Free Frozen Vengeance by Evi Asher Page B

get.
    “I didn’t do it, Colt.” Her voice was a whisper. “I’m not lying.”
    He rose to his feet in one fluid motion and kicked snow over the flames, splattering Angelica with some, causing her to gasp and shift back.
    “Get up, we need to get moving. We’ll reach the village today if we move fast, and I don’t care if I have to drag you by your hair, you will haul ass.”
    “How very… Caveman of you,” she said in a dry tone. She got to her feet and dusted the back of her robes off. At least they’d be moving, and that would make her warm.
    Angelica, Silver Lining Girl.
    She almost laughed at that, but stopped herself in time. Colt would not appreciate her humor, and she’d poked that bear more than enough for one day. Pun intended.
    She watched the way he moved as he put out the fire. Then, he turned and walked out of the tree line.
    She sighed. More deep snow. Yay.
     
    * * * *
     
    A thought hit Athera. Man Cave .
    That described Laz’s living room. He had a huge TV and Athera didn’t even want to guess at the size, but it took up most of the wall.
    Gaming consoles of every make and shape were near it and controllers of every kind were scattered around the room.
    Deep over-stuffed couches and bean-bags?
    The place was dark until Laz reached out a long arm for a remote and turned up the lighting. “Grab a seat,” he instructed. “There’s drinks in the bar fridge. Can I offer you some?”
    “You know what I like,” Trinity said from her place on one of the couches.
    Laz opened the bar fridge and tossed her a coke.
    “I’ll have one of those, too, please.”
    Athera had to think fast as Laz threw the soda through the air at her. She caught it with her fingertips and looked at the bottle, afraid to open the drink in case it decided to explode all over her.
    She watched Trin open hers in increments, turning the plastic cap of the bottle and releasing some pressure, then turning it a little more until she could open it without the drink inside erupting out. Trinity must be used to the way Laz served drinks.
    Athera followed her example and got her bottle open. She took a sip, sighing in pleasure. Coke was always going to be one of her favorites.
    “So, why am I getting this visit?” Laz grabbed a coke for himself and went to slouch on the arm of a chair. “Not that I’m not happy to see you, Trin, but, yeah…” He let it trail off as he scanned a look across the Outsiders in the room.
    “I need to know if you could find a phoenix,” Trinity blurted out.
    Athera watched as both of Laz’s eyebrows rose to his hairline.
    “What have you been smoking, Trinity? The Phoenixes are a myth.”
    Trinity looked over at Ath. “How about a demo, BFF?”
    Athera raised one hand and focused, letting flames burst from her skin.
    Laz nearly fell off the arm of the chair, then stood and straightened to his full height. His eyes held something that made Athera nervous—a hunger, a need to possess.
    “You are a phoenix.” His voice had dropped an octave, and Archer stood and placed himself in front of Athera.
    “She is, but that’s not important. We need to know if you could track one.”
    Athera peeked from behind Archer and saw Laz work to get his expression blank.
    “I might be able to, but why should I help?”
    “You owe me, Laz,” Trinity said from her couch. “And you are going to pay that debt off in two ways.”
    He pinned her with a look. “Tell me.”
    “One…you are going to vow to never come after any of the Phoenixes.”
    His expression grew hard.
    “Two…you are going to help us track down our missing friend.”
    “You helped me when I needed it most, Trinity. You got me the vengeance I needed, but that is a lot to ask of a Necromancer.”
    Trinity shrugged. “Deal or not?”
    Laz seemed to consider it for a moment. He was clearly a male who did not like to be indebted to anyone.
    “Decide, Laz, or we leave now. I will not let you have any of my friends. I don’t care how much