The creature paces around me and suddenly a knife conjures out of thin air. The blade clatters to the ground in front of me and I stoop to pick it up. I study it in the dim light of the lantern. It’s dark, curved with deadly ripples, and as long as my forearm. A sick feeling twists in my stomach. What is one thing all Bloodbane magic requires?
“How much?” I ask softly.
“Almost all of it,” the creature says, sounding almost excited.
A shiver trails up my spine and I wonder just what kind of creature I’ve joined leagues with. “I’ll die,” I say, desperate for another way. A less painful, less dangerous way.
“You might,” it confirms.
“Peachy,” I laugh breathlessly, nerves frazzled.
“Peachy,” it echoes matter-of-factly.
I lift the blade over my forearm, heart fluttering. I eye the creature. “What’s your name?”
“The little Bloodbane knows the ancient magic,” it hisses.
“Ah.” I nod. “The power of names.”
“You’ll understand if I keep that to myself,” the creature says, narrowing its eyes at me.
My eyes dart between it and the blade. “What should I call you?”
“Serus,” it says.
“Serus,” I say, nodding. “You can call me Verity. You don’t know my last name, right?”
“No.” It shakes its head.
I force a grin, despite my nerves. “Let’s keep it that way.”
“Remember; almost all of it,” Serus says, prowling impatiently.
“I know,” I hiss.
I take a deep breath, steadying my hand. I’ve done this before, I remind myself. Though not nearly this much blood. I swallow thickly and plunge the blade into my arm.
Chapter 16
Altair
Moritz is waiting on the balcony of the cliffside fortress, an even thicker cloak than usual on his shoulders. I drop down beside him, careful not to knock him off balance with the force and weight of my wings. I ruffle my wings, smoothing them after the long flight. Moritz stares at me morosely, finally he raises a brow.
“Erzur was the only receptive one,” I growl.
Moritz bristles visibly, anger flashing in his usually cold his eyes. His fingers wrap around the hilt of his sword, but he doesn’t draw it. I know if the three kings and queens I visited over the last two days were here, he would have cut them down with the great sword.
“What did they say?” He asks coldly.
“They can’t spare the forces.” My claws dig into the stone railing. “We both know they’re waiting for Sadal’s next move, perhaps even meeting with him.”
“Bastards,” Moritz spits. “And Erzur?”
Stone crumbles under my claws. “Her sun soldiers are on their way here,” I say through gritted teeth.
“And what did she want in return?” Moritz eyes me.
“An alliance.” I turn my gaze away, knowing what I’ll see in his eyes. “Through marriage.”
“You didn’t,” Moritz says, his voice losing its edge.
I stiffen my shoulders. “I agreed to do what I have to, to save my people and kingdom.”
“It was too rash, Altair,” Moritz says, anger flaring. “You should have sought our council. By the gods, Altair, I’m your closest ally and you’re marrying the woman who has slowly encroached on my border for hundreds of years.”
“I know,” I snap. I whirl on him, long fangs bared. “I had no choice.”
“No choice? What about your Bloodbane, Verity?” Moritz leans against the stone walls, anger rolling off of him in waves.
“She isn’t mine anymore,” I say softly, shoulder shrinking back at the mention of her name. Thoughts of her have echoed through my mind since the passion we shared.
Moritz narrows his eyes. “What do you mean?”
“She covenanted with Sadal. It was against her will, but a covenant is a covenant,” I say. The reality still pains me.
Moritz doesn’t miss a beat; he doesn’t spare any moments to pity me. “And your curse?”
“Intact, but not affecting me yet,” I say, loosing a long breath.
“Then you’re fucked, aren’t you?” There’s a gleam in Moritz’s eyes, but it’s dark and shadowed. I know he pities me.
“It would appear so,” I agree. I shift back into my Fae form, tired after the long flight from the surrounding kingdoms. Moritz watches curiously as I dust myself off, wings gone.
“Such a curse wouldn’t be so terrible if it didn’t promise the end of your people,” Moritz says.
I resist the urge to narrow my eyes at him. From the outside, this simply looks like power, a new strength to play to my own advantages. But it’s much worse than that. It feels like poison to even have a sliver of Maaz’s magic within me. I don’t want it, but I’ll use it to my advantage while I can.
“Where are Sadal’s forces now?” I ask, striding into the keep.
Moritz falls into step behind me. “Scouts report they’re a week’s march away.”
“Moving slow,” I murmur. “Why?”
“We’re watching closely. If they step within a day’s march of here, our men will be ready,” Moritz says confidently.
“The sun soldiers are on their way,” I say, glancing over my shoulder as Moritz scowls.
“My soldiers won’t be happy fighting alongside those bastards. Plenty of their brothers-in-arms have died at their swords.” His voice is icy, and I can only imagine he would be happy to slip a knife through Erzur’s heart.
I almost wish he would.
“They won’t be happy dead either,” I say, eyeing him. “Make it work.”
“You question my leadership?” He narrows his eyes at me.
“Only your temper,” I say smoothly. I flash him a grin to lighten the heavy mood.
Moritz glowers at me a moment more before schooling his face. “When can we expect her?”
No doubt he needs to mentally prepare. “A week, hopefully, when her sun soldiers arrive. She’s travelling with them.”
If Erzur never came, I wouldn’t be ungrateful. On the contrary, I’m dreading her arrival. Moritz shares my unspoken sentiment and he growls unhappily. “Bitch,” he mutters under his breath.
I hide a smile. No one but Erzur can inspire that language in Moritz. “While I was gone, I managed to gather some information,” I say, keeping my tone
