I trusted her ability to handle this on her own, but I didn’t trust him. When Ellery and Scarlet walked away and entered a portal, I relaxed a little, and the server set a mug of ale before me.
I drank half of it while trying to calm the frustration and rage churning inside me. I’d just finished the drink when Gaius and Samael strolled inside.
From under lowered lids, I eyed the tall, lean man next to Samael. When the sheriff spotted me, he smiled before winding his way through the crowd to my table. I remained casual, with my legs stretched out before me, but inwardly, I thrummed with tension.
I’d prefer not to talk to either one of these assholes, but they weren’t going to give me that option.
At the bar, Ianto set his tankard down with a thud that drew the attention of those closest to him. Despite standing out from the crowd, he mingled easily with the locals as they gathered around him.
Maybe they believed his size would help protect them, or maybe, though he wasn’t smiling, they sensed his normally jovial nature. The alehouse was more subdued than normal, and a bleak air hung over it, but after what they’d all witnessed, I doubted there would be any laughter in here for days or weeks to come.
Sometimes, when I came here, someone would be singing or playing an instrument, but no one touched the harp in the corner, and the seat beside it was empty. No one felt like singing or smiling.
I contemplated joining Ianto and completely ignoring the two assholes coming toward me, but I had no reason to associate with the giant, and it would raise questions. My inability to do what I wanted, whenever I pleased, was infuriating, but it would all be worth it in the end.
I would bring these fuckers down, because if I failed… if this all ended up being for nothing…
No! I will not fail. That isn’t an option.
I leaned back in my chair and crossed my arms over my chest as Samael and Gaius stopped beside my table. I smiled grimly at them while Samael rested his hand on the empty chair beside me.
“Mind if we join you?” he inquired.
I waved a hand at two of the empty seats as the server returned. “I’ll have another,” I told her.
Samael and Gaius ordered their drinks before settling into two of the empty chairs. The server eyed them warily before scampering away.
Ianto turned in his chair to look at us before facing away again. I kept my eyes away from the giant but saw him move in the mirror.
“That’s quite the show you put on,” I remarked.
“I think the residents of Nottingshire have gotten the point,” Samael said.
I hid my irritation over how casual he was about what they’d helped execute today. I wasn’t sure how many knew what happened to me in Doomed Valley at the hands of the ophidians, but I was sure Samael did.
That information would have spread throughout my father’s circles and most likely all the realm. It wasn’t something I’d ever discussed with my father, and I never would, but it was known what happened to the king of the Shadow Realms brother and all those who survived the ophidians with him.
I was one of those survivors, and Samael knew it. But I wasn’t about to reveal that what I’d seen today had released the many demons and memories I’d tried to bury.
“I’m sure they did too,” I remarked dryly before shifting my attention to Gaius. “Why haven’t I seen you with Samael before?”
Gaius shrugged as the woman returned with our drinks and set them down. He waited until after she left again before speaking.
“After the Ghoul War, I left Tempest to explore some of the other realms. I returned when I learned about the problems happening here again.”
“And how did you hear about that?”
“It didn’t take long for rumors to start once the other immortals learned they couldn’t open a portal into Tempest anymore.”
I lifted my eyebrows as his words piqued my curiosity. It was rare whenanyother immortal entered Tempest.
The last one, before the ghouls, had been the crazed lycan who had to be put down after losing his mate. Our realm wasn’t visited by many, but most amsirah stayed out of realms that weren’t theirs. Just arriving in a realm that wasn’t theirs was a good way to get oneself killed.
But if there were already rumors flying around, and immortals were already realizing Tempest was off-limits, had Brokk and Kaylia learned it too? Not like it mattered if they had heard it; my friends couldn’t do anything to help us.
If Ivan, or any other nobles allowed them to enter Tempest, they couldn’t take me with them when they left. Even if they could, I’d never leave the amsirah in Tempest to this fate.
However, I would get Ellery out of here.
