“Actually,Hadeon,Ithink it’s time for me to come visit you.”
Chapter62
Abraxas
Imade sure to getToriback to our room as quickly asIcould without arousing suspicion.Iimmediately got her out of her dress and into a comfortable robe, placing her delicately by the fire.I’dmade sure hot tea was ready for us, and added three cubes of sugar for her, wrapping her hands around the warm cup.AfterIwas sure she was secure,Ichanged out of my robes that reeked of the party and came to kneel in front of her.Shewas sipping from the cup slowly, watching the fire, but she hadn’t said anything to me since our performance.
Ilonged to wrap her up in my arms, butIknew that any touch right now might be overwhelming.
“Areyou alright,Tori?”
Shedragged her eyes down to me, but her expression remained blank. “I’mfine.”
“Tori…”Igrowled at her in warning.
Shefinally turned her whole body to me. “Ican’t wait any longer,Abraxas.Ineed to go getJun, now.Ican’t leave him withHadeon.”
“Iknow.”
“Wehave to go as soon as possible; can we make it by next week?”
“Tori, there are still so many things we have to arrange, so much we need to—”
“Iwant him dead,Abraxas.Iwant to feel the life leave his body.”Ihad never seen her so bloodthirsty, she quaked with it. “Butfirst,IneedJun.Ineed him safe.Please,Abraxas.”Herlips quivered andIcouldn’t stop myself from holding on to her then, even if it was just gently wrapping my hands on her thighs.
“Nextweek,Ipromise it.”Itwas too soon.Noteverything would be ready, it would endanger everything.I’dbeen making this plan for close to a century, making sure all the pieces were carefully laid, and pushing it early would risk its utter failure.ButIcouldn’t deny her,Ihad never been able to.
Shedove at me, her lips landing on mine, and she opened to me beautifully. “Thankyou.”Shepushed me down onto the floor, her soft body pressing down on top of me.ButIgently pushed her up.
“Tonight, just lay with meTori?”Icouldn’t deny that every single male part of me had enjoyed our show tonight.Butshe was so much more than that.Shehad risen like the sun on what had felt like the eternal night of my soul, her light burning away that darkness that had for so long consumed me.Ihad never feared the vastness of the sky, but the sheer expanse of what she made me feel often overwhelmed me.Shewas mine, andIwas entirely hers.
Sheled me to our bed, and gently wrapped my arms around her.Ihad almost drifted off whenIheard her say in a small voice, “Whydo you hate him,Abraxas?Younever told me.”
“I’vehad many centuries with him, there are too many examples to name.”
“Whataren’t you telling me,Abraxas?”Asalways, she saw right through me.
“Ihave no secrets from you, little bird.”Liar.Butshe didn’t push me.Shejust nuzzled into my chest, andIheld her until her breath held the steady rhythm of sleep.
Chapter63
Tori
Thatweek was agonizingly slow.Wehad so much to do and the hours passed quickly.Butevery moment seemed to pass so slowly, like fate itself was trying to hold me back.ButIwould not wait any longer.Ihad waited too long already,Iknew that.
Weset off toKoronwith three full cohorts of soldiers.Itseemed suspicious to me, butAbraxasassured me that he never traveled outside his kingdom with less.Athis request, we had left my cohort back inXyr.Abraxashad thought they might be a distraction, and he was right.Icouldn’t focus on our plan ifIwas worried about them.Ihad enough to worry about as it was.
Avlynhad not stayed behind, once again glued toAbraxas’ side.ButIwas happy to have them, knowing someone else would watch over him.
Wearrived, andIhad expected fanfare or at least some kind of greeting.Instead, the streets ofKoronwere empty, doors and shutters locked up tight.Icould feel the people behind them, scared almost to the point of panic.
Abraxasrode in front of our group, the image of the darkDragonKing.Hewore his formal armor, freshly polished, so the scale plates captured all the light around them.Hewore his helmet, the great dragon’s maw surrounding his face in fangs and brutality.Everyone of the soldiers either sat straight-backed or marched, their footsteps and armor creating a cacophonous symphony.
Isat hooded and hunched, the image of the fear that surrounded me.AndIwas fearful, butIwas afraid of failure more than anything else.
Koronreeked in a way thatXyrnever had.Therefuse of daily life was left to litter the streets, great piles of waste and broken spirits lay on every corner.Koronconsisted of three great rings surrounded by high walls, each rising above the next.Theouter ring, where the humans and lesser fae were allowed to live; the inner ring, where the fae nobles lived; and the center, where thePalaceofEmbersstood, the home ofHadeon’sCourtofFlamesand the seat of all power inAdimos.
Wereached the portal between the inner and outer ring, and it was blocked by a gate made of crossed beams thicker than a man’s leg and bound together with metal.Abraxasmerely looked at the guard who sat at the top of the wall, andIheard him shouting frantically down to the men behind it.Athunderous crunching filled the air, and slowly the gate began to rise.Behind,Icould see the great chain being spooled by four men as they lifted the gate.Werode through, and the men lined up at attention asAbraxaspassed.
