“Who said there aren’t beautiful women in the wastelands?” He retorts.
My brows raise in surprise and Cleo huffs. “Men,” she mutters, shaking her head.
Thal and I turn away and the marching of hordes of soldiers reaches my ears. The sun soldiers. I turn back to Cleo and spot her blue eyes gleaming in the darkness. “I’ll get her back,” I say quietly. “I swear it.”
Cleo laughs, but there’s no joy in it. “A fine sentiment, but it means nothing.” She turns away. “I practically gave her to Sadal on a silver platter. My own flesh and blood. Don’t tell her who I am.”
I don’t answer, a wave of sympathy hitting me like a flood despite Cleo’s actions. I shouldn’t pity this Bloodbane. But I do. Thal is quiet and I know he’s calculating what exactly he just heard. I trust him to keep Cleo’s request as I will. No one will know what we know – not even Verity herself.
When I reach the top of the stairs, I push through the door and find myself facing a pair of deep brown eyes. Erzur flashes me a winning smile, dripping in disdain. Thal groans audibly when he joins me, but I step hard on his boots. He hisses and then gives her a sardonic smile.
“Queen Erzur,” I say, bowing. “If I had known you would be here so soon, I would have prepared a proper welcome for you.”
“Save the proper welcomes for kings that aren’t losing wars,” she says smoothly.
I school my face to hide the angry curl of my lip. Thal leans close to me as she passes off her heavy cloak to a servant. “She’s a piece of work, Altair. Are you sure about this?” He murmurs.
I nod sharply just as Erzur turns back to us. I offer her my arm. She wraps her hand around it like a python and squeezes. I lead her towards the war room where Moritz is already waiting. I know he won’t be pleased to see Erzur, but none of us are. It almost overshadows the satisfaction of hearing twenty thousand new soldiers marching outside.
Erzur leans close and I smell her fragrant breath. “This will be over soon. And when it is, I trust all efforts will be made to fulfill your part?” She murmurs, smiling through the veiled threat.
“Of course,” I say, hiding the anger in my voice. “My love.”
Chapter 19
Verity
I stumble over a stone as we tromp through a valley. Pain flares in my arm as I instinctively hold it out to steady myself. I hiss, teeth grinding together. I don’t want to scream or cry out in pain in front of the Fae soldiers. They hate me as it is – it’s best not to call attention to myself.
Serus drifts between my feet, glancing upwards at me. Its sharp eyes dart back and forth between my pale face and the still bleeding wounds. “I’m surprised you’ve made it this far,” Serus says lightly.
I make a face, irritation sparking despite my exhaustion. “Thanks,” I say under my breath.
“Quiet,” one of the soldiers snaps, glancing at me over his shoulder.
“Do you have a healer? Or someone to stitch up these wounds?” I ask. I can’t hide the desperation in my voice. I can’t go on like this much longer.
They chuckle and one prods at me with the tip of his bow. “We wouldn’t spare a healer for you. And we haven’t the time,” he says bitingly.
A shudder wracks my body and I feel my muscles seize for an instant. I’ve lost too much blood. The shock is wearing off, leaving me to my pain and failing systems. I inhale sharply, desperately, and choke back the tears that threaten to spill. If we don’t reach Altair soon, all of this will have been for nothing. I glance at Serus, finally free of the ether. Perhaps not all for nothing.
“How much longer?” I ask, panting from the exertion of climbing a short hill.
The woman, the leader, eyes me. “Half a day’s walk.”
“Half a day,” I repeat, sighing. “Good. Good.”
“Keep up, Bloodbane. Or we’ll spill the rest of your blood,” she says over her shoulder.
I watch her crest the hill, disappearing into a copse of sharp-looking trees. “Any advice?” I ask Serus. I can feel my breath catching in my chest and I feel a sliver of fear.
“Don’t die,” it says.
I feel a small grin before I realize I’m too exhausted to even smile. Serus slips away, following the soldiers and I tramp after the strange creature. I close my eyes, walking aimlessly and stumble into the hard back of one of the soldiers. He snatches my wrist, lisp curled in a silent snarl. I open my mouth to apologize but he lifts a finger to his lips. I clamp my mouth shut, fear lancing through me.
Through the brush, I hear whispering. I listen intently, but my hearing isn’t good enough to make out the words. One of the soldiers sidles to my side. “Bloodbane,” he murmurs under his breath. “Shall we give you back to your friends, Bloodbane bitch?”
Panic wells in my chest at the thought of being brought back to Sadal. He might know even now that I’ve left the ether. I can’t go back. I won’t. I shake my head vigorously, eyes wide with fear. He looks at me curiously and then draws his dagger. I bite my lip hard, eyes locked on the blade in his hand. I feel Serus at my feet, pushing against my ankle as if to comfort me.
Suddenly, the Fae unsheathe their swords and slip into a defensive stance. The skin on my neck stands on end and I realize I can’t hear the whispering anymore. I shrink back against a nearby tree, heart beating too fast. More blood seeps from my wounds as my heart races.
I hear a shrill battle cry as five Bloodbane erupt from the trees, poison-tipped arrows aimed at the soldiers. They dodge the first volley, slipping towards
