Shadow & Dust (Demon Heart Book 2) by Richard Amos

Author:Richard Amos [Amos, Richard]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Published: 2024-02-23T00:00:00+00:00

Chapter 18

ROMAN

Xavier got us across the rooftops unnoticed, clearing pretty wide gaps with ease. Thank God for that. Thank God we didn’t have to be down there in that shit show.

Talk about a miracle.

So many buildings were on fire, particularly around Shaftesbury Avenue and the adjoining streets close to my flat. The flames were spreading quickly, damage and debris everywhere between the clashing bodies.

People packed the streets. Dead or fighting, throwing magic at each other, hurling bottles and knives and bricks and churning up a sea of chaos.

All because of the queen. I heard her name either celebrated or cursed.

Look what you’ve done, Your Majesty…

Xavier got us onto my building’s roof, then climbed down to the street door into my building on the corner of Old Compton Street and Frith Street above a convenience store. The front of the store was boarded up, the owner, Mr. Cole, hopefully safe and secure inside. Or not in there at all. The violence hadn’t quite reached this street yet, but seemed ready to spill into it at any moment.

Having lost my keys, I used Skele in the lock, dashed up the stairs, only to find the door into my flat open.

A man stood in my hallway, dressed in black, a balaclava hiding most his face. “Finally.” Synth ignited between his fingers.

Witch. Great.

A glance behind him into my living room told me Darcy wasn’t here.

“Who the fuck are you?” I demanded, Xavier bristling beside me.

“I work for Her Majesty, Queen Margarite. Witch Queen of the⁠—”

The queen? Whoopee. “Spare me. What are you doing here?”

“To deliver you a message. You took your time coming home.”

“Busy life.”

His exposed mouth drew up into a snarl. “Shagging demons must really pack your calendar.”

“Funny. Get to the point.”

“Tell the demon to fuck off.”

“He stays. My flat, my rules. And really, you have no choice but to deliver Her Majesty’s message, so stop gunning for authority. Out with it.”

A blazing, angry stare. “I don’t know who you think you are, but the bloom is off the rose. The queen told us all about you. Her Shadow, the man she trusted more than anyone. Even more than her own family. She really put you on a pedestal and look how you repay her glorious kindness.”

I didn’t remember her kindness being glorious. “You’re boring me. And whatever happened to secret identities?”

“You shat on them. Did you suck King Basile’s cock before you let him live?”

Hilarious. “Of course I did. Had myself a blast.”

“Dirty, dirty bastard.”

“Darcy?” I called just to see if I’d get a response.

Nothing.

That seemed to please Knob Head. “Now we can get to the message.”

Finally.

“Her Majesty wishes me to inform you that Darcy the rat is now in her company. He is her prisoner at Nightingale Castle. If you value his little life, come face up to what you’ve done.”

My hands balled into fists. “Into kidnapping helpless rats now, is she?”

“Talking rats.”

“I know what he is.”

A smirk. “You heard what I said, Roman. Go to the castle, leave this vile demon behind.

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