There’s a way for us all to survive this. I just have to find it.
49
CRYPT
“Boo,tell Professor Popsicle that I need a turn,” Decimus huffs.
Ignoring the crippling pain in my joints and spine, I smokereveriumand watch Decimus and Frost say goodbye to Maven before dawn. The sky above is dark and starless above this courtyard where the greenhouse sits in peaceful silence.
Frost holds Maven even tighter, breathing out slowly as he tries to get a hold of himself. “Just another second. I just…I can’t yet.”
If it were Crane or myself hogging our keeper before this battle of all battles, I imagine Decimus would have already set us ablaze from sheer impatience. But Crane already said his goodbyes before he left with a group of Reformists to direct his Undead army—and the last time we were all in a battle together, Frost faced the brutal final moments with our dying keeper all on his own. We have a silent understanding that he gets a pass this time.
“We’ll meet up in the citadel,” Maven reminds the elemental, rubbing his back as his erratic breathing only worsens.
Our quintet will be separating at the beginning of the battle. I don’t envy the others the fact that they’ll set off with resurrectedchangelings that Crane ordered to imitate our keeper. Decimus is moving in at a northern angle with the Decimus family. Crane and his Undead army, along with all the ghosts Maven has summoned into this mortal realm, will move in from the south. All other Reformist troops have their orders to move in following the strategy Maven finalized with Brigid Decimus.
Maven and I will be passing through Limbo directly into the citadel. My obsession is dressed in simple black combat clothes, but the fact that they hug her delectable body has me constantly distracted.
I myself wear combat attire for once, but I also carry a simple, secured pouch. Within it is the jar that used to hold Maven’s heart. Now, it contains a dark, humming shadow heart. Crane spent hours crafting it yesterday before passing out from pure exhaustion.
Our mission is to get it inside Amadeus before killing him. I’ve overheard my darling obsession and Crane discussing the logicistics at length over the last few days to know that unlike Maven’s shadow heart that constantly revived her, this one is a temporary spell. A mere tool to give the immortal Entity a weakness.
“Okay, we have to change the plan,” Frost finally announces, still holding onto Maven as if he expects her to drift away any moment. “Crypt, you take a changeling. I can’t do this.”
Maven pulls away to look at him, and it’s obvious they’re having a telepathic exchange without the rest of us. I always dislike being on the outside of a conversation my muse is involved in, but finally, Frost takes a deep, grounding breath and releases her.
“Finally,” Decimus mutters, sweeping her into a tight hug next. “Gods, I’m going to be so fucking distracted worrying about you, Boo.”
“No distractions,” Maven corrects, kissing his cheek. “Remember the plan. We’ll check in with each other telepathically as much as we can.”
As if to underline her point, Crane’s voice echoes through the bond.
Your Undead army is officially on the move,imathanafluir.
“That’s our cue, love,” I say, stepping on my cigarette to put it out as I reach for her.
“Wait,” Decimus protests. He inhales against her neck and kisses the mating mark he left there. “Just another minute.”
“Fucking hypocrite,” Frost grumbles.
Finally, Maven pulls away from her dragon shifter and steps toward me, slipping her gloved hand into mine. “All right. Let’s go kill the king of the Undead.”
It hurts like fucking hell to slip into Limbo this time around, but I don’t let it show. Maven doesn’t bother closing her eyes this time as I guide her swiftly through the shattered, distorted realm of dreams. I suppose now it makes sense that my darling was never affected by Limbo—after all, her mother is the goddess of dreams, whom all incubi tend to worship the most.
Not me, obviously. But then, my mother-in-law clearly isn’t keen on me, either.
Tell me you’re still okay,Frost demands through the bond not twenty minutes into our travel, which is greatly expedited through Limbo.
Why, I’m right as rain, but thanks ever so much for your concern, my snow-white dove,I reply saccharinely.
I can hear Decimus laughing through the bond because he appreciates humor, and Maven is smirking, but Frost just swears at me.
Maven?
I’m fine,she promises him.We’re almost to the citadel.
Decimus is surprised.Damn, that was fast.Flying through Limbo must be so fucking convenient.
