Archangel's Storm

visits there at least once a year. And Neha cares too much for her to punish her for continuing to see you.”
    He stepped off the balcony with those words to come to a graceful landing in the courtyard, wings spread. Surprised, she followed in silence.
What’s wrong?
    I don’t trust Neha not to shoot us down from the skies.
    Mahiya had the same fear—the roof of the fort was spiked with an increasing number of ground-to-air weapons in preparation for Nivriti’s return. It would only take a single “accident” to get rid of an inconvenient angel and the spymaster who protected her.
The tunnels
, she said.
Did Venom give you a map?
    Yes. Stay as close to me as you can without entangling my wings.
    She discovered the reason for his order a few moments later, when two guards heading in the direction of their palace passed by without so much as a nod, though Mahiya and Jason stood exposed in an alcove just off the path. Guessing they had seen only a smudged pool of darkness, she became Jason’s shadow as they made their way through the fort, their pace cautious but steady.
    Rather than crossing the courtyards, Jason took an internal path, going down otherwise deserted corridors and through heavy doors until they exited into a small garden lit only by a spare number of tea candles. It was, she remembered, an adjunct to a disused palace. As evidenced by the candles, the garden was utilized by the odd pair seeking privacy, but no one sat on the benches tonight.
    Jason halted in the darkness outside the door through which they’d come, and she saw shadows swirl around the candles a moment later, eclipsing even that muted light.
Can you see?
    Not well.
    A warm hand gripped hers.
    Moving with the feline grace of a man at home in the moonless night, Jason led her to the center of the garden and to the pedestal on which stood a statue of an unnamed angel, her wings spread in readiness for flight. A twist of the statue’s right wrist, followed by a hard pull on her opposing wing, and one side of the pedestal slid open. The doorway was narrow, this entrance not meant for a being with wings, but Mahiya bit back her incipient claustrophobia and walked in, Jason’s body heat a subtle reassurance as he entered right behind her.
    A second later, the door slid shut again.
    Stygian, the darkness hissed with ghosts of terror, and she thought she might panic—until a soft, glowing light filled the space, the ball of warmth floating just in front of her. It wasn’t something she’d have expected from a man whose power expressed itself in shades of midnight, but she was beyond grateful.
Thank you
, she said, able to breathe again now that she could see the tiny box held no serpents.
    His arm came around her.
Stairs into the tunnels will open beneath your feet. Soon as they do, head down.
He pressed something on the wall and half the floor gave away.
Fast as possible, princess.
    Mahiya didn’t need him to explain why. Neha might regret it later if she caused them harm, might consider it a stain on her honor, but they’d be just as dead. Using the light that hovered in front of her as a beacon, wings scraping the edges of the narrow staircase, she pushed forward to enter a tunnel as narrow.
    It was maybe two minutes later that she finally stumbled into a much wider tunnel.
    Turn left.
Jason swept around to walk beside her with that instruction, both of them now able to stand fully upright. A single set of footprints preceded theirs in the dust.
    Venom?
    He says he knows these tunnels like a snake knows its den.
    As if he’d called them up, two snakes slid sinuously into their path. Mahiya halted, examined the color of their leathery skin and breathed out a sigh.
They’re not poisonous.
Neha didn’t tamper with nature except when she had a specific reason.
    Jason gave her a searching look.
You’re not afraid.
    Not in the light,
she answered honestly.
    Those weren’t the only slithery creatures they saw, but for the most part, the snakes just wanted to be left alone or were curious. Only one acted aggressive, and it died a quick death under the obsidian blade of Jason’s sword, its body turned to ash between one breath and the next.
    “Is it the sword?” she asked aloud, sensing they were deep enough that sound wouldn’t carry. “The black fire?”
    “No. However, it’s a useful conduit.”
    His answer was no surprise, not when she’d felt the midnight flame of him more than once.
    “The tunnels—”
    “I sent Rhys