Like it had marked me as worthy.
26
Melisande
I’d never felt so relieved to see the Nightside before. Being gone for just a week felt more like being gone for a thousand years, but everything was exactly as we’d left it.
Well, almost everything.
Along with my Chainlings, several of Belial’s Overseers were stationed around the walls of the arena, their red leather armor shining like splashes of blood in the twilight of the Nightside.
I frowned at one manning the gates, recognizing his boar snout. Tabor, the one who’d threatened to push me under the water if I didn’t comply with my first bath in the arena.
I waved at him and he snorted, shaking his head and making the ring in his nose flap.
At least Belial had offered extra protection for Vyra while we were gone. I was dying to go find him as soon as possible.
One of the Chainlings stationed outside started when she saw us walking up the street. She yanked open one of the iron gates, and I heard the sounds of shouting before we’d even stepped onto the pathway to the doors.
I glanced up at Lucifer, who shrugged, and pushed open one of the arena doors as quietly as I could, given its weight.
I didn’t even need to bother to be so careful. Nobody was looking at the doors.
The stands were filled with cheering fighters, and a throng of them were on the arena floor. An archery target had been set up on the opposite side of the arena, twenty yards away. It was already peppered with arrows and what looked like… smashed fruit?
What the hell were my people up to?
I caught a glimpse of Vyra sitting on the arena wall, her arms crossed over her chest as she watched the proceedings with utmost skepticism.
Haru was the center of attention. He was stripped to the waist and held a longbow, and one of the fighters stood in front of the archery target. Lady Savage balanced something small and round on top of the fighter’s bald head and backed away.
“Let’s see if you can hit a grape!” she crowed, returning to Blind Luck’s side. He looked just as skeptical as Vyra, shaking his head.
A grape? Had I heard that correctly?
Haru pulled a long, white-fletched arrow from a quiver and nocked it, looking almost lazy about taking aim. He loosed the arrow, and everyone screamed as it pierced the grape on top of the fighter’s head and buried it deeply in the target.
Haru handed off his bow and gave Vyra a breezy grin. “How’s that for skill?”
She was looking everywhere but at the kitsune, but I heard her mutter, “You just got lucky.”
Then her eyes swung towards the doors, clearly avoiding the sight of a half-naked Haru, and they widened when she saw us.
She jumped down from the wall and plunged through the crowd, barreling into me like a comet.
“You’re back! Oh thank fuck, you can take over dealing with him.” Vyra squeezed me hard, threatening to crush my ribs. Then she held me at arm’s length, looking at me quizzically. “Why are you back early?”
I jerked my head towards the stairs, and Vyra cast a quick glance at Haru before almost dragging me to them.
The kitsune’s eyes followed her all the way up. Lucifer, Tascius, and Azazel all approached him, waving me on to give me a moment alone with Vyra. They would get caught up on what ridiculous things these demons had been up to.
“He kept his hands to himself, right?” I scowled, wondering if I was going to have to kick his ass next.
“Yeah, but he’s always naked, and he’s got abs for days, and sometimes I wonder if I should ask Blind Luck to take out my eyeballs, too,” she muttered.
“So this is how everyone decided to entertain themselves? Shooting fruit off the top of people’s heads?”
Vyra raised an eyebrow. “Haru claimed it was a test of skill, but I think he was just showing off. If it makes you feel better, it hasn’t been all fun and games. Lady Savage has been, well, savage about getting the weaker warriors on a strict training schedule, and she’s pretty much bullied the other two generals into letting her do what she wants. They’ve been relegated to running the training classes.”
“A lot has happened in a week,” I said, following her into my room and stopping dead.
Whatever Vyra had been doing, she’d clearly spent a lot of time in here, probably avoiding Haru. And she’d been productive with it.
I had glittery purple curtains now, and several dress-forms had bits of fabric pinned to them. They were costumes very reminiscent of my time in Belial’s arena.
As soon as I thought of him, I felt like I’d been punched in the gut. A week had been too long, and I had some very sincere apologies to make.
“Where is Belial?” I asked, trying to sound casual, but Vyra shot me a look that told me she saw right through me.
“I have no idea. Nobody’s seen him since the day he left. I thought he might’ve decided to go with you.”
I stared at her. “He’s gone?”
I recalled what he’d said to me the day I’d headed out for the City of Sight, that he had a quest of his own.
Sudden panic ate at me. I clenched my hands, pacing the room. What if he was gone for another week? Several? A month?
Would he even care to hear me out at that point?
Vyra sank onto the bed, her hands in her lap. “If I knew where, I’d tell you, but… even his arena has been locked up and silent. If he’s there, his Overseers are refusing to admit to it.”
I sat next to her, feeling like drawing a full breath was impossible.
Then I realized I was being ridiculous myself. He knew we were coming
