Page 56 of Where We Belong

He shrugs one shoulder and closes his eyes, settling back against the wall. I growl, frustration building in my chest. That’s my signal that speaking with Nyk is about to become fruitless.

“He is right. Go, Agnimitra. Get the ritual information and free us.”

Time slows, and rage-coloured smoke leaks from my pores.

“You dare speak to her?” The tendrils slip through the bars of the cell and take the shape of a swirling dragon. It slams Theron into the wall with its tail. “You dare look at her? You dare instruct her?” I push the command from my body, and the dragon splits into a hundred whips, lashing down on him. His cries will be heard from the barracks. I don’t miss the way Ashley retreats, eyes wide, mouth parted. I reach for her shaking hand and dissolve the smoke, forcing the storm inside me to subside as her erratic heartbeat bleeds into mine.

“Go. Before it’s too late.” Theron wheezes before passing out.

“It can’t hurt Ash. At the very least, you’ll get to see their city. It’s lovely.” Nyk says slowly, eyes still closed, likely avoiding mine. Then, the first real smile I’ve seen from him tonight spreads across his face like wildfire. “Little star,” his smitten words drip with admiration as light footsteps approach, along with the smell of lilac and metal

.

Chapter 51

Ashley

One glorious day, she arose from the flames,

a sword and shield in hand,

He hasn’t let go of my hand. He knows he scared me. Terrified me, actually. I know that side of him too well, it’s violent and harsh. Though mostly, I forget he’s a warrior, trained to punish without blinking. I try to pull my hand from his, but he only grips my fingers tighter, showing me he’s on my side now. And always will be. I insist we give Eira and Nyk some privacy. Now with Aiden’s command, they have to be extra careful, so who knows when they’ll see each other again. Kaed suggests we leave altogether, but I ask him to open Nyk’s cell, and now we must wait until they’re done so he can lock it. “Since we’re stuck… let’s sit with the creepy truth monster.” He groans but follows anyway.

“Hey,” I whisper to the weird, shivering creature. “What’s your name?” Its black button eyes widen. “My name. No one has ever asked me that.”

“No one gets the chance,” Kaed mutters. “You talk too much.”

“My name is Amedeo.”

“You’re hurt, Amedeo. Are you going to die?” I ask.

“Alas, I cannot die,” he says through a grunt. “But the wards here stop healing. So, I shall remain depleted.” My chest tightens; it’s like staring into an old mirror.

“I want to help you.”

Amedeo lets out a sound somewhere between a chuckle and a sigh. “I know. I would like that. But your beloved will do what he can to keep me imprisoned eternally. It is better you save your cunning for a worthier cause.”

“Apparently, you always speak the truth?”

“And apparently, I am broken,” He muses, shooting a horrific smile towards Kaed full of endless rows of needle-like teeth.

“Are you?”

“No.”

“Will Nyk be set free?”

His head tilts, “I am not an oracle, young Princess. I know truths about whoever is before me... about you, about your yearning, bonded mate.”

Heat creeps up my neck, and I pretend not to notice the slight flare of Kaed’s wings and the clamminess creeping into his palm. Amedeo chuckles. “How happy I am I was not made to reproduce,” he muses. “It is all so complicated. You have some affections for the one who was down here. The cook. But your soul and body burn for the Captain.”

“I see why you agitate people now,” I laugh, wondering what mayhem is pulsing through Kaed’s mind. The creature’s mouth curls into a wide, horrible grin, “I agitate those who wish to hide.”

“Makes sense,” I admit. I like this little guy. “Do you think we should go to Cinder Cliffs?”

“I told you, I am not an—”

“Oracle, yeah, I know, I’m asking your opinion.”