AllFreeNovel
Share Us
I looked at Lucius, whose expression was curious and wary. “I swear.”
“I swear as well,” Fadon said. “You have proved to me that you are genuine, Demos. Though you have secrets, which I assume have been kept for a reason, when it’s counted, you’ve been there. There is no better man I’d want by Sierra’s side than you.”
Lucius scoffed but thankfully held back any retort.
Demos inclined his head in respect. “I appreciate that, Fadon Trajan. And thank you, Lucius.”
“For?”
“It is you who saved my life.”
Lucius straightened. “How so?”
A smile lifted at the corners of Demos’ mouth. “I was in Port Minerva, having just left your Second, Fadon.” He briefly glanced at him before turning back to Lucius. “I left the Oasis in search of those Servants we had spotted, and I found them: Prius, Sarbo and Antonius. They were arguing with the captain of the boat they’d be taking to Ordelpho. Before I could leave, I was captured by a fisherman with a net and sold to a shop, where you purchased me, Lucius.”
Had I not been so terrified about what he was about to tell them, I would have laughed at Lucius’ befuddlement.
“I’m sorry,” Lucius crossed his arms, “I’m not following you.”
In the blink of an eye Demos the man was gone, and in his place stood a snowy owl. My smile was huge just from seeing “my owl” again, so magnificent, so majestic. He hooted, and Fadon and Lucius scrambled to their feet. Now I did laugh.
“Demos,” I said, wanting to spare my men from a stroke.
“Hoot hoot hooooot,” he softly called in answer. Was he enjoying himself at their expense?
Trying not to laugh, I sipped my tea and waited for everyone to sit back down again, looking at the two of them. It was the first time Lucius and Fadon were ever on equal footing, both terribly confused and shocked.
“What are you?” Fadon whispered.
Demos morphed back into himself, looking as he had minutes ago. I wondered how his clothes and boots appeared along with him. The more obvious question, I imagined, should have been how he was able to shift in the first place. But I was sure he was about to tell us. And if not, I’d be picking his brain later.
Cautiously, Fadon and Lucius sat back down.
“I am Seraph,” Demos answered, as cool as an autumn breeze.
“Seraph,” Fadon deadpanned.
“Those markings on your chest…” Lucius replied, eyeing Demos’ tunic as if he could see underneath it, to the skin there. “I recall seeing them on the island. They are, what, spells?”
Demos nodded. “They are. Back to my story. That day in the shop in Port Minerva, you and your men, Fadon, had already left on the Oasis. That was why I wasn’t on board.” He shrugged. “I had been taken. Lucius found me at the shop, purchased me, put me in a cage and brought me to his real townhouse.”
“Unbelievable,” Lucius breathed.
“What do you mean ‘real?’” I asked, confused.
Fadon answered, his tone numb. “We thought we had found Lucius’ townhouse that day, but it had been a ruse.” He looked at the man in question, but there was no heat in the gaze. No doubt he was still lost to the idea that there was a mythical being inside the tent with us.
“So that was you, you say. The owl I bought Sierra.” Lucius laughed and shook his head. “Incredible. And we took you with us on the Freedom, and then the storm…”
“The storm was conjured by an elemental,” Demos said. “Liriel, to be specific. She is… let’s just say family. I asked for her intervention. I needed to return to the Oasis as soon as possible, not only to warn them about the Servants who sailed behind them that day, but I wouldn’t be able to hold my owl form for a whole month’s journey, not without risking I’d never return to being a man. Just the five days or so I’d been stuck as an owl had been cutting it close.”
“That’s why the owl, well, you, was so restless,” I said, frowning. “Gods.” The thought od him trapped, forever as an owl…
“Yes.” He folded his hands on his lap. “As for how all this began, your part in it, the elementals asked me to find you, Sierra. A young omega who hadn’t a clue as to what she was, a prominent daughter of someone in the political field. They told me you would take the place of the original Fealty Bride, and that it was imperative that I give you to the Heir of House Trajan in marriage. Which I did. That mission is complete as of now.”
“But it isn’t,” Fadon said. “As we all know, Ander didn’t marry Sierra.”
Demos looked intently at Lucius, and I did as well. It was now time for the second revelation of the night. I braced myself, not knowing what Fadon would do, how he would react.
