The barrier to the Abandon.
The Lost Sea.
The Meadows.
Hellveilious.
Some random office.
The Goddess of Creation’s gardens.
The Neutral.
My men.
A shuddering breath erupts out of me and the Amethyst tumbles to the floor as I clutch my racing heart. Countless seconds and deep breaths pass while I blink my eyes.
“I was right. I was on the right track.”
A surprised laugh bursts out of me as I crane my head back and peer out the moon window.
“Hell yeah, Messenger. Feels good to do the right thing, doesn’t it?”
I don’t wait for a response. They might smite my ass for my taunting.
My power wraps around me and the Amethyst. I command it to send the stones home while I land outside the Athenaeum doors. I don’t let the unwelcoming dead of night deter me from slinging the double doors open and rushing inside.
My steps slow as I take in the haunting silence and the incredibly low lights. I turn in my place, scouring the shadows that dance throughout the rows of shelves. After more time than I’d like to admit passes, I finally convince myself they aren’t real. Just tricks of the flickering lights.
“Hey! You can’t be—”
My shriek blares through the ginormous empty space. It’s echoed by the sound of a body hitting the ground.
“Shit, shit, shit,” I mutter, leaning over the god who’s out cold on the floor. “I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to knock you out. I don’t like being snuck up on, though.”
He doesn’t budge. Even as I pat his cheek and try to rouse him.
Damn it. Ellian isn’t going to be too happy with me.
I step over him, still apologizing as I race toward Amick’s office. My body slips through his door and my feet slam to a halt.
The air is both knocked out of me, and my lungs fill to the brim with his scent. My lids drift shut as I inhale sharply and release a shaky exhale.
Then the sensation…disappears.
Fuck. I don’t like that at all.
My fingers glide over his pristine desk. I believe this is the first time I’ve ever seen it completely clear. There are no books, parchments, nothing over its surface. Something about that sits like lead in my gut.
It was like he knew he wouldn’t be returning to it for a while.
Confusion and worry attempt to war throughout my chest as I open his drawers and find them empty.
“No. This can’t be right. Did someone…”
My thoughts trail off when I notice my chair is gone.
Where the fuck is my chair?
