The dragons backed away, and I closed my eyes, sucking in a deep breath. Please let this work, Lord. Let me do the right thing and not hate myself in the end. “Chaódis Skotádi, I summon thee to stand in my presence and serve me.”
I expected the result to be instantaneous. When it wasn’t, I looked at each dragon, trying to understand why nothing had happened. Mavros should have appeared. The threat from him should have ended.
Malcolm stepped toward me. His brows were furrowed. His gaze darted around the room.
Electricity sizzled through the air. Followed by a loud boom. Cash slammed into me, knocking me to the ground, shielding me with his body. Pain lanced through my chest as the wound reopened. Blood seeped through my shirt.
“My liege.” Mavros practically purred.
I wrapped my arm around my wound and pressed my other hand against Cash’s chest. He pulled me to my feet.
Mavros stood in the middle of the room. His hands were tucked into his pockets, and his obsidian eyes sparkled with delight.
Gold, ebony, and amethyst hazes blended together, blocking my vision temporarily. When they cleared, the three dragons had transformed into their true selves. The room no longer seemed empty.
Mavros dropped to his knees in front of me. “What do you command of me?”
“I need to know what to do.” For the first time in a long time, I felt like a little kid asking their parents for help. “If I leave you on this plane, will Argentum be able to regain control of you? Would I be better off sending you to the Abyss so I know whose control you’re under?”
He slowly stood. “Send me back. You won’t know if he regains control of me if you leave me here. He will use it against you, make you think you are my master, and then make me kill you.”
“But—” I pulled my bottom lip into my mouth “—how can I do that to you? You’ve helped me. You’ve protected me. How can I send you back to that Hell?”
He stepped forward and took my hands in his. “I won’t stay there long before I wind up on another plane. I was actually sunning myself on a beautiful beach when Argentum called me here.”
“Really?’ I wiped my eyes on my sleeve, my fingers still held in his.
“Send me back.”
“Can you heal me first?” Knowing I was about to return him to the Abyss, I hated to ask him for anything, but I needed to be healthy to stand a chance against Argentum.
He pressed his hand to my wound and drew the venom out. I felt like I could breathe for the first time in days. “Thank you.”
He took a step away and dropped his hands. “It has been a pleasure knowing you, Dacia Wolf.” He smiled a real smile that lit up his perfect face.
“Chaódis Skotádi, I command you to return to the Abyss.” I watched as he turned into a mist and disappeared. Then I fell to my knees, held my head in my hands, and cried.
Chapter 30
Dominance
Aurelia and Arion left as soon as we returned to Malcolm’s cave. She was supposed to meet with the Nephilim council when they decided my fate.
I pulled the bandages from my wound and burned them. My shirt was blood-stained from when Cash had knocked me down to protect me, but I didn’t have anything else to change into. We’d left everything in the other cave when the Nephilim had shown up.
“So, what happens if they decide to take away my freedom anyway?” I sat on the treasure and pulled my knees to my chest. There was enough wealth in this room to feed a small country for decades. Torchlight reflected off the gems and coins. Priceless works of art lined the cave walls.
Cash rummaged through a sack, pulled out a package of mixed nuts, and threw them to me. “We won’t give you up.”
“We’re here for you,” Malcolm said.
I dumped a handful of the nuts out. “I can’t run forever. I can’t do that to you guys or to Cody.” I stared at the cashews, feeling like I’d throw up if I put them in my mouth. If I went with the Nephilim, I’d never be able to live life my own way, but Cody had brothers and a sister who cared about him. He had parents who would never understand why he’d disappeared. I’d live in a cage if it meant he could be with those he loved.
Cody sat next to me. “I’m with you.”
“I know—” I smiled a sad smile at him “—but I still can’t do that to you and your family.”
“Hopefully, they won’t debate for too long.” Malcolm cooled a bottle of water and handed it to me. The beads in his cornrows clanked together as he sat beside me. “This”—he waved his arm, encompassing the entire cave—“isn’t very comfortable. I’m sorry about that, but it was the only place that I knew for sure would be safe. I’ve never let another being into my lair before.”
Cash nodded at him. “I will take you to mine when this is done, but for now, I need them to believe I am hunting Dacia, not helping her.”
“Since Mavros is gone—” Malcolm squeezed my shoulder when I winced “—you can go back to sleeping at night. Then, when you go back to school, you will be accustomed to it.”
I plucked one cashew out of my hand and held it in front of my mouth. “Do you really think I’ll be going back?”
“I can’t see how they can deny you and remain honorable.” Cash strode across the treasure, admiring certain pieces. Malcolm watched him like a starved hawk eying a mouse. “I’ll see if I can get something to make
