Chapter Twenty-Two
Sitri let out a growl of frustration as he pushed himself off the bed. “Whatever he wants, it better be pretty damn important.”
“No kidding,” I sighed.
The robe Sitri brought me last night lay discarded on the ground. I snatched it, slipping it on while he donned his clothes and armor. Sitri opened the door, bathing the room in color and revealing Apollo’s frame in the doorway.
He took in the chambers, nostrils flaring, studying the scene before his attention returned to Sitri. “I’m not even going to ask.”
“Good,” the Prince shot back. “It’s none of your business. What is it? Quickly now, if you will.”
“Bronwen found something. Something big.” Apollo shook his head, and his face hardened. “Vapula’s army is mobilizing, and the gorge won’t slow him down for long. You’ve got at most a fortnight before they try to take the city. I have the messenger imps prepared to fly, and can send them to recall all forces on your order.”
My heart sank. I knew we’d have to deal with Vapula, but I hadn’tthought the day would come so soon.
Sitri’s muscles tightened, and his hands balled into fists. “Send the imps,” he ordered, “and send Bronwen to my chancery. What of Mara? Has she been found?”
“Well… About that. She was seen departing Lantyca last night, heading north. Towards Vapula. I sent five parties equipped with hounds to track her. Currently, there are no leads, and one party has failed to report.”
Sitri let out a sigh, then turned back to me. Frustration creased his face in heavy lines. There was no telling if it came from Mara’s escape, Vapula’s assault, or the unfortunate timing of both.
“You are one of us now, darling. This concerns you, too,” he called to me. “Come and join the rendezvous once you’re presentable. It’s time we got to work.” With that, Sitri whipped around, followed Apollo out of the room, and the door closed behind them.
I once again sat alone in the dark, but the darkness didn’t scare me anymore. I could still see. Rather than being a helpless human, blind without my light, I’d become one of Hell’s horrors who stalked in shadows. It would take time to adjust to my new senses, but I already knew this night-sight would be a highlight of my metamorphosis.
When I was steady enough to stand, I made for the dresser on the far side of the room and pulled it open. Then I paused.
These were women’s clothes.
Not just any woman wore these clothes, either. They’d been tailored for royalty, for a Princess, decorated in frills, embroidered with metallic threads, and coated with centuries’ worth of dust. Gowns and dresses, formal wear, and night attire. Heels. Purses and shawls. Fascinators and even a silver crown. All of it was made of the highest quality and left here to decay.
I shook my head and started digging through the mess. There would be plenty of time to press Sitri about this later. I settled for the most unassuming outfit I could find—a formal co-ord sewnfrom heavy fabric, decorated with embroidered roses and thorns.
The clothes fit me well enough, and after weeks in plain pants and a tunic, choosing my own outfit felt like a hard-earned luxury. Satisfied with my attire, I left the royal chambers and slipped into the light of the hallway.
When I arrived at the chancery, the door hung ajar. I entered to find Sitri and Bronwen both seated inside. The Prince held a pen in his hand. Disorderly piles of scrolls and parchment coated his desk so thickly that I hardly saw the wood beneath.
“There’s the demoness of the hour.” Bronwen shot me a counterfeit smile. “Glad you decided to show up, Tenderfoot.”
The difference in the way she addressed me left me reeling. Overnight, I’d gone from being property to being her equal, from being a liability to an asset. Had Sitri told her about my transformation, or did she see it, even with my shoulder covered? Were my eyes now the same shade of crimson as hers? The mansion didn’t seem to have any mirrors, so I wasn’t sure just yet. What she must have seen was the bite Sitri left on my neck. It was proof of what had transpired between us, exposed for the world to see.
I tried not to let the idea bother me as I took the last empty seat. “I came as soon as I could. What’s going on?”
“Our good friend Vapula’s on the move,” Sitri said with a scowl. “He wants to end this once and for all. He included special orders, too. Something about capturing a runaway human.”
I swallowed and crossed my hands in my lap. “He doesn’t know you bound me.”
“Precisely,” Bronwen said. She kicked her legs onto the desk and held up an envelope, pinched between her fingers. “He thinks his time is running out to claim you, that you’ll fade if he doesn’t act fast—and he doesn’t suspect my involvement. Herein lies an opportunity.”
“The specifics, Bronwen, if you would.” Sitri unfurled a canvas scroll marked with buildings and streets. A map of Lantyca.
Bronwen swung her feet off the desk, squirreled the letter away, and leaned forward. “Expect six legions at the northern gates, a mix of engineers, imps, and infernals. They break the walls, torch a few barracks, slaughter demons in the streets.”
She traced her fingers along the roads near the top of the map, gouging a handful of boxes with her nails. I winced with every one she marked. “That’s where this gets interesting. You have one legate left, Sitri. Vapula expects you to lead the defense. To catch you off guard, an additional eight legions are to wait hidden behind the southeastern wall, far from the city’s gates and out of view from the ground in Lantyca.
“He’s got amalgamate beasts. Lots of them—the kind with wings, and thoroughly trained to ferry in his troops. When they come, the Twin Winds will fly in on their backs. The chaos in the streets will draw you out, they lock the city down, and Zephyr is crowned as Prince. Easy work for Vapula’s second and third.”
Sitri drew a sharp breath, and I swallowed. So many unfamiliar words and names, things I didn’t understand. But Sitri’s pursed lips, his furrowed brow, and stormy silver eyes? I understood those just fine.
