Queen Ascending (Ace of Queens #2)

Chapter 15

Chapter 15

Gemma stood quietly behind Lafayette as they all discussed the extraction plans for the ankh and the book of the dead.

Tobias and Exton poured over an ancient floor plan of the pyramids as Xavier called up his connections in Egypt.

"Alright," Xavier said as he hung up his phone. "They can give us access to the pyramids for twenty four hours. We get in, we get out."

"Arion, how long will it take for the elves to break the spell?" Exton turned to the little boy.

"It's a relatively simple protection spell," Arion said. "It should take no more than two hours, max."

Exton nodded. "Alright, look here. We enter through the north entrance and take this stairwell down to the tomb." He marked up the path.

"While the elves work, the king's guards and I will watch the entrance. Arion and his men will be outside. They will signal us if Azazel appears."

"And if she does?" Lafayette asked.

"Cue the savior," Caspian spoke from his chair. "In the event that she does get a wind of this operation and does show up, I'll portal everyone out of there."

Everyone nodded as they stared at the map in front of them.

"I would like to join the operation," Ivan suddenly spoke from the doorway.

Gemma looked up at him with wide eyes and then at Exton.

His face was set in a scowl, "Thanks for the offer, but we have the king's guards."

"They can't do shit," Ivan spit.

Both Xavier and Exton narrowed his eyes at the man.

"The king's guards are an elite unit. They are hand picked and trained to be world class." Xavier said.

Ivan smirked. "Your guards didn't last a second in front of Azazel." He looked around the room. "She tore his heart out and called it a puzzle piece."

Gemma winced at the memory that wasn't even her's.

"How do I know I can trust you?" Exton asked. "No offense, but you and your family don't really have the best intentions towards my family all the time."

Ivan narrowed his eyes. "There is no time for politics now, boy. We are all fighting against death. I've seen her...I know how the air changes when she's near. I know how the ground shakes and how the skies bleed when they see her coming."

The air in the room thickened with tension as Exton and Ivan had a stare off. Gemma swallowed the lump in her throat as she watched them.

"He's right," Tobias said after a while. "He knows her, he'll know if she's coming."

Exton didn't like the plan but after a while he agreed to it.

"Alright, let's go," he said.

At once, everyone in the room started moving. Exton laced up his booths as his eyes landed on Gemma in the corner. He gave her a quick smile before anyone caught them.

Gemma got up to walk over to him and wish him safe and luck but she was stopped by Tobias.

"I want you to go home with Lafayette," he told her looking into her eyes.

Gemma's eyes moved over Tobias's shoulder and found Exton watching them.

"I want to help," she said in a small voice.