I summoned the essence. The air crackled and hissed softly.
“Poppy!” Kieran lurched toward me.
Casteel was faster, firmly wrapping a hand around my arm. My gaze shot to his.
What are you doing?he said through thenotam.
The essence pulsed hotly, pressing against my skin as the hissing grew. Silver flashed in the room, the scent of burnt air filling the cella.
I need to see if it was her,I told him.If it was, I will kill her after I kill Kolis. Again.
His grip tightened as he stepped into me and clasped my cheek. “You need to calm.”
“I am calm.”
His head tilted slightly, brows rising.
“I’m not going to Pensdurth,” I told him. “I’m going to Iliseeum.”
CHAPTER 52
POPPY
Kieran’s brows slashed together and then smoothed out. “Nyktos.”
“Nyktos has to know if her soul is still in the Abyss.” I spun toward Attes. “Right?”
HeAttes nodded.
I twisted back. “We can shadowstep there.”
Kieran tensed.
“It’s just stepping through—”
“We are not having this conversation again,” Kieran said.
I sighed and refocused on Casteel. “We don’t have much time and need to discuss this stuff with Kolis. But—”
“You’re right,” Attes interrupted. “Wedon’thave much time, and I’m not sure what we do have should be spent on this.”
“It’s a good thing no one asked your opinion,” Casteel replied as he smoothed a thumb over my cheek. Lowering his head, he brushed his lips over my forehead. “Let’s do it.”
The line of my mouth relaxed as Attes muttered something behind me. He understood, and the relief was instantaneous. It almost—almost—loosened the knot of dread in my stomach.
“You think you can do it?” Kieran asked. “Shadowstep into Iliseeum?”
I lifted a shoulder. “If I can shadowstep to the Continents, I don’t see why not.”
“The Continents?” Attes asked.
“I’ll have to tell you about that later.”
“I’ll remain here with these two since I assume you’re,” Kieran told Attes, “going with them.”
“Why the fuck not?” Attes sighed.
“I’m sure that’s the only reason,” I said to Kieran.
