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“Go on,” Roc intoned.
Deep breath in, out. “As you are aware, I sent my best spy to Rathbone’s kingdom. Khalid allowed himself to be caught and tortured to acquire a mental blueprint of the palace. He pretended to pass out when Erebus visited. Rathbone returned soon after with Neeka in tow.” Azar explained what he’d heard and saw through his connection to the soldier.
Roc’s expression grew darker. “Why would the oracle betray her own kind?”
“According to her, a payday.”
“Hmm,” the Commander repeated. He ran his tongue over perfect teeth. “Taliyah trusts her, and I trust Taliyah. Neeka must have been under duress. Pretending to be on board to aid us in some way.”
“Perhaps.” Azar summoned specific memories to the fore of his mind. A complicated process but also a boon for remembering every detail of every moment. He replayed the few times he’d spotted the harpy-oracle, cataloging her expressions and mannerisms. “But not likely,” he advised. “She’s more formidable than other harpies. From what I gather of her character, no one can make her do anything she doesn’t wish to do. Not even the Underworld king.”
The Commander scrubbed a hand over his mouth. “Rathbone’s wife. Her bones. Tell me everything.”
“That’s easy, considering I know little.”Careful. “She is Lorelei the Incomparable, a goddess of desire who left Olympus for uncertain reasons. Too many rumors claim too many things. From jealous wives, to besotted males, to legions she’s supposedly deceived. After I removed her heart, Rathbone etched the Song of Life into her bones, but demons stole and sold them. He has regathered all but four.”
“And now you believe you’ll be tasked with finding those bones to...what? Revive her yourself to kill her again?”
“Yes.”
Another “hmm” rose from the male. After a brief silence, Roc’s shoulder rolled in, and he heaved a sigh. “This couldn’t come at a worse time. Taliyah has been in a magnificent mood.” The grumble in his tone almost roused a chuckle from Azar. Almost. “She and her sisters are competing to see who can out romance their consort, soIhave been in a magnificent mood.”
Consort. Something Azar never wished to become. Relationships weren’t his thing. He sometimes used sex to distract himself from the past, but honestly, each encounter was the same as any other. Nothing special. Another memory to retain.
He returned to the subject that mattered. The coming task. “What would you like me to do?”
“I don’t know yet. We’re missing something. Why did Erebus choose this female for you? Is there a possibility she’s your gravita?”
“No.” Azar refused to think along those lines.Not her. Anyone but her.
Roc stared at him, hard, and he struggled to maintain a neutral expression. “The Deathless put Taliyah in my path. Ophelia in Halo’s, and Blythe in Roux’s. All fated mates. Why deviate from pattern now?”
“To throw us off.”She isn’t mine. She isn’t!
Heavy, oppressive silence before, “Until we’re given the official task, send more spies to the Realm of Agonies and Olympus. Learn everything you can. I’ll speak with Taliyah about Neeka.”
Azar nodded, certain he’d gotten the better end of this deal. The harpy General had a mean streak—and the power to back it up. But then, she was a daughter of Erebus. When she rampaged, things broke eternally. Even the strongest of wills.
As protective as she was of her friends and her people, she might not believe the news about the oracle. She might even attempt to save the girl, interfering with Azar’s task.
No wonder he preferred biddable females. Something Lore would never be.
He told his Commander, “It shall be done.”
How long must I languish here?
Neeka sprawled on the cold marble floor, idly tapping manicured nails and gazing up at an ornate ceiling painted to resemble a morning sky, with a variety of beings at play. This wasn’t a position she normally adopted in front of others. Her wings were trapped, suppressing her immortal strength, but dang. She was so exhausted she almost used her precious boon to flee this now hated throne room.
Excluding her brief spell of unconsciousness, she hadn’t slept a wink in ages. Before she’d met Red, the sexiest king in history, with his intoxicating scent and smoldering stare, constant mental gymnastics had kept her awake and drained.
He perched upon his seat, gazing adoringly at Lore’s remains. Something he’d done for the past twelve hours.
Twelve. Two more than ten. Eleven hours and fifty-nine minutes more than Neeka’s patience could bear.
Again and again, he’d issued a request for the goddess to return. Had the female deigned to respond? Not. Even. Once. It would’ve been sad if it weren’t so hellish.
His unhealthy obsession with a (potential) incubator of shadow monsters had to end. Thankfully, it might be dulling a wee bit, despite current evidence to the contrary. A couple times today, he’d sprung wood for Neeka. He’d also bantered with her. Had even acquiesced to her request and caressed her chin as if he were handling a valuable vase. And the way he’d looked at her...
Warm shivers brought a smile to her lips. He and his mátia had absolutelydevouredher. That had to mean something.
