Maybe he left a note, some sort of explanation. But the kitchen counters are bare, and there’s no note anywhere. His jacket lies on the couch, and I reach for it, turning pockets inside out as I search for any clue.
The handheld mirror clatters out.Why is he carrying this around?
I grab a dagger and draw blood, smearing it over the mirror. “Show me Asmo.”
The reflection shows walls of red clay, of packed sand…Squall’s End? No. The tunnel from Asmo’s childhood. The cave where he and Marik used to escape to.
Asmo stoops and flings open the chest. Dust flies as it creaks open, revealing an assortment of blankets, novels, parchment, pens, and other seemingly random items. He pulls out a stick, a candle, and two small…rocks or dice, I can’t tell. He sets the unlit candle on the ground and uses the stick to draw a circle around the candle.
I set the mirror down, grab my jacket and shove my shoes on. If Asmo can funnel out of here, I must be able to. I concentrate, willing myself to be at the cave’s entrance. I imagine myself stepping through, imagine my foot landing on the red clay of the cliffside. I feel the wind picking up, but it struggles. I grit my teeth andpush.
It flickers, and I stumble onto the cliffside. I throw a sound barrier up and enter the cave, my stomach twisting as I follow the path. Something feels wrong.
Asmo sits in front of the circle, his back to me. The candle in the center of the circle blazes, orange flames burning several feet in the air. I’m six feet away, and I can feel the heat that radiates from the flame.
Darkness hangs in the air like a blanket made of ink—thick and tangible—but the candle remains burning bright.
“Osseris,” a deep, otherworldly voice whispers behind me, hot breath tickling my ear, sending shivers down my spine. My stomach hollows. The sound does not come from behind me, but echoes throughout the cave.
No.
“Where is my brother.” It is not a question, but an order.
The voice is ancient and filled with a hollow rattle. “The prince is in the Woodland Kingdom.”
Asmo scowls. “His body is, but his soul is not.”
“You know where he is, High King.”
“Tell me,” Asmo commands.
The voice inhales. The air in the cave whooshes toward the circle. A chill crawls through me. “Your brother is in a grave in the place where you were born to rule, Asmodeus.”
Asmo hisses a curse. Like the osseris confirmed his suspicions.What is he hiding from me?
I drop the sound barrier and step forward. “Where?”
The osseris turns slowly, fixing its eyes on me. Eyes made of galaxies, black holes, vortexes swirling into nothing. “Ah, she speaks.”
Asmo whirls to me, his mouth falling open, then slamming shut. His face drains of color.
“Congratulations on your bond,” the osseris says, the corners of its mouth pulling into a cruel grin. “Bold of you to reveal it to me.”
I keep my gaze on this thing, despite the way my flesh crawls as its eyes swirl and rove over my body. “Where is Marik?”
“He is in his rightful place. Where he was born to rule, just as your mate was. And now that you’ve accepted the bond, as are you.”
A bead of sweat rolls down my spine, but I feel cold. “Where?” I command.
It gives me a knowing smile and the swirling vortexes in his eyes still. Its teeth are made of sharp, rotting bones. “Hell.”
Chapter 52
MAE
Asmo extinguishesthe flame and the connection with the osseris dies. He stands, staring at me like I’m a scared animal that might run away.
Who are you?
