Page 159 of The Dawn of the Cursed Queen

“You were dead. I swore it. We all did. The sky carries your power. I see it every day. Nismera, she—”

I raised my hand. “I know, old friend, we have a lot to discuss. Can we?” I nodded toward the back room.

“Of course, of course.” He waved me on, and I threw a tendril of power behind me, closing and sealing the elevator.

SIXTY-FOUR

SAMKIEL

Jaski placed a plate heaped with soft baked goods between Killium and me. He smiled at her in thanks, and she hummed softly as she took a seat. Their love was nearly a physical bond. It was inspiring and comforting.

I forced a quick smile. “I am glad to see you two are still together.”

Jaski smiled at Killium. Her eyes were so filled with love that it felt as if I were intruding.

Killium smiled as he nodded. “Almost two thousand years, give or take.”

“I remember,” I said with a grin. “Jaski made you work for it.”

Jaski laughed, the sound filling the room with warmth. “It was good for him, and I was worth it.”

Killium squeezed her hand, but he looked at me, his expression growing serious. “I still cannot believe it, Samkiel,” he said, swirling the green liquid in his glass. “The sky does not lie, and neither do the realms. You died, or so we all thought.”

Jaski leaned forward, magic swirling in her eyes. “It is truly remarkable. You are here, whole, but different. I cannot tell what has changed, but you seem fully resurrected.”

Killium let out a brief whistle. “So many will be envious should they learn you have managed this.”

“Correct,” Jaski said. “Necromancy is forbidden. It is illegal in all the realms because of the effects. Not a single soul has been brought back from the Otherside that did not come back wrong.”

My pulse quickened. I knew that. I knew the stories. It was another reason I was so upset when I learned what had happened, but it had been months since my return, and I still felt the same. I ran my hand over my side, that dull ache still present. Perhaps not all the same, but I hadn’t come back wrong.

“Well, I can tell you now, I am not craving brains.”

They shared a glance before bursting into laughter. I sipped my drink and watched them.

My fingers tapped against the glass I held, combating my nerves and erratic thoughts. I couldn’t tell them the truth. I couldn’t tell anyone. If the wrong people found out that Dianna had brought me back to life, she would be hunted for the rest of her life. What she’d done was unprecedented. No one in my long life or before had succeeded, and those who tried were destroyed.

All those previously resurrected came back as barely more than corpses, flesh-eating monsters, or the really dangerous ones who hungered for brains. I just couldn’t tell them. Dianna and I were going through something, but she would always be my first priority. Instead of saving the realms, I would level each of them if it meant keeping her safe.

“So tell me,” Jaski prodded, “what powerful witch or warlock loved you enough to attempt something so deadly?”

Killium chuckled. “Now, now, Jaski, you know Samkiel. Why would you assume love?”

She smiled as she leaned her chin on her fist. “Only love would make someone do something so absolutely reckless.”

Heat flared across my chest as I remembered Dianna saying those three little words. I sat up a bit straighter and cleared my throat. “No witches or warlocks. The spear meant to kill me . . . well, it missed. I assume I was close enough to death that the spell broke.”

They stared at me and then my abdomen as if they could see the wound. I hoped it worked. I hoped they didn’t know I was lying.

“Well, I can tell you that Nismera does not know—”

“And it has to stay that way.” I made sure every word I said had power behind it. I would not risk Dianna.

“Of course,” Jaski answered, touching my arm. “Your secrets are always safe with us.”

“You should seek out The Eye, though,” Killium said. “They are dying to get an upper hand over her.”

“I will.” I smiled. “Also, I will not lie to either of you. There is someone in my life who is very special to me, special enough that I need your help.”

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