I felt…rage.
Pushing down the panic, as I was so adept at doing these days, I waited for the familiar numbness to envelope my senses. It didn’t come. It left the rage and fear, and I felt it twist and build in my soul.
We said a hasty goodbye and thanked Hale–Lenna even promised to come visit him in the future. He smiled broadly at that before sending us home with more baked goods than we could carry. As he escorted us to the front door, Hale wished me well, and told me he hoped one day soon, Keerian and I would walk through his bakery door. I extended my hand to shake his, but he grabbed me and pulled me close, hugging me tight.
“Don’t let anyone stand in your way,” Hale said gruffly as he let go.
With a flash of golden light, I waned the three of us home. We had a fight to prepare for, and a lot less time than we anticipated. Hale’s words echoed in my head, and I knew, in my soul, I would burn this realm to ash if it meant I got Keerian back.
Chapter forty-seven
Laurent
“Threefuckingdaysisnotenough time, Esmeray,” Merrick snapped, earning a growl from the Queen facing off with him in Sparrow’s living room. With both gargoyles posturing, wings out, legs braced, snarling at each other, the already small living room felt much more cramped.
Laurent stayed quiet, presiding warily from the purple couch, making sure this fight did not get any more physical than it was already escalating towards.
“I can do thiswithout you,” Esmeray sneered, baring her teeth at Merrick.
Sparrow stomped her foot, shouting over their raised voices. “Enough, both of you.”
She shoved herself between their wings, jabbing a finger into Merrick’s chest. Laurent liked that. After Sparrow’s announcement that both males were welcome in her bed together, Laurent and Merrick had barely been able to look each other in the eye. Laurent was not opposed to the idea–as long as some very clear rules were drawn. But this was not the time or place to bring that up while Keerian’s fate hung in thebalance.
Laurent spoke once the arguing died down. “We need to get into the Opal Palace. I can build a portal past the wards that kicked Esmeray out, but I need to start now if we’re all going.” Laurent directed the statement at Lenna–she was so fragile compared to them. Part of him wanted to urge her to stay here, but she was so integral, needing to activate the Prism and show the Opal Palace’s court what really happened to their King and Queen.
If word got out there, it would travel fast.
Esmeray nodded grimly, shoving Merrick with a wing as she turned towards Laurent. “That works. If you can start the portal now, that would be a huge help.”
Laurent bowed his head, easing off the couch. “Consider it done. We will be ready to depart in three days, and will make it to the Opal Palace before the full moon hits its apex.”
Lenna stepped gingerly towards Esmeray from where she’d been hovering at the doorway while the fighting had gone on, biting her lip between her bottom teeth. “So, I just need to show the same memory that we saw? But without an anchor?”
“Yes.” Esmeray crossed the room, taking the spot Laurent vacated on the couch. “If any of us anchor to you, our consciousness goes into the Prism as well, and we can’t protect you from Adara inevitably trying to attack you. You’ll need to push the memory out of the Prism, and project it into the minds of the assembled court. Sparrow and Laurent are going to help you learn how to do that.” Patting the couch, Esmeray waited until Lenna sat down before she took Lenna’s hands into her own. “I cannot thank you enough for everything you’re doing to help me.” Gratitude flooded Esmeray’s face as she looked around at the rest of them. “All of you–thank you.”
Sparrow waved her off. “Thank us after Keerian is back here, safe and sound, and Adara is locked up tight.”
“Come on then, Lenna, Sparrow.” Laurent smoothed out the wrinkles of his lilac-colored robe. If he had to teach Lenna how to project memoriesandbuild a portal strong enough to slip past wards, he would need every second he could get.
Lenna squeezed the Queen’s hands once more before following Laurent and Sparrow into the dining room. The last words Laurent heard before closing the door were a harsh, “Don’t youdare–” from Merrick before Esmeray disappeared into a flash of golden light.
Chapter forty-eight
Merrick
Merrickpacedthelivingroom, muttering under his breath. Esmeray had disappeared again and he was sick of her coming and going as she pleased without any of them knowing her whereabouts. If something happened to her, they could all just kiss their lives goodbye. Adara would spit roast the lot of them.
And the audacity she had to flip him off before waning–gods, how did Keerian put up with her attitude?
He huffed, rubbing a hand through his rapidly growing beard. From the dining room, he could hear Sparrow’s soft voice instructing and praising Lenna as she worked to project a memory from the Prism into their minds. A twinge of frustration spiked in his blood. Of course, Laurent was there with Sparrow, bonding over helping Lenna. At this point, the only way Merrick felt he may even be blessed to take Sparrow to bed was if Laurent would be there, too. The thought, supposed to irk him, rang hollow.Wouldhe be interested in Sparrow’s offer?
Merrick growled, storming over to the couch and plopping down, his wings rustling as irritation wracked up his spine. Maybe it wouldn’t even matter. The odds of them all coming out of the confrontation with Adara alive were slim to none.
Should he take Sparrow up on her offer now? Would this be his only chance? He teetered on the edge, his thoughts growing darker and darker. Offering himself to Sparrow, knowing Laurent had to build a portal over the next three days, was selfish.Fuck.Washe willing to take Sparrow up on her offer?
The blast of golden light flaring through the room pulled Merrick out of his brooding. Esmeray appeared, panting heavily with that frustratingly wild gleam in her eye. Her light tan breeches were covered in blood, and her nails were rapidly shrinking from razor sharp daggers back to normal, less deadly, points.
“Fun night?” Merrick asked dryly, as Esmeray doubled over, wheezing. “How many beings did you kill?”
