I turn on my heel and head for the exit, tension crackling in my spine like lightning. What a freaking waste of time. Another vague speech. Another warning wrapped in a riddle. Why can’t anyone just give me a straight answer?
I’m halfway down the corridor when I hear a scream. “DAISY!”
I whirl around just in time to see Elyistria sprinting toward me, her gown billowing behind her like a wave of moonlight, her guards not far behind.
Her face is paler than normal, a panicked expression etched across her beautiful face. “The Divine Six are here. Where is Korithax?”
My blood runs cold. “He’s in our room.”
She grabs my hand—her grip almost painful—and a blinding flash envelops us before I can scream. We appear in the bedroom not a moment later. I stumble slightly from the jolt of magic coursing through me, my heart thudding in my chest. Korithax is already on his feet, storming towards us. His eyes zero in on Elyistria’s hand, still gripping mine painfully.
“Get your hands off her!” He snarls, yanking me away from her. His body moves in front of mine, full of rage and protection.
“Korithax, you need to leave. NOW!” She shouts.
“Excuse me?” He snaps.
“The Divine Six are here,” I whisper, dread crawling up my spine. “They found us.”
His face drains of colour. “What the fuck… did you tell them we were here?” He growls at Elyistria.
Her expression flashes with offence. “Of course not. If I had, I wouldn’t have come running to your queen like this. You need to go. They want her dead.”
Her words hit me like a blow to the chest. I knew it. I knew this would happen.
“But—” I begin, “maybe if we just explain that I’m becoming immortal. That was their problem, right? That I was mortal?—”
“No!” They both bark in unison.
“It doesn’t matter,” Elyistria says. “They won’t listen. They won’t hesitate. The moment they see her, they will strike. You must leave. Now.”
Korithax is already grabbing the pack from the bed, his movements sharp.
“Thank you,” he says quickly. “I won’t forget this.”
“Go,” she says. “When it’s done, come straight to me. Do you understand?”
He nods once, then pulls me into his arms. Shouts erupt from the corridor outside, and Korithax doesn’t wait a minute longer. With one last look at Elyistria, he teleports us out of the realm of light, straight into the unknown.
Chapter 46
Korithax
The second we land, I finally let myself breathe.
Not because we’re safe—we aren’t. But because we’re no longer within arm’s reach of the Divine Six. And that has to count for something.
I have no idea how the fuck they found us, but hopefully they have no idea where we’re heading, and why. Even if they did, I didn’t think they’d follow us here. This is the only realm they don’t bother with. They gave up a long time ago on trying to police this realm, and I couldn’t fault them.
“Are you okay?” I ask, catching Daisy before she stumbles. Her legs wobble from the sudden transition, but she steadies herself, clinging to me like I’m the only stable thing left in her world. She nods, taking a deep breath. But the second her eyes take in our surroundings, they widen. And unlike the other realms, it’s not a pleasant look that follows after.
“This is Noxthrallia?” She whispers.
“Yes,” I answer grimly. “Welcome to the final realm of our journey.”
A shiver runs down her spine, and I feel it in my bones. The atmosphere here sinks into the skin like rot—thick, humid, and laced with something so heavy and dark it makes the hairs on my arms rise. It’s a realm that doesn’t just want to destroy you; it wants to know what you ache for first.
“Gods,” she murmurs, eyes scanning the murky bogs and twisted trees. “This place makes Hell sound like a fairytale.”
