AllFreeNovel
Share Us
Though it cost him layers of sanity, he looked away.
Taliyah white-knuckled the arms of her throne as she leaned forward. “You arenothelping the King of Agonies.”
“Except I am,” Neeka said. “And I’m actually late for our next appointment.” She checked a wristwatch she wasn’t wearing. “If someone would be so kind as to flash me to his side?”
The General thrust out an arm, blocking Roc, who’d made to stand. “Rathbone is our enemy, Neeks. The next blessing task has been issued. Azar is to gather the bones of the hell king’s queen, reassemble her to bring her to life, then kill her.”
Taliyah’s words fueled Rathbone’s rage. He boiled over with it, the tapestry sure to burst into flames. Forget mercy. No reprieve for the General.
“Too bad, so sad,” the oracle proclaimed. “I’m not gonna let the Astra succeed.”
She—what? Rathbone settled as satisfaction appeased the worst of the rage.Chosen over friends and allies. An undeniable honor.
Several Astra reached for weapons. Azar unsheathed a scythe.
Rathbone barely contained his snarls.
Taliyah gaped at the oracle. “Is the Underworld baddie your consort or something? Is that why you’re doing this?”
“What? Mr. Red? A consort?” Neeka choked on her tongue. “Are you high right now? His fated mate is the same bag of bones everyone’s so hot to trot for, remember? I’m the girl who refuses to settle for anything less than the total devotion and adoration I deserve. I’m in this for the payday.”
Did she protest too much? Did the oracle, perhaps, desire him?
The other woman’s mouth floundered open and closed. “Who are you?”
“I’ll pay you double to aid us,” Roc grated.
“Sorry, Rocky,” Neeka replied, breezy, “but you can’t afford my rates.”
Hmm. What did she believe Rathbone provided that these warlords didn’t? He’d promised a treasure, a kingdom of her own, the death of her enemies, and a review. Possibly an open-ended boon or two. Things these powerful gods could easily give her as well.
Perhaps shediddesire Rathbone. He almost smiled.
Azar adjusted his grip on his blade. Considering striking without permission?
Rathbone tensed to flash—only to go still yet again. In a blaze of motion, the oracle unsheathed a hidden blade and struck, removing Azar’s hand. The warrior hissed as blood spurted from the severed artery.
“Whooo-whooo,” she called, collecting the severed appendage and pumping it toward the ceiling. “What a souvenir!”
Roc and Taliyah jumped up. With an abundance of scowls and growls, the Astra closed in on Neeka. Done waiting, Rathbone teleported, landing beside her. He slung an arm around her waist and tried not to notice the tantalizing heat of her body. The sweetness of her scent. Unimportant details during battle.
“She belongs tome,” he snarled, flashing tohisthrone room. He released her as soon as they landed, ready to defend and slaughter.
Would the Astra follow? Could they? This chamber boasted far more defenses than the rest of his palace.
One minute passed. Two. No Astra. As furious and determined as they’d been, they would’ve followed if possible. Which meant they couldn’t enter this specific location.
Excellent. Though it would cost him much needed energy, he would add the same fortifications to the rest of the palace.
“What took you so long?” Neeka demanded. The dripping hand of their enemy remained in her grip, an onyx ring glinting from the index finger.
He scanned for any sign of Lore. Not even the faintest outline. Rathbone gnashed his teeth. “Antagonizing me isn’t wise.”
“I wasn’t antagonizing, I was complaining. There’s a difference. Now, where were we before the interruption? Oh, yes.” Grinning, she told him, “Get this. We’re sneaking into Nova, home of the Astra. Well, no wonder I wanted this. I’m so brilliant.” She removed the ring from Azar’s finger and dropped the appendage.Thud.“Their planet wanders the galaxies, making it impossible to pinpoint an entrance without a key.”
“I’ve been to Nova.” Before the Astra moved in, the god Chaos had lived there. Hades and Chaos once had many dealings.
“Excellent. Give me a sec and I’ll—” Her irises glazed over, and she went quiet.
