“Probably the former, but never the latter. Too many others willing to do that for me.” Kaziel grinned at him. “At any rate, killing an Adoni on an errand for your mother seems a bit reckless when we’re supposed to be keeping a low profile. And to think, Aeron and Nick accusemeof being rash.”
“You are rash, my friend. So rash, it’s actually creeping down your neck.”
“Those are the hives I get from being this close to you when you’re doing something profoundly stupid.” Kaziel glanced down the hallway to make sure no one else was around. “Damn shame to be this near to your mother and she didn’t recognize you.”
“You’ve no idea. But I wouldn’t put anything past her. The main thing for now is that we find Blaise and let him and Emrys know what’s going on. You take Beau and find them.”
Kaziel hesitated. “What about you?”
“We still need more information forourMerlin. I’m after Maddor to see why my mother was so insistent on him. That’s not like her. Which means there’s something peculiar there, and I intend to find out what.”
Kaziel inclined his head to him. As he started away, Varian grabbed his wrist and pulled him into a dark alcove.
They’d barely vanished into the curtained shadows before Morgen’s two newest paramours came down the hallway, grumbling.
“I wish Brevalaer was still here. No one else can handle her when she’s in this foul a mood. How did he manage it for so long?”
“Brevalaer? How did Kerrigan? I swear I can barely walk.”
They paused right in front of their hiding spot so that they could examine each other. “You don’t think we’re infected, do you?”
The dark-haired Adoni bit his lip. “I hope not. They’re feeding the infected to the gallu.”
Cursing, they went on their way.
Varian didn’t move for several heartbeats as he digested that news. “Morgen’s working with the gallu? Why?”
“No idea. But I’m sure nothing good can come of it.”
Something cold brushed against Varian. Quicker than he could think, he drew his dagger and lunged.
The shadow beside him solidified into a man who quickly disarmed him, and tsked. “Careful, coz. I require dinner before someone daggers me.”
He rolled his eyes at the shadowborn demon. Just above average height and well built, Shadow had eyes of steel. And like his very soul, his shoulder-length hair that he wore pulled back into a short ponytail was neither light nor dark, but strands of varying shades that were trapped squarely between his two dueling natures. The man was fearless as a rule, hence his personal motto that he feared no evil, for he was the most evil thing that stalked the darkness and called the deadliest night home. “Careful, demon. You tread on treacherous ground to be sneaking up on me.”
“Sorry about that, but your Merlin sent me to you with news. Emrys and Nimue have fallen.”
Varian gasped at the last thing he’d expected to hear. “What do you mean?”
“Apollo bid his demons assault them. He’s closing the noose around the dragons, trying to get to the dragonstone first. Meanwhile, you have to get the tablet from Morgen before she finds Falcyn’s stone and resurrects Mordred. Otherwise, all is lost.”
“That’s what I was trying to do when you rudely barged in.”
Shadow growled at him. “And saved your life. Let’s not forget the good part.”
“Are you done harassing me?”
“Not even close.” He flashed a cocky grin at Varian. “She also wants you to hand over a portal key.”
Varian laughed. Until he realized it wasn’t a joke. “Is Merlin crazy?” Without a key, he’d be trapped here.
“Probably. She has been inhaling fumes again in her library. However, without Emrys around, the dragon and crew are stuck in the Valley and they have no way to walk through the portals, back to their world. She wants me to escort them through and make sure they’re safe.”
“Can’t you get them through on your own?”
He shook his head. “Shadowalkers can only pass through alone. Without a key, they’d be trapped and forced to wave at me on the other side.”
“Well, that sucks.”
