“I’m sorry,” I murmured, taking in the way Samian shook. “I’m so sorry, but it was the only way. There wasn’t anything else I could do to stop the bargain and Ambrose’s command. I had to follow where my heart led me. Queen Cassia told me that in the beginning. She told me what I needed to do. I didn’t want to do it; I didn’t want to leave you both, but there was no other option.”
Silence followed as Samian stared at me, his gaze hard until he let out a tight breath. His head fell back, his face tilting to the sky. A tear ran down his face when his eyes found mine again. “Fine, I’ll forgive you this time, but don’t you dare think about doing that again. Is that understood?”
I laughed softly and nodded, letting my head rest against Samian’s chest. Gathering me in his arms, Samian looked out to the field, taking in the scene. “Is this where you go for your magic?”
“It is,” I smiled. “Do you like it?”
“I do. It reminds me of you—warm and peaceful. It makes me want to lie here and never leave. But,” he paused, moving my face to the left, “what is that?”
We watched the shadow that still stood in the field, still observing me from afar. It had moved closer since I last saw it, though it still stood farther in the field. “I’m not sure what it is,” I confessed. “It has been standing there like it’s waiting for me, though I don’t know why. Is it bad?”
Samian tilted his head and narrowed his eyes. “Does it feel bad?”
“No, it just feels…different, if that makes sense? It almost feels like it's a part of me?”
“Then I don’t think it's bad,” Samian said, pausing. He took a deep breath before continuing. “Something happened during that last moment. Your body, your magic, it changed. Cassia explained it was because your human blood had finally disappeared, but I have a feeling this shadow has something to do with the change. If it feels like it’s a part of you, then don’t be afraid of it.”
Twisting, I looked back at Samian, surprise making my heart skip a beat. I only remembered bits and pieces of that moment, but I recalled the shadows swirling around me, twisting with my light. At first, I thought it was Salem, but with his words just now, I wondered if it was something more.
Samian met my gaze, sadness flickering in his eyes. “I have to return, but promise me you’ll come back to us, my light.”
Pushing off the ground, I pressed my lips to Samian’s, my eyes drifting shut. Samian opened for me, groaning as he pulled me closer. Samian hissed, his head jerking away from me to look down at his arm, at an angry welt that wasn’t there before.
Samian muttered a vicious curse about Kieran that made me laugh. “I’ll return as soon as I can.”
Samian sighed and pressed a light kiss against my lips before resting his forehead against mine. “I love you. I will see you soon.”
I watched him disappear, my heart clenching at the empty space he left behind. I fell back into the grass, peering up at the scattered clouds. Birds flew overhead, chirping and dancing with the wind. Samian was right; this was a place that I never wanted to leave. But my heart felt empty after seeing him again. I could feel my soul begging to be near him and Kieran. Sitting up, I sucked in a breath. Salem stood a few feet away from me, those depthless eyes staring at me, watching me.
I held out my hand, calling for him to come closer, but he wouldn’t budge. Standing, I took a step toward him when his shadows grew, morphing until a female stared back at me. My eyes widened as I stared at her—as I stared at myself. Blinking, I reached out my hand, the shadow mimicking me. Our fingers touched, and pain laced down my arm. My feet faltered as I stumbled back, falling to the ground.
I sucked in a sharp breath, my eyes flying open, and the field was gone. Someone hesitantly whispered my name, my head jerking in their direction. Ivara launched from her chair, coming to my side.
“Sybil,” she cried, “you’re finally awake!” Tears poured down her face as her hands cupped my cheeks, a broad smile splaying across her face
“Ivara,” I rasped, still in shock. “Ivara!” I wrapped my arms around her neck, pulling her close.
“Thank the gods you’re okay! We were so worried!” Pulling back, her eyes roved along my body, checking for anything out of place. “You’re okay, you’re really okay! Shit, I need to go get Aster and the others!”
I watched her run out of the tent, the flaps falling back into place behind her. A soft laugh slipped from my lips before theemptiness set in, my gaze drifting over the ruffled blankets on the cots and the pan of water left behind. I felt a tug in my soul from my mates, urging me to find them. Standing from my cot, my legs felt weak, but impatience crawled up my skin. Excitement thundered in my chest, and I couldn’t wait any longer to see Samian and Kieran. Stepping out of the tent, I went still. The hair on my neck stood as I felt eyes watching me.
I turned in their direction, my magic humming when I saw a male with black horns a few steps away. His skin was a deep, sun-warmed tan, while his eyes swirled like a nebula of violet and dark magenta. Chains and pendants hung along black horns that twisted above his head. Breathtaking tattoos ran down his arms, a mix of patterns and swirls. When my gaze met his, a sharp smile rose on his lips, showing off his pointed canines.
I heard people running toward us, and I dared a glance. Samian and Kieran were running to me, but stopped when they noticed who stood in front of me. Their eyes widened in terror as they yelled out my name. Confusion whirled in my mind at their reaction. Their fear told me I should have been afraid, but my soul purred in his presence.
The male laughed, the sound dark and sinful. I looked back at him, a gasp slipping past my lips when he vanished, and reappeared right in front of me. I faltered back a step, ready to run, but I was too late. The male swept me off my feet, letting the shadows surround us. The world tilted, whirling by us at a frightening speed. As soon as the world snapped back into place, the male dropped me painfully to the ground.
Cursing, my eyes cut to his as I let out a pained hiss. He laughed, his face bright with amusement, as if he took pleasure in my suffering. He stepped back, allowing me to take in the vast chamber—and the beautiful female seated on the throne ahead, her midnight-black hair framing dark green eyes.
“Welcome to Dubnos, Sybil Hart.”
Chapter 45
Ambrose
Biting back a snarl, I stood on a disgusting, broken-down porch. Facing a fucking iron door, my hands curled into tight fists as my mind warred with itself. After Sybil’s little show, our bargain disappeared into nothing. She was dead, and while I mourned the loss of her power, I had gained enough information from Ezra that could squash the fucking rebellion. Everything was fine until Zephyros found me to tell me that Sybil wasn’tquitedead, that she had become something else—something entirely new. That fucking insect had found a way to come back to life and, in the process, had somehow become more powerful.
Raising my hand, I pounded against the iron door, waiting until it swung open. John came into view, looking worse than the last time I saw him. His eyes flickered from shock and fear before narrowing on me, his face twisting into a snarl.
