But my mother taught me that bravery doesn’t mean fearlessness. In fact, fear is the very thing that makes a person brave. Pushing forward even when things look bleak. And right now? Things don’t look much grimmer than losing all the food and resources that keep our kingdom alive.
I haven’t been here for long, but these are my people. My home. My mama always told me we fight for our own. Our home and family are the only things we have atthe end of the day, so we must protect them at all costs. That’s exactly what I plan on doing.
Even if I’m scared shitless.
Everything happened so fast after I agreed to speak with the Nephilim. I’m not keen on seeing that monstrous creature again, but at least it will be chained and weak. Zephyr hasn’t said anything to me since we’ve left the others in the small meeting room, but he’s looked back a few times, studying me. Is he afraid I’ll run? That I’m too much of a coward to go through with this?
Niko hasn’t left my side. His hand is a gentle force on my back, leading me down a spiral staircase made of stone. Sconces light the path, but it does little to ease the tension in my chest. The further we go, the colder the air is until it’s downright frigid.
“Why is it so cold down here?” My teeth chatter as I ask, hugging my arms around myself as if that will warm me up.
“It’s to keep the prisoners docile.” Zephyr looks over his shoulder. I can’t help but notice he looks completely unaffected by the drastic change in temperature. “We should have insisted you bring a jacket.”
“I’ll be fine.” Probably. Maybe. Hopefully. “Why aren’t you freezing your ass off?” At least Niko looks like he’s suffering alongside me. Just a little less than me.
“I enjoy the cold,” he says simply.
“If it were up to Zephyr, our entire castle would feel like this,” Niko said.
“Let’s not leave it up to Zephyr, then,” I mutter.
I swear I hear Zephyr laugh.
When we finally reach the end of the staircase,the air grows colder and damper, like it’s been trapped down here for centuries. Niko pulls me closer, his hand firm on my waist. It’s quiet, but not peaceful. The kind of quiet that makes your skin crawl, like something is watching from the shadows, ready to pounce the moment you let your guard down. My heartbeat thunders in my ears, and I press into Niko’s side, craving the reassurance of his warmth.
Zephyr leads the way down a narrow corridor carved entirely from jagged stone. The walls drip with moisture, the dim torchlight casting flickering shadows that dance like ghosts. Iron bars line either side of the hallway, forming menacing jail cells with strong doors and iron chains bolted to the walls. Most are empty, though traces of old blood stain the floors, and deep claw marks scar the stone—signs of past horrors long gone but not forgotten. I don’t dare ask what type of creatures once took up residence here.
Then we reach the final cell.
Larger than the rest by at least double, it looms at the end of the hall like a beast waiting in the dark. The bars are thicker here. Something about this cell feels wrong. Ancient. Dangerous. My breath catches as I stare into the darkness beyond the bars, where something stirs.
That’s when I realize we’ve come to the cell of the Nephilim. Zephyr grabs a torch hanging from the wall and shines the light into the cell. A low warning growl greets us, followed by black soulless eyes assessing us. The creature’s chest rises and falls sporadically, hinting at its weakened state. The staggeringly large body barely fits withinits confines.
Despite the fear coursing through my veins, I take a step forward toward the cage. I don’t get very far before both Zephyr and Niko reach out for me, holding me in place. The intensity in their eyes leaves me breathless. They’re scared, just as much as I am, which only increases the worry bubbling inside me.
“Don’t stand much closer. This will do.” Zephyr keeps his body angled in front of me. It’s a protective gesture, one that sends blood rushing to my cheeks. It’s a completely inappropriate time to be swooning over a man who doesn’t want to mate me, but the way he’s willing to protect me sparks something inside of me.
“So, I just talk to it?” I’m still not certain on the logistics of it all. Doesn’t seem like a Nephilim would be willing to give up information.
“That’s what Oziel said.” Niko moves in front of me, joining Zephyr in a wall of protection. Their bodies tense, poised and ready to jump into action at a moment’s notice. They both possess magic, but so does the Nephilim. I fear the outcome if it comes to a battle.
“He said you could speak with the Nephilim in a way we can’t. Maybe some sort of connection,” he continues.
“But how? He wasn’t specific.”
“No, he never is.”
Great. This may be harder than I originally thought. Not that it was going to be a walk in the park in the first place, but I had hoped to have some sense of direction coming into this. I feel ill-prepared for the task at hand, but since we’re here… I have to try.
“Uhm, hi,” I say lamely. Zephyr snorts, and Ipromptly elbow him in the side. “Well, what am I supposed to say?” I frown.
“Maybe skip the pleasantries?” The bastard smirks. How can he find amusement in a time like this? What’s even worse is he makes me smile because he’s just so damn hot when he’s not glaring at something or someone. I mean, he’s hot then too, but this is a different kind of hot.
Focus, Evangeline!
So, I do. I train my eyes on the creature with elongated limbs. Its flesh looks charred, as if this creature crawled out of hell. What I assume were once wings span the back wall, a few black feathers remaining. The Nephilim’s dead stare meets mine, sending shivers down my spine that have nothing to do with the frigid cold in the air. Its gaze bores into me. Pain. Anguish. Wrath. It consumes me. I feel a tug, an inexplicable pull that I can’t ignore.
I move closer, and the creature screams. Zephyr and Niko both clasp their hands over their ears, but I push forward. I can’t explain this feeling, but I feel connected to this creature. And it doesn’t like it. The less I resist the pull, the angrier the creature gets. Until all I know is unbridled indignation.
