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Poppy executes the locator spell and all watch with rapt curiosity. When the flames shoot up, Vonetta backs into Emil and says she thinks it’s kind of beautiful. Emil simply gives her a look and shakes his head.
Now, these two are a couple to watch. Their relationship—whatever it may be—isn’t widely known as yet, but it isn’t exactly a secret, either. And I have a funny feeling it’s going to evolve beautifully. That’s not anything Seer-related. It’s pure woman’s intuition.
Emil is more than put out when the group encounters a bunch of Gyrms again. Talk turns to why their mouths are stitched shut, and Poppy says it’s a good thing, alluding to the fact that if they were open, the serpents inside them would slither out—which they soon encounter up close and personally. When one of the Gyrms lets out a low moan, Emil is utterly disturbed and says as much, but he’s not as bothered as when the snakes come out to play.
Emil spends the night of the Joining with Vonetta. Gods, I wish I could have been a fly on the wall for that evening of pleasure.
On the trip to the Bone Temple, Emil remarks that those of Solis are probably shocked that the Atlantians don’t look like the Craven as they were led to believe. When they reach the Temple, Emil and Naill unload Malec, and then Malik comes to help them carry the casket. As they look on, and Isbeth leans in to kiss Malec, Emil can’t hold his tongue and remarks how disgusting it is.
When Isbeth stabs Malec, a shockwave bursts free, and the ground starts to shake and cave in. Emil remarks that he’s never seen wolven run from anything before and notices something emerging from one of the holes in the ground. He alerts the others, and they all start fighting the dakkais, Emil utilizing his quick reflexes to narrowly avoid being injured. As events unfold, he warns them that even more are coming. One rips open Naill’s chest, and Emil throws the creature free, devastated by what he sees. But there’s no time to mourn. The battle continues. While fighting a Revenant, Emil is speared through the chest and dies.
Not knowing what happened in between, Emil suddenly finds himself alive and healed and standing next to Hisa—the only evidence of what happened his bloodied and torn clothing and destroyed armor, which he quickly removes. As Nektas tells the story of the realms to Poppy, Emil and the others move in closer.
It’s only the beginning. And knowledge is power, after all.
Casteel tasks Emil with settling and securing Wayfair as Poppy goes into stasis, something that’s easy for him. What’s not quite so easy is reconciling that the gods have awakened.
When Kieran and Cas return with Poppy in stasis, Emil tells them that the wolven are guarding the premises with Hisa and the Crown Guard, and he’s made sure no staff will interrupt them.
He asks Cas what he wants to do about the Ascended and acknowledges when Cas says to keep them under house arrest.
Emil asks about Valyn and Cas tells him to send word to Padonia but to leave out the parts about Poppy.
Before he leaves, Emil tells Casteel to let Poppy know she has his everlasting devotion and utter adoration when she wakes. Cas calls him a fucker and he laughs and leaves.
When he returns later with Kieran, it’s to find that Cas has shifted into a spotted cave cat and seems about ready to eat him. He takes the hint and leaves when Kieran urges him to go.
EXCLUSIVE CONTENT ~ EMIL’S LETTER
Dearest Netta,
Let me start by acknowledging I risk both life and limb by writing you if a certain overprotective brother of yours intercepts this message. May we both pray to the slumbering gods that doesn’t occur, as I do prefer my heart and other—far more exciting—parts remain intact and fully functioning.
But what I have to say is worth the risk.
I know you enjoy my company. Or, more notably, what you once called, and I quote, my profanely wicked and talented tongue. And I also know you believe that my interest in you is nothing more than physical. While it is definitely on the physical side, I’ve come to the realizations that it is about more than not spending the night alone or getting off.
It started when I discovered that, as soon as I left your presence, all I could think about was how you tasted and your sighs. Your kisses. Your slick heat. Your laugh. Gods help me, I’m starting to sound like Cas, but it’s true. I can taste your laughter. It’s soft and sweet with a hint of spice, and while that sounds utterly ridiculous, nothing about the way I felt when the floor gave way beneath you in the tunnels could be described as such.
My heart stopped.
It fucking stopped, Netta.
I’ve never felt such fear before—not in my entire life. And trust me, I have partaken in many things that have caused me a great deal of fear. But nothing could compare to the thought of never hearing your laugh again, seeing you smile, or even being on the receiving end of one of your clever, cutting insults. There’s nothing passing about that.
I care about you, Netta. Deeply. And because of that, I feel that I must be honest before we find ourselves seeking pleasure from each other either while home or on the road. I want more than just a few passing hours. I want you. Today. Tonight. Tomorrow. I want to see what the future has in store for us.
Admittedly, I am a bit afraid of sharing this with you. Doing so could bring an end to us before there is even an us. But I cannot continue as we have been if you don’t find yourself also wishing to see what a future could look like.
If not, I will respect and honor your wishes. But as much as my libido is cursing me for admitting this, I don’t think I can continue on as we have been. I believe that my feelings for you would only increase, and that would not be fair to either of us.
So, where do we go from here, Netta? It is up to you. I figured it would be best to avoid any unnecessary awkwardness. If you do not visit with me in the near future, I will safely assume that I have your answer.
Yours,
Emil
VONETTA CONTOU
