AllFreeNovel
Share Us
The scent grew stronger, but I ignored it, holding Cosette against me as I reached toward Van. “Let’s go.”
The second Van grabbed my wrist, everything went dark.
I couldn’t breathe as I tossed and turned. I squeezed my eyes shut and the feeling got worse. I wanted to throw up, but I couldn’t even get in any air. Because wherever we were, there wasn’t any air.
And then the tossing stopped, and I slammed into the same invisible wall, like last time. I took a gasping breath when Van let go of my wrist, and I fell down. The back of my head slammed into the ground hard enough to rattle my teeth, and I smelled my own blood. If I’d been human, I would’ve had a massive concussion, but I was a werewolf. I would heal this in a second, but right now, I was pretty sure I hated Van.
“Chris!” Cosette had fallen on top of me, but she scrambled to move. “Are you okay?”
Her cool hand ran across my forehead, and I was sorry I’d worried her.
“Yep. Fine.” In a second, I’d pick up my pride, but at least I hadn’t puked. “I just need a minute.”
She brushed a hand across my head one last time, before standing. “Van is dealing with the guards now, but we need to follow protocol and wait until Ziriel knows we’re here and gives them orders about where we can find him.”
“Okay.” I kept my eyes closed. “Let me know if I need to rally.”
She brushed a kiss on my forehead. “Will do.”
When I opened my eyes, the room swam for a solid couple of minutes as I got my bearings, but I recovered much quicker than last time. I blinked and watched the ceiling. It looked like we were in a glass dome inside the middle of a raging sandstorm. I sat up slowly, taking in the room. The walls were made of whirling, swirling sand, but the middle of the room had just the slightest sage-scented breeze.
There were torches on the walls and hexagonal tiles on the ground in a circle, each beautifully painted. It wasn’t until I really studied them that I realized the tiles weren’t just painted, they were animated. Not video screens, but like living oil paintings.
Magic. Not art.
I made a mental note to ask Cosette about how they were made and if it was a type of magic that I could use to create a piece of art when we weren’t in a room surrounded by armed guards.
It took me another minute to get to my feet and walk—somewhat steadily—to where Cosette and Van were talking to the Gales guards. They were in their typical all white, with their golden masks lifted to rest on top of their heads as they spoke.
My wolf wanted me to shift. To attack. They were too close to Cosette. But I ignored him. He might be a territorial asshole, but I wasn’t. Plus, I needed to be human to communicate what I wanted.
I closed my eyes, pushing him down-down-down into the depths of my soul, and he fought me. Hard. I was sweating before it was done. Maybe he knew I was about to get rid of him, and I almost felt bad about it… But not really. I couldn’t let myself. Not when Cosette’s life and happiness were at stake.
Cosette needed to marry for power. Without my lunar tie, we could finally be together, something I never dreamed was possible. Sacrificing my wolf was a price I was willing to pay to be with her. One I’d never, ever regret.
There was a calmness in knowing that, and everything else seemed to not matter.
I took off my jacket and handed it to Van so he could make it disappear. It was way too hot down here for it. “I need to see Ziriel.”
The little beast popped in, bouncing in excitement. “You’re back! Back! Are we going to play our game? Do you have a guess?”
I was about to tell the little beast to get lost, but there was slow, zinging sound. Van was pulling his sword free.
“I told you three centuries ago that if I ever saw you again, you would die. If I were you, I’d run. And not come back until I’m gone!”
“You…you wouldn’t still be mad. It’s been so long! Very long!”
“I am still mad!” Van’s words were forced through his tight jaw, and he was vibrating with anger.
The air in the room grew colder, thinner, and little zaps of electricity flicked painfully against my skin.
With a squeak, the little beast disappeared, but Van was still shaking as he put his sword away.
I looked at Cosette and she shook her head.
Right. Three centuries was before her time. A former god, but what did it mean? What were his powers?
One of the guards cleared his throat. “This way.” He stepped forward, leading us from the room.
