“Because, Your Majesty, I’m the only one who can helpyou.You see, I know Davina. I know how she thinks. What makes her tick.”
“What makes you think that I would believe a single word that falls from your lips?”
The smile on his face grew, and the room fell eerily silent as Caius stared into the depths of her eyes. His crystalline blues burrowing into the stormy grays of her own. But it was Aesira who shattered the silence. “He speaks the truth.”
All heads whipped toward the warrior who still stood at the bottom of the dais, her unwavering gaze locked onto the emissary from Garnet.
“Lady Aesira?” A million questions filled Auraelia’s mind as her eyes flicked between Aesira and Caius.
Caius’ smile only broadened as he returned the warrior’s stare. “So it’s true, then? The great warrior leader from Opal is a truth seeker.”
Iridessa stiffened, a blade appearing in her hand from thin air. “Watch it, snake,” she hissed between clenched teeth, Xander’s shield rippling as he reinforced it around their group.
“Enough.” Auraelia’s voice boomed throughout the room. “That’s enough. I will consider your proposal, but do not hold your breath.”
Caius dipped into a low bow, then rose with a cocky smirk on his face. “When you’ve decided to be smart about this and see meas an asset, use this.” He pulled a box from his coat pocket and opened it. Sitting on a velvet pillow the color of obsidian was a jagged, clear stone.
“What is that?” Auraelia asked as she leaned forward a fraction.
“It’s clear quartz, but it’s been spelled with my magic.Whenyou decide you want my help, simply pull it from the box, grasp it in your hand, and think my name.”
Great, another magic stone. What could possibly go wrong?
Auraelia stood, lightning wrapping around her arms as she descended the steps of the dais. When she reached the end, Aesira stepped up beside her. “He speaks the truth, but I still don’t know if this is a good idea.” Her voice was barely a whisper, words meant only for her ears.
Auraelia paused, then after a deep breath, said, “Drop the shield, Xander.”
“Your Majesty—” he began to object, but Auraelia looked over her shoulder and repeated the order.
“Drop. The. Shield.” Each word was enunciated. The last thing she needed was to look weak in front of Caius, and Xander questioning her did exactly that.
It took more time than she would have liked, but Xander did as she bid, and she cautiously closed the distance between herself and the emissary. “IfI choose to trust you, andifI decide to accept your offer of assistance, what is it that you get out of this?”
His wicked grin appeared once more. “Oh, Your Majesty. That’s for me to know, and for you to find out.” Then he winked and, in a flurry of snow, vanished.
The box with the stone rested at Auraelia’s feet. “That son of a bitch.”
So much for the wards.
Chapter Nine
Daemon
Athin, swirling blanket of fog coated the ground of the gardens outside the castle, covering what was left of the decorations from the previous night’s solstice celebration. The sun had just begun to rise, the golden streams of light stretching across the horizon, framing her body in an ethereal glow. The sight made his heart falter.
Auraelia? What is she doing here?
He took hasty steps toward her, the mist around his feet dissipating with each step. But as he reached her, something was…off.
Different.
Her hair was a rich golden brown instead of her usual honey-blonde waves, and her waist was slimmer. But when she turned his way and her eyes locked onto his, that same pull camefrom the center of his chest. The same intrinsic feeling he got whenever he was in Auraelia’s presence. She inhaled sharply, and the minute sound wrapped around his heart. She had Auraelia’s face, but her eyes, Goddess, her eyes were the color of aqua sea glass and something about that resonated within his soul.
Theneedto reach out and caress her cheek was immeasurable, but his hands remained limp at his sides. Like he had no control over them. “What are you doing out here, Astraea?”
The words had come from his lips, but…Astraea? The name tickled the recesses of his mind, but he couldn’t quite place it.
She smiled and turned her face toward the growing sunrise. “I thought it was quite obvious, Killian.” She chuckled, and his heart picked up pace. She’d called him Killian. That wasn’t his name…was it?
