” She yanked on the leash connecting them, tugging him off the ledge. “She wants to kill me.”

Levet looked confused before he widened his gray eyes. “Oh, I forgot.”

“How could you…” Brigette shook her head in defeat. “Never mind.” She returned her attention to the female, who had halted on the corner. The leech was standing beside her, along with another male who was wearing a long, gauzy robe that looked like a woman’s nightgown. He had the floppy ears of a brownie but the features of a human. “I wonder what they’re doing?”

Her question was answered when the man in the nightgown raised his hand and waved it in front of an empty alley. Suddenly a shimmer of light appeared, growing large enough for the vampire to step through, quickly followed by Chaaya and the unknown male.

“A secret entrance,” Levet breathed beside her, obviously enchanted by the sight. “We should investigate.”

She gave the leash a sharp tug as he spread his wings and prepared to follow them. “Are you out of your mind?”

Levet scowled, then a cunning smile curved his lips. “What if they are going to meet with a demon who can open a portal?” Levet asked, obviously trying to tempt her into entering the hidden passage. “Do you not wish to escape so you can resume your hunt for the mystery voice?”

Brigette grabbed the ledge in a white-knuckled grip, caught between the fear of being lured into a trap and the knowledge that she couldn’t wait in this dreary gray place forever. Not only was her connection to the voice blocked, but her strength was fading.

“You’re right,” she reluctantly conceded, sending the gargoyle a warning frown. “We’re going to follow them. But if you give one hint you’re about to betray me, I’ll—”

“Oui, oui. You will eat me.” Levet hopped onto the ledge and motioned for her to join him.

Brigette straightened. “This is such a bad idea.”

* * * *

Troy strolled into the barracks next to the dungeons that were reserved for the guards. There were a dozen soldiers gathered in the long room. Most of them wore the unique mer-folk scaled armor with tridents holstered on their hips, as if they were just coming off duty or preparing to relieve another guard. A few were seated around a table playing cards, others dozed in the shell-shaped chairs, and a couple stood in the back throwing small daggers at a target carved in the shape of an orc.

The scent of salt was thick in the air, along with a hefty undertone of suspicion as the mer-folk turned their heads to study Troy. There had always been some wariness, but this was intense. As if someone had deliberately poisoned them against him.

It didn’t take a genius to guess who might be responsible.

Jord.

Pretending indifference, Troy wandered toward a male who was leaning against the wall with his arms folded over his chest. He had a sash around the hilt of his trident, a symbol that he was more than just another soldier,