“Someone’s in trouble,” Giguhl singsonged.
“Whatever,” I said. “I only did what he asked me to do. You’d figure he’d be glad I could hold my own.”
“Ah, don’t let it bother you,” Adam said. “You did good, babe.”
With that, he turned to guide me toward the bungalow. Giguhl started to go with us, but Valva called out. “Giguhl? May I speak to you for a moment?”
Adam and I shot Giguhl a concerned look. He sighed and waved us on. “I’ll be there in a sec.”
“Are you sure?”
He blew out a breath. “Yeah. Might as well get this over with.”
I patted his arm. “Be strong.”
Chapter 24
I sat on the couch with my injured knee propped on some pillows. Adam had insisted I sit still while he checked over my wounds. Really all I needed was some blood, but I felt weird asking him for it. I didn’t want him to think I saw him as a convenient blood dispenser. Besides, I was kind of enjoying his ministrations.
He sat on the coffee table with my injured hand in his lap. Fashioning a splint out of a stick and some tape, he started wrapping my broken knuckle. “So, the first test went well, I think.”
I nodded. “I have a feeling that was the easy one, though.”
Adam glanced up. “You think he’s going to ramp up the difficulty since you hurt Horus?”
“Nah. He doesn’t strike me as that petty. But I do think he’ll want to test my magic.”
“So?”
“Tristan’s a Chthonic. I’m thinking he’ll want to make sure my skills are up to snuff.”
“Sabina, your Chthonic skills are wicked.”
“When I’m in danger, sure. But they’ve never been tested by another Chthonic in a controlled environment.”
“Ah,” Adam said. “You’re nervous about impressing him.”
I shifted uncomfortably. “No, I’m not.”
He shot me a dubious look. “Red, it’s only natural you’d be worried. I mean, I know you say you don’t care that he’s your father, but part of you has to want to prove yourself to him.”
By that time, he’d finished wrapping the finger. I pulled it away, pretending to inspect his handiwork. “The only thing I want to prove is that I am the Chosen so I can kill Cain.”
“Whatever you say.” His tone clearly implied he wasn’t buying it.
“I mean it. I don’t care what Tristan Graecus thinks about me. Especially when he’s made it clear he’s already made up his mind.”
“Sabina—”
I waved my uninjured had to cut him off. “Don’t Sabina me, Adam. You heard him. He thinks I’m just some hotheaded killer.”
Adam checked the ice bag on my knee. “No offense, but given the information he had to go on, I don’t blame him for that.”
“Thanks,” I said in an injured tone.
“Stop,” he said. “You know what I mean. All he knew before three days ago was that you killed his informant in L.A. and you worked for the Dominae. Tristan may have fallen in love with a vampire, but mage ways die hard. You lived as a vampire and were raised by Lavinia. Who, by the way, tried to kill him. I’m not saying his prejudices were right, but I understand where he’s coming from.”
“Yeah, well, I’ve got one more test to get through to try and undo those prejudices. I just hope it’s enough. Every moment we’re wasting on these tests gives Cain a chance to track us down.” I paused, realizing I hadn’t had a chance to fill Adam in on the new developments with Asclepius. “Adam?” I started slowly. “There’s something I have to tell you.”
He set down the bottle of antiseptic. “That doesn’t sound good.”
I cringed. Smart guy, that Adam. “Asclepius made another appearance last night. He’s pissed it’s taking so long for me to off Nyx. Especially since he somehow figured out I’ve found her.”
Adam cursed and lowered his head into his hands.
“It gets worse. He’s decided to up the stakes. If I don’t kill Nyx in the next three nights”—I blew out a breath for courage—“he’s going to tell Cain where we are.”
Adam’s head jerked up. His face was pale. “Sabina, you have to tell Tristan about this.”
I threw up my hands. “I can’t! Best case, he’ll kick us all out of here and we’ll lose our chance at Cain. Worst case? He and his team turn on us and we’re suddenly fighting for our lives.”
“So what are you going to do? Kill Nyx in cold blood?”
I shook my head. “I don’t want to, but I don’t see another choice.”
“Sabina, there’s always another choice. You know that. Promise me you won’t kill her until we’ve had time to consider all the angles.”
“I just wish we had more time.”
“We have tomorrow night and the next, right?”
“Yes,” I said slowly. “But I really don’t see how that’s going to make a difference.”
“A lot can happen in two nights, Red.”
I blew out a long breath. “Okay, you’re right. I won’t kill her. Yet. But you need to prepare yourself for the possibility. If it’s a choice between saving you and Giguhl or sparing Nyx, you know what I’m going to do.”
“Let’s just hope it doesn’t come to that.” He patted my good knee. With a sigh, he rose to put away the supplies. I glanced at the clock and realized Giguhl had been gone for more than an hour. Way too long in my opinion for him to tell off the Vanity demon.
With a groan, I pushed myself off the couch. Adam’s gaze jerked toward me. “What do you think you’re doing?”
I could have told him I was worried about Giguhl, but that would only earn me a lecture about staying out of the demon’s personal business. So instead, I told him the other issue I wanted to go check on. “I’m going to go look for Rhea. By now she has to have more information about tomorrow’s test.”
Adam watched me for a moment. I could practically see the wheels spinning in his gorgeous head. Weighing the pros and cons of trying to talk me into sitting my ass back down and resting. I also saw the moment he realized he’d just be wasting his breath. “Fine, but I’m going with you.”
I shrugged casually. “Fine by me.”
He frowned. My easy acceptance made him more suspicious of my motives than not arguing. He held up a hand. “After you.”