“I’ll see you during the ceremony,” I say.
Vera points to Noire on her way to the door. “Until then, try to make sure no one poisons our General, will you?”
Noire smiles, but his eyes are haunted. “Don’t worry, Vera dearest. I’m not going to make the same mistake twice.”
CHAPTER EIGHTY-FOUR
PHOENIX
The descent into the castle’s basement is long.
I’m the Ezkai General. This is my damn castle, and everything that’s under its roof. Yet, I feel as if I’m breaking rules as I take one stone step after another, going deeper under the ground.
I know I’ve reached the prison floor from the haunted screams that reach my ears. They bounce on the stone walls and echo endlessly around. At the bottom of the stone staircase there’s a heavy black iron door. Two Ezkai stand guard.
The moment they spot me, they straighten their backs and greet me. I show respect in return and they open the door. It’s heavy, and its hinges creak from old age.
A long corridor stretches in front of me.
The lighting is dim, and the air is damp. On each side of me, there are cells with narrow doors made from horizontal wrought iron bars. Some cells are empty, while others hold up to three prisoners.
I ignore the faces, whistles, and curses that come my way as I make my way deeper into the prison. My skin crawls only at the thought that this is where Jax spends his time.
Time passes slowly as I wander the prison corridors, looking for the right cell. Just when I’m about to give up and go ask for help from the Ezkai guarding the entrance, a familiar voice says, “You’re real a sight for sore eyes, Phoenix darling.”
I whirl on my heel to find Jax leaning against his cell door. His clothes are ragged and dirty, as if he’d spent the whole day rolling in the dirt. I arch an eyebrow at his bare feet.
“Who would have known shoes are a valuable currency here?” There is humor in Jax’s voice, but I’m not fooled. “Missed me already?”
I come closer to the bars and look over his shoulder at the inside of his cell. There’s a single cot pushed against one of the walls, a stack of books next to it, and a metal bucket in one corner. It’s horrible, the living conditions are absolutely horrible.
My thoughts are written on my face, because Jax says, “Hey, don’t worry. It’s not as bad as it looks. I have this whole cell to myself, which is not something every guy here can say.”
I wrap my fingers around one of the bars. The iron is cold against my skin. “Jax…for fuck’s sake.”
I lean my forehead against the cold iron and close my eyes. I want to curse him and tell him that he’s a fool for doing something as stupid as assassinating the late Ezkai General. Yet…if he hadn’t done it I wouldn’t be an Ezkai General myself now.
If not for Jax, none of us would be where we are.
Jax caresses my cheek with one of his fingers. It’s jarring to see them bare, without a dozen rings glittering as the jewels catch the light.
“It’s alright. All of our actions have consequences. You know that as well as anyone else.”
With a sigh, I push myself away so I can look him in the eye. “I don’t know how, but I will get you out.”
Jax’s smile is full of sadness. He shakes his head. “Daegel played his cards well. I’m doomed. There is absolutely nothing you can do, even as the Ezkai General. Which, by the way, suits you so well, darling. You were born to reign.”
I snort and roll my eyes. But my lips still curl upwards.
“There’s that smile I wanted to see.”
“We will find a way. I promise,” I say. “Please, don’t get yourself killed while you’re here.”
Jax lifts his palms in defense. “I’m well-behaved.”
“Oh yeah, sure.”
I pull out one of my blades from my boot and hold it out for him.
