“Hi, Unir,” I said, waving my bloody hand. “Funny story. I met your daughter.”
81
SAMKIEL
Soft footfalls entered the room, followed by a thud and the clanking of blades as something hit the floor. Cameron sighed. I slid my thumb thoughtfully under my lower lip, not looking up from the map. I’d been studying the damn thing for what seemed like forever, hoping it would provide me with some answers. How Nismera had managed to keep her stronghold a secret all this time was a fucking mystery to me.
“Miska helped me wrap them,” he said, unzipping the bag and placing the weapons on the table. There were enough ablaze blades, their handles wrapped, that Cameron, Kaden, and Isaiah could have been strapped from chest to thigh. It was the only thing I could think of that could kill any of her legion members, Otherworld counterparts, or wound her if they got close enough, but as I already told them, Nismera’s death would be by my blade. Feeling Dianna’s pain was more than I could bear. I’d skin Nismera alive for what she’d done.
“Cameron.” I stood up and walked toward him, checking that the door to the study was closed. “I have something for you,” I said, stopping in front of him.
“Okay?” he asked, lifting a brow.
I pulled out a thick silver ring from my pocket and held it out to him.
His head tilted slightly. “Look, I know we’ve been friends forever, but I just don’t see you like that, buddy. I mean, don’t get me wrong, you’re the whole package. I’m just—”
“If something happens to Dianna, use this. It will transport you and those around you far enough away that you can escape.”
“What?”
“I tested it. We’ll need to replant a section of the forest on the north side. It’s strong enough to absorb at least a mile or two. It was the best I could do, given the time I had.”
His hand closed over mine, making a fist. “What are you talking about?”
“It’s a contingency plan,” I said.
“Yeah, I get that, but only if we need a contingency,” he said. “We’re going to get in, get her back, and be home before nightfall, all right? Keep the ring.”
I didn’t lower my gaze from his or pull my hand from his grip. “I’m not asking, and as your king, I’m ordering you. Take the ring.”
“Don’t pull that king bullshit. Don’t pull rank. I’m not losing her, and I’m not losing you. Keep the fucking ring, Samkiel.”
“Cameron.” I placed my other hand atop his, letting him see how truly terrified I was. “I cannot control Oblivion when it comes to her. Please. Take it.”
His lip quivered as if this was asking too much of my smartass, funny friend. My brother, chosen but truer than any blood tie. Our bond had been forged over centuries of loyalty and standing at each other’s backs.
“I—I …”
The sound of someone clearing their throat had both of us turning toward the door. Kaden and Isaiah stood framed in the doorway, watching us. I released his hand, and Cameron took a step back. “Where have you idiots been?” he said, trying to mask with humor, but I could hear the fear and anguish in his voice.
Isaiah shrugged, tossing a condescending smile toward him. “Feeding. We’ll need the energy since it seems we’re going to storm the castle.” His eyes flicked to the map behind me, then back.
I pushed past Cameron, shoving the ring into his pocket before he could rebel, and I didn’t give a shit what either of my brothers thought.
Kaden only walked further into the room and nodded toward the map. “We already searched the Western realms.”
Cameron glowered angrily at me, but left the ring in his pocket.
“That’s what I thought, but the west is vast and there are numerous planets, many of them unexplored. That doesn’t even account for all the moons. She could hide for eons.”
“Nismera,” Isaiah said, emphasizing her full name, still struggling to drop the familiarity of her nickname, “doesn’t hide, especially from you. No offense.”
I shrugged. “None taken. But the fact is, Isaiah, she is hiding. She has gone through a lot of trouble to keep her palace from being found, so maybe you don’t know her as well as you thought. I think she is biding her time, working on her project, and wishing not to be found until she is ready.”
Cameron started tucking blades into the leather straps wrapped across his chest before moving on to the belt around his waist.
Isaiah sighed and stepped closer to the table. Cameron started passing him blades, and Isaiah began tucking them away before glancing up at me again. “We can try, but—”
