Chapter 9
The plan they came up with was almost alarmingly simple, especially after Soren pointed out that the easiest way for Viri and Reeve to sneak past the Nox reception guards would be if no sneaking was necessary.
“The best deception is always the most obvious one,” Soren said as they entered the elevator.
With nimble fingers, he unfastened the polished silver buckles of his dark trench coat, shucked it off, and handed it to Reeve.
“If you don’t look out of place, no one will think you’re not meant to be there. ”
“Clever,” Reeve hummed, motioning for Viri to release his bindings—which she did, but only after sending him a cautionary look—and then he donned the uniform over his black attire, transforming instantly into a Nox guard. “In another world, we might have been friends, Archer.”
“Pity the only other world you’re likely to see is the underworld, and I don’t intend to meet you there,” Soren replied without missing a beat.
He ignored Reeve’s snort to wave toward his coat and warn, “I expect that back. If I find out you’ve been posing as a Nox, not even Viri will be able to protect you. ”
“Trust me, I can’t think of anything more miserable.” Reeve’s nose wrinkled as he inspected his reflection in the smooth wall of the swiftly rising elevator. “Black suits me, honor doesn’t.”
It was the first time since their reunion that Viri agreed with something he’d said.
But she didn’t comment, only focused on retying his bindings.
She wasn’t worried he’d escape while inside the elevator, but once the doors opened, she wouldn’t risk him fleeing before he’d fulfilled his side of the bargain.
“Call me paranoid, but what happens if someone notices you walking me like a dog on a leash?” Reeve drawled, lifting his hands and gesturing to the length of golden cord stretching from him back to her.
Viri frowned, realizing he was right. The guards on the night shift might be tired, but they weren’t blind. Even with Reeve playing dress-up, it would be a dead giveaway that he wasn’t a real Nox if his bindings were spotted.
Thinking fast, she freed one of his wrists and wrapped the remaining length of cord around her own before grabbing his still-bound hand and twining their fingers together.
She felt his surprise—saw it, too, as his dark brows shot upward—but she was too busy trying not to think about his warm, callused skin against hers to explain how their hand-holding would keep any eagle-eyed guards from noticing the bindings.
Reeve, it seemed, didn’t need an explanation, not when he was so obviously entertained by her discomfort.
“Careful, I might be contagious,” he said, his silver eyes dancing. “Watch out or I’ll grow on you.”
Not missing his meaning, Viri deadpanned, “I guarantee I’m immune.”
A soft chuckle, and a gentle squeeze of his fingers around hers. “We’ll see.”
Soren cleared his throat sharply and sent Viri a What the hell is going on between you two?
look that she skillfully ignored. He still knew nothing of her history with Reeve, and while she was beginning to regret keeping such a big secret, it worked in her favor tonight, preventing Soren from questioning her motives for the jailbreak.
Reeve was a means to an end, nothing more, but she couldn’t risk Soren doubting that.
Fortunately, the slowing of the lift diverted his attention. “We’re nearly there,” he said. “Everyone ready?”
Viri nodded as the doors opened, then followed Soren into the Nox’s white-marbled reception area, Reeve striding confidently at her side.
Her grip on him tightened as the two guards at the front desk looked up, both different from the ones who had been on duty when Viri had arrived and looking much fresher than their predecessors.
Sensing her unease, Soren touched the back of Viri’s free hand reassuringly and headed straight for the guards to play his role perfectly.
“Jost, Estrin, everything quiet up here?” he asked, leaning casually on the desk to limit their view of Viri and Reeve walking past.
“As dead as the necropolis,” the male guard—Jost—said. “You three done for the night?”
“Yeah,” Soren said, shifting slightly to keep blocking Viri and Reeve as they continued toward the wayportal nestled in the far corner of the room. “Hoping to catch a few hours’ sleep before Captain Farrow’s meeting in the morning.”
The female Nox—Estrin—fluttered her eyelashes. “We’re covering for Caz and Hutton while they take a break, but my shift ends once they’re back, in case you don’t feel like sleeping just yet.”
Elders spare me, Viri thought, mentally gagging at the blatant proposition. Reeve was no help—his body shook with humor against hers. She crunched his fingers hard in warning, but that only prompted him to release an audible snicker.
Thankfully, they were now far enough away from the desk that the guards couldn’t hear—nor did Viri have to endure Soren’s reply—and only a few steps from the shimmering magestone arch that would whisk them to their next destination, safe from imminent arrest.
While part of Viri couldn’t believe their ruse had worked—indeed, Soren was still chatting with the guards, who were oblivious to the criminal escaping under their watch—another part was beginning to regret telling Reeve he could choose where they headed next.
He’d had plenty of time to think about it, and that could mean anything for her—including being delivered straight to his murderous reaper friends.
Unwilling to risk falling into a trap, Viri yanked on his hand when they reached the wayportal, preparing to step through first and pick their destination herself.
Only, she didn’t get the chance before someone arrived through the arch, appearing directly in front of them.
And not just anyone—
It was Darik.
The Nox captain’s black eyes widened in surprise at seeing Viri, then narrowed just as fast at the sight of Reeve, whose borrowed uniform did nothing to conceal his identity up close.
Panic blared through Viri, freezing her in place. Her mouth opened, an excuse ready on her tongue—but before she could get a word out, Darik rushed forward, yelling orders to his guards.
What happened next was a blur. Instinct kicked in, and Viri moved to intercept Darik, only for Reeve to rip his hand from hers and beat her to it.
He moved so fast that his actions were impossible to follow, but somehow, in the space of a heartbeat, the captain was crumpling to the ground, unconscious.
Viri gaped at Darik, before screeching at Reeve, “What did you do?”
“Incoming,” was all he said, using the fillium still connecting them to tug her out of the way just as Jost and Estrin reached them.
Though her mind screamed at her to stop, Viri defended herself automatically, and within seconds, the two reception guards were on the ground beside their captain.
“So much for sneaking out,” Reeve murmured, taking in the three prone bodies and pulling a face. “What a mess.”
Viri’s glare could have burned him alive.
“I told you freeing Ashton would paint a target on your back,” Soren growled, marching their way. He knelt beside Darik, checking the captain’s pulse. “There’s no coming back from—”
Before he could finish, Reeve struck him on the back of his head hard enough to make him collapse beside his fellow Nox. “You can thank me later, Archer.”
Viri stared down at her friend in horror, before turning to Reeve and all but shouting, “Why the hell did you do that?”
He looked at her like she was an idiot. “I thought you didn’t want him involved?”
“I didn’t—”
“Don’t you think it’d be suspicious if he was the only one still standing and he let us get away?” Reeve waved his unbound hand toward Soren and the other unconscious guards. “I did your friend a favor.”
Viri ground her teeth so hard they hurt. She hated that Reeve was right—that the best way to protect Soren was to make it look like he’d been attacked, just like the other guards.
Just like Darik.
“Elders, we’re dead,” Viri breathed, her eyes locked on the captain, but imagining Meera’s irate face instead. Her mentor was not going to be pleased when she learned of what had happened tonight. “I’m dead.”
“Not yet,” Reeve said, “but there’s a high chance we will be if we don’t get moving.”
Viri’s gaze shot back to him as she hissed, “You just brought down three trained Nox and their leader without breaking a sweat. How—”
“Actually, you brought down that guy.” He pointed to Jost. “And I’m pretty sure you did most of the work with her, too.
” He indicated Estrin. “But we can argue over who’s the better fighter later.
You promised me freedom, and I promised you answers.
Eyes on the prize, Little Shadow.” He jerked his chin toward the wayportal.
“Let’s get out of here before more of your Nox friends arrive. ”
Yet again, Viri hated that Reeve was right, almost as much as she hated the idea of leaving Soren helpless on the ground. She even felt bad about Darik—albeit to a lesser degree. But if she waited for them to awaken, then everything they’d done to escape would be for nothing.
Soren would forgive her.
And Darik…
Well, she would just have to find a way to explain things to the Nox captain after the danger had passed. Given his lifelong resentment toward her, she doubted he would believe her, but that was a problem for her future self. Right now, the only thing that mattered was stopping the Reaper Priest.
“Come on,” she muttered, dragging Reeve toward the wayportal. She looked back just once, sending a silent apology to Soren—and Darik and Jost and Estrin—before stepping through the arch, mentally guiding it to the first connection point that came to mind.