The old Bloodbane steps into the circle, her eyes clear and sharp. “There is no other way. They must be contained before they escape the Ether.”
“Very few have gone to the Ether and survived,” Moritz says.
“Yet you must take the risk.” The old witch’s eyes are steely, and I know that on this she won’t budge. There is no other way.
My gaze turns to Verity, and she chews her lip when all of our eyes are on her. Out of all of us, she’s the only one to navigate it on her own, without the aid of Sadal. Her pale blue eyes flash with fear before she furrows her brow stubbornly. “It will be dangerous. I don’t know how to describe the Ether, except that it’s either so dark you can hardly see or filled with nightmares made real.”
“The darkness is a fog, it feeds off of fear,” Sadal says. He steps closer, eyes lit with malice. “It doesn’t need to show you your nightmares to do it either. You’ll meet creatures like Serus in the Ether—though most aren’t as domestic.”
Serus’s hackles rise at Sadal’s tone. “Domestic or strategic?” His amber eyes flash. “But the Dark God is correct. The Glutton was only one of the many creatures in the First Stratum. The demons reside there, the ones that failed to answer Sadal’s call anyway. And there are others.”
“Others?” Erzur quirks a brow but I see the apprehension in her eyes.
“Wraiths, gargoyles, and more like me and the Glutton—with affinities for aspects of mortality like knowledge or the mind.” Serus glances towards Sadal. “Anything dark Sadal could have imagined, he could have shaped.”
Sadal grins. “And shape I did.”
Silence falls, and I let their words sink in. My gaze drifts toward Verity. Of all of us, she seems the most frightened. That tells me the Ether is nothing to be trifled with. I feel the urge to pull her into my chest, to comfort her, and assure her that I can protect her. But it's not my place anymore, I tell myself over and over again. I look at the ring on her finger, sparkling in the torchlight. Gods, I wish I could call her mine again.
I take her gently by the elbow, nothing more intimate than a guiding hand. Out of earshot of the group, I drop my voice to a whisper. "Are you alright?" It's a pointless question—none of us are truly alright.
“You don’t know what it’s like down there.” She shivers.
"I know," I murmur. She looks small, curled in on herself as if that will protect her from memories of the Ether. I have to stuff my hands into my pockets to stop myself from reaching for her. From offering her a comforting touch. "Are you certain of what you learned there?"
Her eyes flash, a spark of fire and anger. “I’m sure. I trust the Glutton to be a man of his word—a businessman, almost. I gave him my knowledge in return for his.”
My brows raise questioningly. “What did you give him?”
She presses her index finger to my chest, to the scabs forming over the rune she carved into my flesh. “I gave him this.”
“Sharing such knowledge,” I pause, mulling over her words. “Do you think that was wise?”
“I didn’t share it.” She drops her hand. “He took it. I gave it all to him. That’s what the creatures do down there, Altair. They take. We have to be hard and cruel or we won’t survive down there.”
“I know what you had to do to escape,” I say, my eyes hardening. She speaks as if I won’t be prepared to sacrifice. But I would give anything for her. “How often do I have to remind you that you are my everything?”
“Never again. Because I can’t be any longer.” Her voice is soft, broken, but stubborn.
Her words are like ice in my veins and I can hardly react after she speaks. She steps around me and heads back to the group, still discussing the coming journey. I turn, already knowing I’ll find her beside Thal. I can’t help the way my eyes narrow at the sight of him beside her. My nostrils flare and I know the other Fae can feel the lightning crackling between us. I expect my beastly, cursed form to make an appearance before I remember that Verity broke the curse last night. I couldn’t even feel a stirring of it within me, no longer heralded by my anger or the light of day.
“Who will go?” Moritz asks, breaking the silence.
“I will.” Verity is the first to speak. Our eyes meet for an instant and I feel my heart clench. “I have to.”
“Me,” I say, moving to her side. My fingers brush over her lower back and I feel her muscles relax at the soft touch.
Thal sighs, shaking his head. He eyes Verity playfully. "I guess I can add the Ether to my list of places I've traveled. I wonder how many women will be impressed by that."
“If they believe you,” Erzur says coldly, but I see a hint of a smile on her lips. “You could use another warrior, since Verity is practically useless in a battle.”
“I’m working on it,” Verity huffs, pursing her lips.
“And you?” I ask, looking at Moritz.
He shakes his head. “I don’t think it wise that three rulers leave our countries and people weak to our Fae enemies. I’ll stay and do what I can so no one will think anything is amiss. We don’t want word of this spreading.”
I nod and clasp his hand. No words pass between us, but I know without a doubt that Moritz will do his best to ensure Alnembra’s success and safety. He was my father’s friend first, and when he was lost and buried at sea, only Moritz was more devastated than me.
