Shocked murmurs rippled across the tables.
Sal’vathar poured himself more wine. “The door to the Netherworld does not stir without cause. Perhaps it may open again.”
Alora’s pulse quickened at the thought. She had assumed it was merely a portal, a way out of the mountain. And she had wanted to step through it. To imagine it opening now outside of Argyle, she feared what it could mean.
Sal’vathar glanced at her. “Though such a matter is easily prevented.”
Rune’s eyes flamed like molten lava. The heat of his rage surged through their connection and shadows lashed through the room like spears straight for Sal’vathar.
“Sire!”Calla hissed sharply under her breath.
The sharp shadows froze an inch from Sal’vathar face.
He didn’t even flinch.
The hall went still, no one daring to move.
“Pardon if I offended you, sire,” the Lord of Envy continued politely, his gaze lingering on her markings. “I merely meant that we all know what it means.”
Rune’s body was tense beneath hers, his chest faintly rising with shallow breaths. “You knownothing.”
A heavy hush fell in the chamber, their audience carefully listening.
Alora held still, confused and alarmed by the animosity growing in the air.
The silence was broken by Balgor’s garble through a mouthful of food. “We all felt the mountain shake, sire. It was whispering.Vaelith Nocthra va’thal.”
A shocked murmur rumbled through the hall and Rune’s jaw clenched.
Alora’s breath caught.
Karag Dûrhadspoken when the Gate flickered. She had felt it shake, too. But Sal’vathar’s presence had distracted her focus elsewhere. After that… Rune had taken her to train. Then she had completely forgotten about it.
She looked at Rune.What does it mean?
“The Queen of Shadows arrives,” Sal’vathar answered. His gaze slid to the walls, where the statues of the Primordials had briefly stood. “You declared her so when first presenting her at court. Humorous if not dangerous for a mortal, yet the mountain itself acknowledged her. Perhaps the Gate knows more than we realize.”
Something cold slid through her chest, sudden and sharp.
She didn’t understand half of what they meant, but she the threat, the power barely restrained in the room. The air grew heavier with each breath. The Harbingers stood behind Rune’s chair, their eyes glowing in the gathering dark.
Rune said nothing.
One of his hounds growled low beneath the table, fangs bared. He simply stroked the creature’s head once, slow and calm.
“Sal’vathar.” Rune’s crimson eyes fixed on him, and the shadows thickened over the floors. His voice was deadly calm. “Speak of this again, and your head will serve as a centerpiece on my table at the next dinner.”
The Envy Lord bared his sharp teeth in a smile. “Of course, sire.”
Alora hardly understood their conversation, but she did sense a traitorous tone. It surprised her that Rune held restraint tonight.
By the old laws, Samhain is the one night we cannot spill blood.Rune exhaled a low breath, some of his anger withdrawing.They wouldn’t be so bold otherwise.
The tension broke when Morvenna whined to Ira, rubbing his thigh with a wicked pout. “I ache, my love.”
The large grunted, setting down his fork with a smirk. “Insatiable woman. I pleased you thrice today.”
“Oh? Do you tire of me already?” Morvenna purred, climbing onto his lap. She pressed a kiss to the glowing mark on his chest above his heart.
