Avlynjumped up. “Yes, sir.”
Iplaced a hand on their shoulder. “I’mproud of the fae you have grown into.”
Theyrolled their eyes. “Abraxas,I’mover five hundred years old.”
“Stilljust a fledgling in my eyes, but it’s time for me to let you soar.”
Afaint, dark blush rose in their cheeks, but they controlled it quickly.
“Whendo we leave?”
“Ijust received a falcon back.Thearmy has mobilized from their position in theReach.Reinforcementscome fromXyr.Atsunset, we will fly.”
Avlynmoved awkwardly, andIrealized they had intended to smack their chest with their hand, the one that was no longer there.Igripped their shoulder instead. “Let’sgo kill this bastard.”
Chapter 60
Pallas
Luxosabandoned me in an unused room before disappearing.Iscrambled to the door and found it locked, of course.Islammed my fists into it and screamed.Longdark tracks of blood followed my fingers down the wood of the door asIslunk to the ground.Avlyn’sblood.
Icouldn’t breathe.Withevery inhale, that cloying, metallic scent caused me to spiral inward.It’sall your fault.
Mystomach heaved as the creature inside me yowled, begging me to get out, butIcouldn’t.Instead,Ishoved her away and caged her in the very depths of my soul untilIfelt absolutely nothing.I’dgotten good at it.Mybreath steadied, andIthought of nothing.NotAvlyn, notJun, notTori, not the pain that was sure to follow.Iwalked into the void and let it swallow me whole.
AsIsat in the corner, knees hugged to my chest, the door swung open.Twoguards entered.Theygrabbed my arms to haul me up.Ibarely felt their fingers dig into my flesh as they dragged me to another room.Istumbled forward when they pushed me inside, and two slaves greeted me in tattered, greyrobes.Theirhoods hid their faces, butIwouldn’t have seen them anyway.Iwas pulled towards the round wooden tub that filled most of the space.Theyyanked off my clothes, andIdidn’t feel embarrassed or flinch away.Ijust let it happen likeIalways did.
Istepped into the tub, and they poured pitchers of water over me; the dark red blood swirled with the bath water in the most interesting of patterns.Wasthat my blood?Icouldn’t seem to care.Ilet my fingers dance through the shifting liquids, and they felt as if they belonged to someone else.
Theslaves washed me, scrubbing every inch of my skin with harsh, abrasive sponges.Itwas as if they tried to wash away any trace of theDragonKingdom.Asif my taste of freedom could be scrubbed off.Injust a few minutes,Iwas blank and sparkling.
Theyhauled me out, toweled me dry, and pulled a flowing white gown over my head.Thesplit sleeves were so long they dragged on the floor, and the train of the gown seemed to float behind me.Iglanced at myself in the mirror as a human girl braided my hair.Iwas perfect and pure.Thevery image of the emperor’s consort, ethereal beauty beyond compare.Icould hardly see that uncaged beast hiding behind my eyes.
Theyled me down the halls of the palace that had been my home for centuries, the guards following close behind.Theypushed open the door to my room.Hadn’tIbeen sharing it with someone?
Ientered, and a man turned around to greet me.
“Pallas, my love!”Hadeonswept over to me, andIfelt my whole body flinch, but there was no pain, only his arms wrapping around me.Hishand landed on the back of my head, holding me to his chest.Hisother held my waist tight.Hesmelled the same, like the golden sun and a warm summer thunderstorm.Hesmelt likehome.
Don’t!Thecreature inside me hissed, but my arms came up and wrapped around his waist, and he let out a long, contented sigh.
“Iwas so worried about you, my darling.CommanderLuxoshas been punished for his incompetence in retrieving you sooner.”Hecupped my face in his hand gently, forcing me to look up into those deep violet eyes.
Icouldn’t help tears from rising to mine. “YourEminence…”
Hegave me a soft smile. “Soformal,Pallas.”Hepulled me into a soft kiss, his lips moving gently against mine.Hishand pressed into my lower back, so our bodies fit together as they always had.Thecreature in me hissed, but the part of me that was weak always won out.Icollapsed into that embrace, into his affection.
Helifted me up and moved us towards the bed, and my heart nearly stopped, but he simply set me down on it and tucked me in.Hishands wrapped the blankets around me as if there was nothing more precious to him in the entire world.Hesat down beside me and brushed the hair away from my face, his eyes never leaving me.
“You’vebeen through so much, my love.Youneed some rest.Tomorrow, we can discuss your time away.”Heran his finger over my forehead gently again before planting a soft kiss there. “I’mso happy to have you home,Pallas.”
Hegot up and left without another word.Myheart fluttered, remembering when he had always been gentle with me.
Mycreature hissed and clawed, butIslammed the cage shut on her, rolled over, and fell asleep in my own bed.
Chapter 61
Tori
