My mother glances at me and makes her way back to me. She places her hands on my cheeks and whispers, "Our family will be together again. Fight hard, my son."
I lean down, pressing my forehead to hers. I inhale deeply. This is my mother. I know what she's capable of, the sacrifices she's made for her country and her family. But it doesn't hurt less to watch her ride south without me. The fear this is the last time I will see her creeps into my heart and squeezes. But she taught me to be strong. If there's one thing I can do, it's fight.
"Make sure Ronan doesn't do anything stupid," I chuckle and pull away from her.
She smiles and nods before joining Thrane and Artax.
The six of us mount our dragons and spear into the sky. Seraxes and Drexel follow closely behind me and Sylvane, the first sign of life they've had since their riders were captured. With our group headed east, and Thrane's group south, all I can do is mutter a prayer that this isn't the last time we see eachother. War has come sooner than we thought. But vengeance will be ours.
Thirty - Nine
Shaye
Demons come for me and Nyx the moment we dock. His wounds are beginning to heal, but Nyx has barely opened his eyes in days. They've continued to forcesugovandown our throats,renderingus powerless, and Ihaven'tseen Bastian since he stopped Vesper from torturing Nyx. ThesecondI do seehim,I will need to get his attention. Hecan'tgothrough withopening the portal.He'swalking into a trap.
We are moved from our cell to a cage on wheels. The desert sun is scorching and blinding.We'renot docked in Midori. The ship is anchored just off the shore ofendlessdesert.
It takesnearly anhour on foot before we see alonestructure in the distance. A stone archway with reflective glass in the center.There'sno doubt about it. This is the portal they rebuilt to open a gateway to Malvolio.
"Bas," I whisper when he gets close enough, garnering his attention. His eyes slide to Vesper leading the way beforemarching over to my cage. Hemaintainsa healthy distance as we move,probably suspectingI'llattemptto grab him.
"What?" His voice is gruff, unfeeling.He's pale and sickly looking, but his physical condition is quickly shoved to the back of my mind.
"This is a trap," I keep my voice down. "Drogonis going to kill me and Nyx."
He furrows hisbrow. I might beimagingit, buta protectivenessflashes in his eyes. "I will make sure he doesn't harm – "
"You're not fucking listening." The harshness in my tone swallows his tired and delusional beliefs. I curl my fingers around the bars, pressing my body against them. "Drogonwill give you the option to serve him or die with us."
"You're lying. Who told you that? You are trying to confuse me – "
"I'm not lying!" I hiss. "If you use my blood to open the portal, we're all dead. The Soul Eater you sent to patch Nyx up told me."
Bastian freezes. "I made a deal with Vesper," he finally speaks. "If I help them reforge and open the portal, the Demon King will reward me in his new world. I will beKingof Midori." He reaches for my hands, but I retract them. "You will be my queen. We can rule tog -"
"Bastian, do you hear yourself?" I shake my head. Whatishe notunderstanding? "You were already going to be king once you married me. Youdidn'tneed to do this. You stilldon'thave to do this. We can escape," I rasp, clearly grasping at the last remnants of hope he will course correct. "We can run away – "
"I will ensure the safety of our people during the treacherous times ahead," he cuts me off,truly believinghe'ssome kind of savior to the sand lands. "Our enemies will pay for everything they've done to us."
"What have the other kingdoms done to us?" Iquestion,harshly. "My father cut ties with everyone after the Great War. He tried to kill General Naziri, but he escaped with all the sand dragons and magic wielders. We turned our backs on our allies. Not the other way around. Any suffering our people have endured has been our own fault."
He shakes his head.I'mnot getting through to him. I can see him shoving me out.
Our caravan stops.
"Bas, don't do this."
"It's already done." He snaps his fingers, and two Soul Eaters approach the cage. "Bring her."
They obey without question, unlocking me from my shackles and dragging me before the portal.
Bastian stands, feet shoulder-width apart and nods. One demon forces me to myknees,the other grabs my arm holding my palm up. Vesper tip-toes closer, a grim smile on her face, her blade in hand.
"Maybe we should slit her throat and spill all her blood," she suggests, tilting her head to the side like a curious bird. "Just in case."
"Just her palm," Bastian insists and it fills me with indescribable rage.
"Too much of a coward to slice my hand yourself, Bastian?" Itaunt.
