Auriel started forward, rage in his eyes, but with a wave of his hand, Mercurial created a protection barrier blocking Auriel from reaching us.
“You feel that heat? That pulse? It’s not just the Valalumir inside of you! My contract remains. You think Rhyan’s temporary death ended it? No. It does not. We’re not finished here. We’re not until I say we are,” he seethed.
My eyes narrowed as I stared the Afeya down. “One day I’m going to find out. I’m going to learn the truth about who you’re working for; who you serve. And they won’t be able to save you.”My voice hardened. “For what you did to us—to him—I will kill you.” I pressed my fist to my heart, pressed again, and flattened my hand across my chest. “Me sha, me ka.”
I expected Mercurial to look surprised or offended. But he only nodded. “Oh, don’t worry, I already told you. I know you will. In fact. I’ve always known you’d be the end of me.” He tilted his head, the movement bird-like, before his eyes flashed. “Now go. Save Branwyn. Oh, and Auriel?” The Afeya turned and waved his hand, releasing the barrier between them. “A word of advice.”
Auriel stumbled forward. “Advice is the last fucking thing I need from you,” he seethed.
“Tsk tsk,” Mercurial tutted. “Dare I remind you that one of us has been here the past millennia, our memories intact, and one of us has been napping in a tomb?”
“You know if you’re looking for rest, I can arrange that,” Auriel said through gritted teeth, his grip tight on my dagger.
“You really are the exception to the idea of things getting better with age,” Mercurial said with a sniff. “I simply wanted to tell you that Queen Ma’Nia may need some convincing before she agrees to hand the shard back over to you. Or even open the door when you arrive. After all, it’s been a millennium, and she’s grown quite used to the power she siphons from it. You’d do well to remind her of the cure. Remind her of the existence of that knowledge. You know her feelings on that. Better than anyone.” He winked, his body vanishing. His eyelashes floated in the void, before he vanished completely.
In the hallway above, Branwyn screamed.
Chapter
Fifteen
LYRIANA
Within seconds, Auriel and I had replaced every bit of armor on our bodies, and retrieved every weapon we could find. We were armed now with not just our swords, daggers, and Valalumir stars, but with every spare weapon Sean had left down here. Everything we could carry, we’d strapped on.
My eyes met Auriel’s, his green irises blazing.
“You’re strong enough?” I asked. “Healed enough to fight?”
He reached for my shoulder, and pulled me in, his forehead pressing against mine. “I am. I swear.” Releasing me, he searched my gaze. “And you,Meka? You’re going to fight?” he asked. “The way I know you know how?”
I exhaled sharply, pulling back and nodding. The fuck I was. Now that I knew there was a way forward. Now that I knew I could save Rhyan. Nothing was going to stop me. Not this time. This time, I would become their worst enemy. Be the fire that engulfed anyone in my way.
“It’s all Ka Kormac,” he gritted. “All bastard wolves.”
I understood his meaning. They were our enemy. The kind of men who wouldn’t hesitate to harm Branwyn. Or me. It was us or them.
Them or Rhyan. I gripped the hilt of my sword. “Let’s go.”
Auriel dipped his chin in respect, then reached for his blade, and tore up the stairs, his boots barely touching the steps.
Branwyn screamed again and there was a sharp thud on the ground.
I raced behind Auriel. The door flew open and we exploded into the kitchen.
Branwyn lay on the ground, groaning in pain. A soturion was bent over her, a fistful of her hair in his hand.
If you need to defend yourself—strike first, think later.
I did.
“Get off of her!” I screamed, and thrust out my sword.
The fucker didn’t even have time to realize we were there. Not before my sword pierced his neck. His eyes widened. He would be dead in the next thirty seconds. I pulled back the blade and kicked his torso so hard he flew into the door. Auriel was already fighting two of the others. A sword in either hand, parrying and attacking all at the same time.
I sank down to reach for Branwyn and help her to her feet. She seemed shaken, but she was strong, immediately finding her balance.
“You’re okay?” I asked quickly.
