“Pallas, it’s alright.GodsknowIwould understand after everything you’ve been through.”Theypulled further back, andIalmost screamed. “Thiswas too soon.I’msorry.”
“Please,Avlyn, please don’t go.I’msorry,I’lldo better.”Tearsrose in my eyes, andIlooked down at the floor to hide them.
“Hey.”Theygrabbed my chin gently, tracing a thumb over my cheek. “Youdon’t owe me anything.Youunderstand that, right?”
Igrabbed their wrist, leaning into their touch. “Iknow.IknowIdon’t.Maybeyou’re right;I’mnot ready for more.Notyet.But… will you kiss me, please?”
Theireyes softened. “Isthat really what you want?IfIleave now, it changes nothing between us.I’mhappy to wait as long as you need me to.”
Theywould.Itwasn’t my body they wanted.Itwas me.Howlong had it been sinceI’dfelt anything like that?Ileaned forward again so my lips met theirs.Theydidn’t retreat, soIgrasped their cheeks in my hands, tracing the high cheekbones with my fingertips.Ishifted my weight, so they fell back onto the bed with me.Fora moment, our lips parted, and they laughed.
“Itold youIwas way too lenient with beautifulwomen.”
Afterwhat seemed like hours,Icuddled intoAvlyn’schest and listened to their heart slow down as they fell asleep.Thesame sleep never claimed me.Itraced my fingers overAvlyn’scheekbones and soft skin one more time.Theywere absolutely beautiful.Ipressed my lips softly against their cheek and walked over to start on the book of translationI’dbeen toying with earlier.Avlynshifted asIgot out of bed but didn’t seem to wake.Iwalked across the room, my feet light on the floor.Ahand slammed over my mouth, and another wrapped around my waist.
“Niceto see you, gorgeous,”Luxoswhispered in my ear.Itried to scream, but his shadows snaked under his hand and gagged me so no sound could emerge.Istruggled against his grip and threw an elbow back into his stomach likeTorihad shown me.
Itwasn’t that hard of a hit, but he staggered and hissed loudly. “Pallas, enough.”
“Lether go,ShadowWalker.”Isqueaked asIheardAvlynbehind us.
Luxosspun us around.Avlynstood mostly undressed, holding a small dagger, poised and ready to strike.
Luxoschuckled, “Upto your old tricks,Pallas?Ididn’t think they were really your type.”Heclamped his arm tighter around me but moved his hand so his thumb ran underneath my breast.Avlyn’seyes locked onto it, and they snarled. “Tellme,Commander, she always was so good with her tongue.Didshe show you that?”Avlynlunged, butLuxosanticipated the move and dodged out of the way.
Avlynspun in a way that almost defied logic and thrust the dagger intoLuxos’ side.Hegroaned, andIfelt his hot blood spilling down my leg.BeforeIcould even process that, a sword flashed, and more blood sprayed everywhere.Myentire nightgown was drenched, and it wasn’t onlyLuxosblood.
Avlynstaggered away, clutching what remained of their arm.Crimsonrivulets ran between the fingers that clutched where their other hand had been.Iscreamed and screamed, but no sound came out.Darknessand cold overtook me with the smell of death and roses.Avlyn’smangled body disappeared asLuxoscarried me away.
Chapter 58
Tori
“W
herewere the fucking wards?!”Islammed my fist on the table, and the two queens staggered back.
“Tori, this isn’t the place.”Abraxas’ voice was rough.Hisface was pale, but he tried to retain his composure.
“Likehell, it’s not.Theysaid they had wards in place against magical intrusion.Hestill got in here.HetookPallas, andAvlyn…”Itried to not cry;Ireally did.AllIcould see was their arm wrapped in those blood-stained sheets as they’d run to find me.
“Theywon’t be able to fight again,Abraxas.Ifwe had the rest of their arm, maybe… but…”Ithad vanished along withLuxosandPallas.
“PrincessTori, we understand your distress, truly,”QueenXarenisaid. “OurXamanhave done all they can to maintain our wards these last centuries, but none of us are still blessed with the gift of the earth as you are.Trustme, we have much to lose shouldEmperorHadeon’swrath come down upon us as well.”
Ilooked down to seePrinceAapostill lingering amongst the adults of the room, andIsaw the fear all mothers share.
“Whereare your warding glyphs?Ishall restore them.”Junwas pale.Hehadn’t slept at all.Heeven tried to convinceAbraxasto fly him toKoronbefore daybreak.Idon’t know what my lover had said to him, but it had calmed him enough so that he merely paced his room all night instead of running off into the jungle. “Noone else will come to harm because of him.”
Adistraction would be good for him.Igave his shoulder a tight squeeze before he walked off with the ancientXamanfae, heading down the long stone hallway of the river kingdom palace before disappearing from sight.
“Whatof the cenote,KingAbraxas?”Itzayanaasked. “Ourguides are ready to take you.”
Abraxaslooked at me, andIsqueezed his hand.Wehad already discussed it during the night.
Therewasn’t time.Ithad taken us weeks to enter and destroy theTorr.Thecenote wasn’t cursed, but who knew what we would find there?Thechoice was laid before us simply, destroy this site sacred to theRiverKingdomto weakenHadeon’senchantment a fraction, or savePallas.
Abraxashad let his feelings be known. “Wedo not know she is in danger.Mylove, for all we know, she has run toHadeonwith open arms, revealing all she knows to him.”
