I opened my mouth wide and sank my fangs into his warm skin, his blood already dripping into my mouth—not asking him, either, if I could bite him, and not giving a shit. My eyes rolled back into my head with thepowerful,odd blood, my gulps gluttonous and heavenly. His lifeblood coated the ache in my stomach, leaching away some of the agony.
I whimpered when he ripped his wrist away from my mouth, and I hastily licked my lips for any missed drops.
“That is enough,” he murmured, petting the top of my head tenderly. “It will tide you over until help arrives. Drink your fill then.”
I ran my tongue over the top of my mouth, tasting his blood wholly, still unable to move. “I think you are an illusion.”
His full lips quirked up on one side. “And why is that?”
“Your blood tastes like sunshine, nothing I have ever sipped before.” I squinted up at him. “What do I call you? Mr. Delusion?”
The man resituated himself, sitting down fully on the wet cave floor and stretching his legs out in front of him—up near my head so he could face me. “You may call me Oz.”
“Do you have a horse of a different color?” I blinked repeatedly. “I’d like to see that in real life.”
My delusion stared down at me, blankly. “I’m not entirely sure what you mean. But there are blue horses where I am from, unlike here or on earth.”
I grinned drunkenly. “Ah, so you are the wizard behind the curtain. It’s nice to meet you, Mr. Delusion.”
Mr. Delusion snorted softly, shaking his hooded head at me. “It’s lovely to meet you, too.Finally.”
I managed to quirk up one eyebrow. “Been waiting a while to meet the queen lying in her own shit, huh?”
He pinched his fingers together and winked. “A little while.”
“Well, let me introduce you to my friends,” I slurred. “Gems, this is Mr. Delusion. Mr. Delusion, meet all the stones.”
The cave’s wall erupted in frantic, happy shimmers, saying hello to the illusion.
“Yes, I am happy to see you, too, you little criminals.” Mr. Delusion peered around the cell, a grand smile radiating on his features. His gaze snagged on mine, commenting, “I’ll tell you something you don’t know, Gwen. When the gate from Ota’ano first opened, creating S’Kir, a few wayward pieces of the planet decided to defect to this realm. Like the protective gems here keeping you company. And the mist that protects this island. I saw through your blood that youlovedthe mist.” He chuckled softly.
“Hmm.” I blinked slowly. “Let me guess. You are from Ota’ano, too? My delusion is getting even better.”
His robust laughter ricocheted off the gems, making them dazzle with light. “Why, yes. I am from there. That is a very keen observation in your current state.”
I bounced my eyebrows once. “I’m smart like that.”
“Yes, you are,” he said, flatly. “So put the damned necklace back on when you see Belshazzar again. It was foolish to take it off simply because you are scared.”
I turned my attention to the gems above me, watching their beautiful sparkles. “I wish I could see Bel now. And find the damn Breaker. Go home.”
“You have certainly already found the Breaker. Kimber is that person. Did the name Lady Stormbreaker not give you a hint?”
Shehadbeen called that a few times.
My blink was really slow. “That bitch.”
Mr. Delusion shrugged his shoulders. “You both played one another to get what you wished, and I believe she plans to hold to her bargain.”
“She’d better,” I rasped, swallowing hard.
My stomach began to cramp again.
“More blood?” I peeked at him. “Please? It has been a long time.”
“Thirteen days. I know.”
Still, he didn’t bite into his arm again.
