“I don’t ever want you to hear my thoughts.”
“You’re not a very good liar.”
“And you’re not a very good conversationalist,” I shot back. “So you updated Nyx when the ship was damaged?”
“No, I learned of your troubles when pieces of New York’s all-night party airship began falling out of the sky,” the First Angel said, waving us closer. “When I heard the Sunken Ship was on a collision course for the wall, I came to stop it.”
“You’re so powerful,” I told her.
“I’m the First Angel, the most powerful angel in the world, second only to the gods.” She winked at me, as though she didn’t take herself as seriously as she knew she should. “I’ve sent soldiers to bring in New York’s pack leaders for questioning. If there’s a demon behind this, we will find out.”
“The shifters framed the witches to draw attention away from themselves in the Legion’s investigation,” I said. “And they convinced an embittered witch to help them.”
“Yes, Colonel Windstriker filled me in on what you’ve discovered.” Her full, red lips tightened into a hard line. “The shifters will soon realize that their efforts have produced the opposite effect as they’d hoped. They will be at the forefront of our continued investigation into the demon incursion.”
I hadn’t expected anything different. The Legion operated under the principle of absolute authority. They had to show everyone that they were in control—and that no one could get away with undermining that control.
“You’re covered in blood and missing half of your clothes,” Nyx told us. “Get back to New York. I expect the full report on your adventure by tomorrow morning.”
We bowed, then walked toward the cluster of vans parked outside the downed airship. But Nero didn’t stop at the vans. He continued past them.
“What is that?” I said, gawking at the vehicle parked on the grass.
“A car.” He opened the door for me.
“That’s not a car. It’s a rocket on wheels,” I told him, getting in.
He walked around to the driver’s side and turned the car on. “That is an apt description,” he agreed as the engine roared to life. “It’s the latest development in Magitech. This car can travel over twice as fast as a normal car.”
“Then it’s a good thing you have supernatural reflexes.”
“Indeed it is.”
I tapped the leather armrest. “You’re not color-blind, are you?”
“No.”
“Ok, so you do realize the outside of your car is the color of dandelions?”
“It’s not my car,” Nero said.
“Oh?” I took one glance out of the window, then hastily looked away. The countryside was flashing past so fast that I was feeling dizzy all over again. “Whose car is it then?”
“Nerissa’s.”
“Nerissa Harding, the lead scientist of the Legion’s New York labs?”
“Are you surprised?”
“Actually, come to think of it, no. This gaudy thing is just her style. Totally unfiltered.”
“Yes,” he agreed.
“So why are we taking Nerissa’s car?”
“Because it’s the fastest way to get us back to the Legion. Our healers need to have a look at your injuries.”
“You already healed me.”
“I did not have enough magic in me to heal you completely.”
“I can handle a few bruises,” I told him.
“I know you can.” He glanced over at me, which, considering the speed the car was moving at, was downright reckless. His eyes flickered back to the road.
“This isn’t about my injuries. You want to talk to me,” I realized.
“Yes.”
I squeezed my hands together. “Oh, well, ok.”
For someone so eager to talk to me, he sure wasn’t very talkative. We passed the rest of the drive in silence. That silence stretched on as we parked under the Legion’s New York building, and it held as we walked down the hall to his office. It was only after he closed the door behind us that Nero spoke.
“Please sit down,” he said, taking the seat behind his desk.
“Am I in trouble?” I asked as I sat down opposite him.
He folded his hands together on the tabletop. “Do you remember what I said to you all when you joined the Legion?”
He’d said a lot of things.
“About obedience,” Nero continued.
“Ah, so that was a yes to being in trouble.” I cleared my throat. “You told us that when we’re in a crisis, you need to know we will follow your commands without question.”
“Your memory far exceeds your execution. You did not follow my commands tonight.”
I didn’t say anything. What was there to say? He was completely right.
“You gave me your blood even when I told you not to. You put yourself at risk.” I opened my mouth to speak, but he cut in. “I’m not finished. You were reckless and disobedient. I should punish you for it.”
“But you’re not going to?” I said, shooting him a hopeful smile. “Because I saved your life.”
“This is the second time you disobeyed me directly. And I can’t even count the number of times you’ve done something you knew I wouldn’t approve of.” He tapped his fingers across his desk. “Last month, you disobeyed me and went after me on the Black Plains. Why?”