After the long days, Iyana would collapse in bed.Exhaustion would stave off the nightmares for a few hours, but they inevitably appeared night after night.She would thrash herself awake to find Emmeric’s body wrapped around her own, feeding her strength and comfort.It didn’t matter that they always began the night in their separate rooms.Inevitably, he’d find his way to her when the dreams worsened, and she’d spend the rest of the night tucked in his arms.
A few more weeks passed in much the same manner.Winter solstice came and went with little fanfare.There was a small party in the palace that they all attended, but Iyana and Emmeric left early.She could tell he was sad, and that night he told her winter solstice was his favorite holiday growing up.He and his parents would always exchange homemade gifts, drink warm cider, and walk through the snow.It didn’t feel quite the same, surrounded by heat and humidity.
In spite of the heat, Iyana had crafted a small fire to hover in front of them, and they drank spiced wine on the couch in silence.Emmeric’s quiet contentment mixed with nostalgia warmed Iyana’s soul.
Chapter 16
Altair
Altairhadbeensittingin the meeting with the heads of houses and Hadar for hours, listening to them drone on and on about how well everything was going with the new human slaves.The slaves Altair himself had brought into the castle for this purpose.He could barely look at humans now without guilt eating away at his soul.
Iyana had done this to him.
A swirl of shadows in the corner alerted him to Scuti’s arrival, but the spy stood silently in place, waiting to be called upon.Rigil’s eyes flicked in that direction, so Altair knew he’d noticed his arrival, but it was another solid hour before he was finally acknowledged.
“Scuti,” Rigil drawled.“What news do you bring where you felt it was pertinent to interrupt our important meeting?”
Important.Altair wanted to laugh.This meeting was all about sucking each other’s dicks and stroking egos.But after being in this position for hundreds of years, he’d learned to school his expressions to hide his true thoughts.
“My lord,” Scuti said, saluting with his fist over his heart while stepping out of the shadows.“I would not have interrupted for anything that was not vital, but I have seen the Aztia on the border of Nyr.”
Altair’s heart stopped momentarily at the news.Iyana was alive.Dread roiled through his stomach at the expression on Rigil’s face.
“Word on the elusive Aztia, at last,” he said, shooting a glare in Altair’s direction.There was a promise of pain in the Alpha Centauri’s eyes.“Who else accompanied her?”
“The Kanaliza, Emperor Zane, Crown Princess Zoara, and the redheaded soldier, my lord.”
Talon is alive?Altair was shocked—he knew for certain his blast of magic had broken Talon’s neck.
Iyana…Clever girl.A smirk found its way onto Altair’s face before he could school his expression and realized Rigil was studying him.
“Since you find this so amusing, general, you can be the one to retrieve them.”
“Yes, my lord,” he said, bowing his head.
“That may prove difficult,” Scuti said, “as they’ve entered Nyr.”
“Altair will simply need to find a way around the wards.Understood?”Rigil’s eyebrow raised, but his shadows belied his calm exterior as they swirled around him.Altair knew better than to push the Alpha Centauri.He’d seen others attempt it and it only ended in pain.
“Understood, my lord.”
“Secure things here in Athusia, and then I expect you to figure out a way to capture the Aztia.I want her alive, though, Altair.Everyone else, I couldn’t care less about.Kill them all if you have to.”
“Yes, Alpha Centauri.”
“You’re both dismissed.”
Altair and Scuti both bowed low, then excused themselves from the room.
Scuti motioned for Altair to follow him into an alcove.Once inside, his shadows created a barrier around the entry, sealing out all light and sound.Altair threw a ball of fire to hover in the air and light the space.Scuti was appraising him silently, his head tilted at a slight angle.The firelight turned his hair into an unsettling color of red—the shade of dried blood.
“What?”Altair asked his cousin.
“What is your plan for the Aztia?”
Altair furrowed his brow.“Exactly what Rigil asked—find her and capture her, alive.”
“And after that?”
