“Stop hitting me!”Theo hissed, whirling around.
We widened our eyes meaningfully, and realisation dawned on his face.
“Ohh.”He was so loud and obvious.Tavrik and I exchanged exasperated glances, slapping our palms against our foreheads.
While Theo engaged Mira and Kaseer in conversation, steering them ahead, I closed my eyes.Cleared my thoughts, reaching into that place inside me where I’d felt the connection before.I reached and reached, muscles tensing until a dull ache spread through my temples.
Nothing.
I growled in frustration.
Where is this stupid thing?
I met Tavrik’s expectant gaze and shook my head.
“It’s okay,” he murmured, his large hand resting briefly on my shoulder.“At least we know it’s not out this way.”
I nodded, defeated beyond words.
We quickened our pace to rejoin the others.Theo was mid-story when I caught Kaseer’s attention.
“So, what kind of magic do you have?”I asked, matching his stride.
“Me?”He tapped his chest with a finger, exhaling dramatically.“None.”
“What do you mean?”
“Well, apart from my obvious good looks,” he winked, “I don’t have any.Just my strength and immortality.”
“I didn’t know that was even possible.”
Ahead of us, the others lost themselves in conversation, Mira’s head occasionally falling back in laughter.
“There’s many like me,” Kaseer said.“That’s what sets us apart.The more abilities, the more magic, translates to greater influence and rank.”His gaze drifted toward the distant palace.“That’s why our king is, well, the king.”
Curiosity gnawed through my better judgement.
“What powers does he have?”I asked, even though Zaheera told me to not bother with that information.
“Dangerous question…” He paused, letting the moment stretch.“But fine.The king doesn’t just summon fire.Heisfire.He commands infernos with a whisper.Flame that can consume stone and metal alike.His strength rivals all, even my own.”A flash of teeth.“I know, right?Hard to believe.”
I laughed, shoulder bumping against his arm.“What else?”
“The king can shape shadow as easily as he does fire.Smoke answers him like a loyal beast.”His voice dropped lower, forcing me to lean closer.“But that’s not the worst of it.He createsbeingsof living flame—servants born of his will alone.”
A shiver raced down my spine.Zaheera’s warning made sense.Knowing wasn’t helping.Not in the slightest.
“What kind of beings?”
“I’ve witnessed him summon giants forged of pure fire, with molten cores where their hearts should be.”Kaseer’s eyes grew distant.“They obey only him, their creator and master.”
The cold sensation spreading through my limbs intensified.
“His pet is one of his creations, you know,” he added casually.“The snake you hold so willingly.”
“Azmik?He’s… one of Dalkhan’s creations?”I stopped dead in my tracks.“But how?I understand he’s made of fire, but he’s also flesh and blood.I’ve felt his heartbeat myself.”
Kaseer resumed walking, prompting me to follow.“According to stories, Azmik was once an ordinary serpent.He was dying—crushed beneath the hoof of the king’s stallion.”
