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The death king, or whatever he was, rose from his throne and strode to her. The clean, metallic scent of brewing storms clung to his fine robes. His light fingers traced her jaw, driving spikes of unease through her and leaving tingles in their wake. “Because your magic belongs to the world, Void Walker. It was not meant to end, most definitely not by a madman’s bloodstained hands.”
Tenah wrenched away from him. “How would you know that?’
“What, that you have the power to transcend worlds?”
Her eyes narrowed. This king wasinsane. Did he actually believe she was capable of tearing rifts between worlds? She clenched her teeth around a wild laugh. Like she would be so blessed. Astral projecting into the Void was one thing, but physically entering it? If she had that ability, she would have discovered the magic to heal her father ages ago.
Unless Ames hadn’t wanted her to.
Damn it, this was messing with her head. Even if the king spoke truthfully, she couldn’t imagine delving into a place that was often the source of her nightmares.
The king folded his arms behind his back and straightened, appearing both militant and bored. “What will it be? Eternity bound to this darkness or a chance to walk worlds again?”
“You will clarify the terms of this agreement,” she said, notching her chin higher, though her body quivered.
He made a slow circle around her, eyes perusing freely as if they had the right. “A share in your power to start.”
“A binding of sorts?” She mulled this over, sifting through knowledge she’d harvested from tomes. Bonds weren’t always permanent. She could accept then find a way to free herself from him.
“You act like that is so horrible.” The king’s nostrils flared, and Tenah swore she glimpsed the flash of razor-sharp teeth behind his perfectly shaped mouth.
“Yes, because I don’t know you.”
Black tendrils of magic curled from his body, setting alarms off in her head. She stumbled back a few paces.
What other choice did she have though? If she declined the king’s offer, she’d remain here. Submerged in this limbo. Dead, she was no use to anyone. Alive, she could possibly protect those in the path of darkness her father would spread. She could right this wrong.
“I agree and I live?” she asked.
He gave a slight nod. “You live.”
Her heart thudded against her ribcage. Voices of reason warned her against this, cultivated by Ames and her father throughout the years. But all of their advice, all of their supposed life lessons, had only served to land her here.
Tenah was surprised by the potency of rage that washed through her. She was pissed that her father had tapped into dark magic, reasoning aside. She was pissed he hadn’t fought harder against its hold. Beyond that, she was pissed that he and Ames had been irresponsible with his health. Such carelessness had resulted in the death of so many innocent shadows.
And she was pissed at herself for not doing more to stop it. The souls obliterated by her father’s magic and his feingrot—that blood would forever stain her hands too.
“Okay. I accept your deal.”
The death king gave a tiny bow. “Go forth and wreak your havoc. But know in time, I will have my payment, Tenah.”
She swallowed as the little blue flame plunged into her chest, throwing the hall into darkness once more.
Chapter7
Tenah
Tenah’s first new breath crystallized in her lungs as a frigid, cleansing wind howled around her.
Why was her body moving of its own accord?
She pried her frozen eyelids open and instantly regretted it. The sunlight was blinding against a backdrop of snow-dusted landscape and cloudless sky. Her arm shot up to block out the harsh light, but the reflexive motion set her off balance. She teetered, hands snapping out to grasp at the white scales of the welkin beneath her. At the same time, an arm ensnared her waist.
Her body stiffened. She knew no one that owned such a rare beast. Welkins had all but vanished from the Kandar Isles, save for those bound by Ashen magic or a slaver’s iron chains.
Who could have possibly swept her from the manor into strange, non-Vozarian lands?
Regardless, she wasn’t down to hang around. Tenah smashed an elbow back into her kidnapper’s ribs. She yelped as her bone struck unyielding armor.
