“Yes, sir.”
“Ooo, I like that.” He pinched my side, tearing a yelp from my throat.
“Get off me.” I laughed, pushing him away. “So what does you knowing where I am have to do with the ring?”
“Everything. We’re going to charm them.”
Raising a brow, I asked, “How on Dajahim are we going to do that?”
“Take it off and squeeze it in your hands, along with mine.” He placed his snake ring beside mine. I did as he said, holding the cold metal tightly in my palms. “Good. Now close your eyes.” Again, I listened, softly shutting my eyes. Even sore from the smoke, his voice was a beautiful rasp as he spoke. “Picture my snake ring now. Think of the shape, the color, the way it looks on my finger. Then think of me. Picture seeing me in different places, the ring always on my finger. What would it feel like to suddenly not know where I was? Consider the panic, the fear,the worry. Then imagine you calling to my ring. Imagine yours vibrating against your skin, tugging you towards me. Then, picture your shadows leaking out of your skin where the ring touched, wrapping around you in a cool embrace. What would they feel like? Look like? When you have the image in mind, picture them taking you right to me.”
Following his every instruction, I watched the imaginary scene play out in my mind, my shadows icy and strong as they twirled around me like my ring. And when his hands gripped mine as my eyes remained closed, the rings began tomove.I felt the shaking, a sort of vibration beginning. Our magic seemed to sizzle and burn, like the fire from the cathedral.
Opening my eyes, I watched as shadow tendrils danced along our hands, flitting back and forth. And then, as if nothing had happened, the shadows disappeared and our magic ceased. With a heavy breath, I looked up at Azazel. “Did it work?”
“I think so. We’ll have to be separated to test it. I sort of made it up as I went.” He scratched his head, a crooked smile flashing a single dimple.
Shaking my head, I slid the ring back on. “Well, regardless, I love it.”
“I loveyou.”
“You’re going to make me say it over and over again, aren’t you?”
“Oh, I’m never letting it go.”
“In that case, I love you too. Now grab some sandwiches and tell me where my cat is.”
Chapter Thirty-Eight
Azazel
“Quinn told me that one of their servants slit their own throat in his kitchen. I can’t stop having nightmares about doing the same thing to myself.”
-From the journal of Azazel Altair, 9229 AS
Sweat dripped down my temples, my body aching as we worked to salvage two cottages for the others.
Desi had brought us an assortment of supplies, but just clearing out the debris had been tough work, especially when Nova and I were too weak to do much with our magic. As we now worked to secure the structures, I could feel my bones protesting.
To keep my mind off the pain, I began catching everyone up on what was going on.
“The night you all visited me in my cell, I was approached by the leader of the rebel forces,” I said, sipping on water between sentences. Nova watched me from the corner of her eye as she worked, Death twirling between her legs. The others stared openly at me, pausing to listen. “Her name is Maitoza. She has both eadi and shaytan within her ranks, including elites.”
“Elites?” Quinn asked, raising his brows as he leaned against a plank of wood.
I nodded, hammering the nail into the wood I was replacing on what would become Priya and Zura’s cottage. “As far as I’m aware, not many of the rebels possess magic, but it is enough that it helps give them a fighting chance. She wanted me specifically because she wanted her wards and cloaks strengthened. That, and she also needed someone who could kill core family members.”
I let my words sink in, six sets of eyes on me as I dropped the hammer and leaned against the nearly finished wall. Why was it so hard for me to admit this truth? Was it because I didn’t believe I deserved to be absolved? My eyes flicked to Nova, who was already staring at me with a sad smile and half-lidded eyes.
“That night, I wasn’t honest with you all. I didn’t attack Castle Zade. I didn’t kill anyone other than Captain Zade. But…well, I think you know why I did that.”
Though Zura had no clue as to why I’d do such a thing, she didn’t seem to care, her head tilting as she listened and her eyes still soft. Priya, on the other hand, stared at me with her upper lip lifted. For his part, Cal ate a seventh sandwich as he leaned against a large rock.
“Talon was the one who attacked his and Nova’s families.” Nova flinched at my words, but it was Pri who burst.
“And you didn’t think to explain that to us? You didn’t think we had a right to know who killed one of our best friends?” She was furious, her cheeks red and her body shaking. I waited to see if she’d throw a brick at me, or maybe charge my way. All she did though was stare. Stare and stare and stare, her eyes slowly watering.
“I’m sorry. I wasn’t sure who did it at first, and I didn’t want you all getting dragged down with me. When I found out it was Talon, I already couldn’t speak to you all. Plus, what would it have helped? Would it bring Dove back? Would it bring Nova’s family back?”
