I sighed. “It’s that bad, huh?”
They darkened even more.
“Hmph.” I wasn’t giving up that easily.
I pressed my hands to the boulder and set my feet, pressing with all of my might. The dustpuffedby the edges. I growled and shoved again, shouting with the effort, my veins bulging on my neck, and my teeth bared in anger. My face flushed with exertion, but I kept pushing with every bit of strength I had.
My right foot slipped on the wet, stone floor.
I fell to my knees hard, cracking my head against the jagged boulder. I touched my left eyebrow, finding a deep, slicing cut, and screamed, “Let me out of here!”
No answer came. Not even a footfall.
My warm blood trickled between my fingers while the wound quickly healed itself. Not one to waste blood in this deadly situation, I licked my fingers clean, groaning at the taste of sweet, sweet blood. I needed more of it, from a source not myself—since I’d more than likely drain my thirsty self dry. That was not the wisest course of action, many a fool vampire having done that before in desperation.
I sat down on my ass and leaned back against the boulder. I pulled my legs up and curled my arms around them tight, trying to stay warm—it was damned chilly in this cave.
I grouched, “So, are you from Ota’ano?”
Cognizant gems normally were.
The radiant minerals sparkled blindingly.
“That’s what I thought.” A small smile touched my lips. It was official. I was whacked in the head. My partners in crime were now beautiful gems. “Do you know Belshazzar?”
Anotherblindingflash of colors.
I put a hand up in front of my eyes, shading my sensitive gaze. “Tone it down a little bit, please. That is far too much excitement for one man.”
Theytitteredagain, blinking in and out.
I rolled my eyes and thunked my head back against the boulder. “Any clue how long the mad queen plans to keep me prisoner?”
The bright stones quieted their hues.
I closed my eyes. “Just great.” I sighed. “We are still in S’Kir, right? We’re not in Ota’ano? Wherever the hell that is.”
They burned bright once more.
“That’s good, I suppose.” I settled in for a long wait. “Bel will find me.”
Chapter Ten
KIMBER
I wandered through the remainsof the beautiful building that had been the temple masters’ quarters. I stood in the hall where I had first seen the magic cascading down from walls and windows, where I had first met the man who was now the bane of my existence.
Well, the living bane, anyway.
No one would ever be the bane of my existence more than my father.
Everything was screwed up now. The queen was missing, probably taken by the mad queen of our land.
The king wasn’t acting rationally, and certain generals and masters had to keep threatening him to remind him that we couldn’t rush to her rescue.
A bang and clatter behind me had me spinning and drawing my sword.
It was only a construction worker walking into the area, and I immediately felt foolish for pulling out my sword on him.
