Not today.
Not ever.
That was a promise—to Arabella, to Shen, to his friends, and especially to himself.
He would go out of his way to never see the temptress again.
Chapter25
Grave Danger Lies Here, Leave and Never Return
With a stiff jaw, I stood in the shade of Slake and watched Alobaz, surrounded by his fellow soldiers and the boy, walk back up the street.His stride was purposeful, even while the boy skipped gaily alongside him.
Alobaz would glance back at me.He didn’t seem the type to play coy.An electricity had passed between us, a frisson that had been pure physical attraction.A base instinct.I’d never experienced an energy like it before.And I knew he’d felt it too.I’d done a better job of concealing my surprise than he had.His desire smelled like rain on a scorching day, when it evaporated in visible waves off hot cobblestones.
He wanted me, alright.Scents didn’t lie.
For me, the zing was welcome confirmation that I would succeed in my task—as if the demigods looked on, and Justice had sent a sign that she approved of my intentions: I’d avenge my darling brother.
Though it wouldn’t fill the gaping void in my heart Teo had always occupied, it was the first step in finding acceptance of what I could not change.Once the emperor was without his wicked general, the stranglehold Junot had over most of our world would falter.It might take some time—perhaps even a lot of time—to gather forces, but the Opalesians would fight back.
They’d take back what the emperor stole.
Zaraga would have a comeback.Alonso would reclaim his throne.Rafaela would rule at his side.I’d once more be their crown princess.When Alonso decided he was ready to pass on his rule to the next generation, that duty would land … just on me.Centuries I could have shared with my brother, wasted away, now a torment I’d have to endure alone.
Though I watched until Alobaz faded from view, he proved more restrained than I expected.He didn’t turn back.Not even once.
What a gigantic asshole.
With Alobaz completely gone, the nosy Galmeenians finally continued on to wherever they were headed before he’d drawn their fascination.As they passed, some cast curious glances at me; others, condemnation.A few shot me pitiable looks that I despised more than all the others.
In their view, I was a prostitute turned down by a man who had no problem having sex with an entire horde of whores, none of whom boasted my sex appeal.
Stories used to be told of my great beauty, how no one could resist me, how I was enchanting beyond reason.So much so that rumors suggested I’d come by my appearance via faithum.No woman could be as perfect as I was without making a deal with a demigod or a dark sorcerer orsomething, claimed the whispers never spoken to my face.
At the time, I appreciated the stories because they distracted from the work I was doing.Being seen as nothing beyond a pretty package allowed me to spy in the open.I was welcome at every court, every estate, every party, where no one bothered to look beneath the surface.
Alobaz was supposed to take one look at me, dismiss all the other whores, and lead me away with him.I would have had my dagger stabbed through his evil heart the very instant he pulled out his dick.
Squaring my shoulders, I made myself appear unbothered as I took off in the same direction Alobaz had.I glanced toward the alleyway and caught Marina’s eye.She nodded.
An hour later, she caught up to me.Together we sat, hidden from the road, and leaned against the final tree before the land stretched, barren, in preparation for the chasm that cleaved it apart.
The tree was twisted, blackened as if charred and gnarled as if sickened.In actuality, it was neither.Affected by the energy that seeped without reprieve from the abyss, it was the only tree strong enough to withstand its proximity.
Whatever force emanated from the abyss felt like death.It was a consuming cold that filled my bones, a despair that weighed against my chest, a sense beyond words that warned,Grave danger lies here.Leave and never return.As we approached, the earth flattened, became hard, dry, and brittle.In parts it was as black as the tree.In others, so pale as to be leached of all color.Marina’s legs were tucked into her frock.She hugged her knees to her chest while she chewed, eyes continuously jumping from me to the abyss beyond—and to the shadows that drifted up and out of it.They danced like a serpunta; back and forth, the shadows undulated, slunk, and shuddered, creeping across the ground as if reaching for me and Marina.But they never got too close.
My gaze also jumping to the abyss and back, I broke off a chunk of bread, pressed some cheese to it, and handed it to Marina.Then I did the same for myself.
As a goblin, Marina was better suited to gathering supplies without arousing suspicion.Especially since I’d drawn too much attention to myself already.She’d brought food and drink, along with my two satchels of weapons and books.She’d also pilfered a crossbow with three bolts from behind the bar at Slake.The dead husband and wife wouldn’t need them.
“How could he just dismiss me like that?”I asked, already knowing she would have no answer.“Now I have to adjust all my plans.”
In fairness, “my plans” had been singular:a plan, and it had hinged on Alobaz reacting to me the way everyone else did.
“Now I’ll have to wait around town for him to come back, and who knows how long that might take?If my scar’s back by then, I’ll have to take him out long-range”—I patted the crossbow that leaned against a tree root—“or sneak up on him.”
Marina took a large bite.“How much easier it would have been if he’d just done what he was supposed to.”
