The Sweetest Burn (Broken Destiny #2)(65)

"If you want Father Louis avenged, give me the phone," I hissed between those fake sobs. "Quickly!"

Something hard was pressed to my stomach. I grabbed it, slipping the phone inside my pocket before hugging the two men for real this time. "Thank you," I whispered.

Then, I turned around to see Adrian kneeling next to the bloody remains of Father Louis, ignoring the other cop's demands to back away. Adrian lifted the father's sodden robes, feeling around for a moment, and rose, his expression grim.

"It's not here," he said, ignoring the cops who were now both pointing their guns at him.

I was dismayed, but not surprised. Zach might not have been the only celestial being who knew that there was a map to the staff's location. Blinky had been there when we discovered the tablet, so he knew that it had been with the staff. Even if he hadn't heard of the map, he would've known the tablet was a clue, and he must have overheard Father Louis saying he was taking it to get the runes translated. If not for Father Louis's excitement in taking all those pictures, Blinky would have made off with our only link to the staff's location.

"Don't worry," I replied, patting my pocket. "I've got the photos."

Adrian glanced at the cops, who were ordering him to get on the ground with his hands on top of his head. Then he threw a challenging smile my way. "Think you can keep up?"

I snorted, understanding his meaning. "Can you?"

And then we both ran out of the building so fast, the officers could do nothing to stop us.

* * *

I TOLD MYSELF that it only made sense to return to the light realm. So far, the campus appeared to be minion-and demon-free, but I would be putting everyone's lives in danger if Demetrius or anyone like him returned to make another attempt at killing me. After all, they might have extra motivation now that Blinky had the tablet. With it, they might not even need me to find the staff anymore. For all we knew, its exact location was carved into the ancient stone block.

If I were being honest, however, I'd admit that I brought everyone back here because I wanted to. The safety, the sun, the warmth, the flower-strewn meadows that were so beautiful, it wouldn't surprise me if a unicorn appeared and suddenly started frolicking in them... I didn't want to let any of this go. Not yet. Being here felt like giving my soul some much-needed Xanax. Besides, apparently we had plenty to eat, too. 

"There's fruit trees!" Jasmine announced after returning from a short walk with Costa.

Adrian shot her a jaded look. "Let me guess-apple?"

From her unfettered smile, she missed the irony, although Costa gave him an appreciative grin. "Yep, all kinds," she said happily. "Plus, olive trees, avocado trees and almond trees."

I'd be delighted to browse through the trees snacking on fruits and nuts, for more reasons than the simple fact that I was hungry. But, much as I loved everything about this realm, I had to get back on the hunt for the staff. I hadn't been lying when I told those Jesuits that I intended to avenge Father Louis's death, and everyone else who'd been killed tonight.

"You and Costa help yourselves. Adrian and I need to find Zach," I said. We'd been here for over an hour, but the Archon hadn't shown up. Maybe he was in another corner of this realm.

Adrian stood so fast, I realized he'd only been sitting with me because he thought I needed the rest. "Let's go."

Costa arched a brow. "Impatient to get your favor, huh?" he drawled with a knowing look that almost caused me to blush.

"We don't need Zach for that," I hastily said, then as Adrian swung a surprised glance my way, I amended, "Okay, not only for that. Zach is who-knows-how-old, right? And he knows all kinds of things, so maybe he knows how to read runes, too."

"He might," Adrian said, his expression turning thoughtful. "It's definitely worth a shot. I have no idea who Father Louis was going to show the tablet to, so that's a dead end, and for obvious reasons, I don't want just anyone looking at it."

"I do in fact read runic," a voice stated from nearby.

I turned around. Zach hadn't been behind us seconds ago, of course, but now, he was lounging a little higher on the grassy knoll as serenely as if he'd just roused himself from a nap. His ability to suddenly appear-and disappear-was something that continued to unnerve me, but at this moment, I was so glad to see him that I didn't point that out.

"Look at these photos of the tablet," I said, tossing Father Louis's cell at him. "Can you read the runes?"

Zach scrolled through the pictures. A little line stitched between his brows, as if he were concentrating very hard or having trouble seeing through the sun's glare on the screen.