Sadal laughs hoarsely. He spits out a glob of blood onto the stone and turns his dark eyes on me. “Hello, darling. Happy to see me?”
“Don’t call me that,” I whisper angrily. I feel Thal at my side then, a comforting presence.
“I’m glad you made it out of the ether. You know I don’t possess the ability to enter that realm any loner,” Sadal says, ignoring my tone. “I see you had a little help.”
Serus wraps around my ankles, his amber eyes locked on Sadal. Sadal leans forward, leering at me. Altair steps smoothly in front of him, blocking the dark god from view. My eyes flit towards Altair’s gaze and I see the fury hidden beneath his calm facade. A smile quirks at my lips. I would hate to be in Sadal’s shoes.
“The dungeon,” Altair says, tilting his head towards Sadal.
I watch from the corner of my eyes as the Fae soldiers shove Sadal down another hall. He laughs and my skin crawls. I step towards Altair once Sadal is out of sight, even though I can still hear him cackling.
An ebony arm snakes towards Altair, golden bracelets jangling on a dainty wrist. I glance up at the woman I passed earlier. I hadn’t heard her arrive, or even seen her before she was already at Altair’s side. My eyes dart up from her hand settling on Altair’s arm to her dark brown eyes. She smiles at me, but it doesn’t reach her eyes. I watch, gut twisting, as she slips her arm through Altair’s and he dodges my gaze.
They stride away without another word and it feels like I’m falling from one of the towers on Altair’s palace. My stomach is in my throat, heart beating too fast and out of rhythm. And still, Sadal’s laughter echoes throughout the halls.
Chapter 3
Altair
The small dining hall of the fort has been cleaned and prepared for a victory dinner with the main players. I stand in the corner, watching the servants light candles and the enormous hearth. My arms are crossed over my chest and I can feel my blood thrumming evenly despite my rage.
I hadn’t expected to see Verity. I had planned on finding any method I could to make my way into the ether and save her. But she managed to save herself. I feel a flicker of pride in my chest as I remember what the healer told me about Verity’s wounds. She almost died trying to make it out of the ether. I would never have allowed her to hurt herself like that, but perhaps it’s for the best that I wasn’t there.
But then she made her way here, right into the predatory gaze of Erzur. I close my eyes, cursing myself for my lapse in judgment. The kiss Verity and I shared would have made it to Erzur’s ears almost instantly; which is no doubt why she chose to make her appearance when she did. My hands curl into fists. If not for the alliance she and I made, my forces would have been overwhelmed by the berserk demons. Nonetheless, I can’t help the surge of anger I feel towards Erzur for the shame she forced on Verity. She won’t do such a thing again.
The door opens and Thal slams into the room, eyes blazing. I push away from the wall, stepping into his line of sight. His fist flies towards me, so fast I almost miss it. I dodge just in time, slipping behind him. He curls his lip at me. “Too high and mighty to take the beating you deserve?” He snaps.
“What are you talking about?” I narrow my eyes at him as he faces off against me.
“Letting Erzur treat Verity like that?” Thal laughs mirthlessly. “I know you can be cruel, Altair, but I never took you for stupid. You know exactly what Erzur did and why.”
“Of course I know,” I snarl softly, eyes flashing. “And it will never happen again.”
Thal smirks. “The damage is done, fool. You should have done something when you had the chance.”
I open my mouth to retort but the door opens again, and Moritz enters. He pauses, seeing the tension between Thal and I. Assessing the situation, he stares with a bored expression. “I trust you can save your bickering until dinner is over?”
I inhale sharply, glowering at Thal. “Have a seat, Moritz.”
I take a seat at the head of the table, Moritz on my left. The old Bloodbane strides into the room, her back bowed, and she sits beside Thal at the end of the table. I hardly notice Verity slink into the room in the Bloodbane’s shadow. I watch, heart clenching in my chest, as Thal moves over to make room for her. She slips out of sight, hiding beneath Thal’s frame. He glares at me, but I turn away.
Of course, Erzur arrives last. She sweeps into the room, her glossy robes billowing out behind her. I rise and the rest of the group follows my led except for the wizened Bloodbane. Erzur’s dark eyes trace over the dining table and I see them settle irritably on the witch. But the witch merely smiles, and I can’t hide my own smirk.
Erzur takes the last empty seat on my right and we all sit. The room is silent as the servants bring us our first course. I scowl. This is nothing like the victorious feast we should be having at this moment. When the servants have left and the door falls closed behind them, I stand, goblet in hand.
“This is not the victory that we imagined,” I say, closing my eyes somberly. When I open them again, I see Verity’s blue eyes locked on me. “We’ve lost many men and women during this fight. Tonight, we drink to their sacrifice for not only Alnembra, but for the world.”
I fall silent and drain the spirits in my goblet. I tilt my head back, swallowing the last of it and slamming my goblet down on the table.
