Page 69 of King of Inferno

My interest is further piqued. I don’t like this woman, but for some reason, she has the bishop’s favor. I’ve rarely seen him treat others outside our race as equals.

Heck, those djinns almost didn’t make it away from here with their lives. If they weren’t providing the bishop with a distraction for this mission, he would have killed them. Especially the young one who was supposed to be engaged to the girl.

However, this woman seems to have his respect, if that’s what you can call it. She glances at me out of the corner of her eye. Seeing an opportunity, I try once again to break through the barrier.

“Don’t. He will kill us both,” her voice fills my head.

I pull back my energy, knowing she’s most likely right. I’ve been like this too long to know if I can call on my full strength to defeat him. The bishop is the oldest of our kind left. He was in existence before the curse.

I was no match for him before I was placed in this state. Like this, it would only take the snap of his fingers for me to perish. I can’t allow that to happen.

“What do you want from me?” I say back to the woman.

“You have yet to figure out who or what I am. I can be of use to you.”

“For what in return?”

“You are the one who can hide your essence and enter forbidden places, aren’t you? It’s the reason why he’s keeping you around. I will strike a deal with you. When and if the time comes, I need you to ensure that you and the female fire fairy survive the battle. The male is of no consequence to me; he’s a means to an end, but I need her to be safe no matter what happens to me or the bishop. She walks away.”

“And how will the bishop feel about this?”

“You leave me to deal with that. I am taking precautions to cover someone important to the both of us. He will see reason when needed,” she replies.

“And how do you plan to help me?”

“You want your freedom, don’t you? I will free you before the battle begins. You will be able to fight of your own free will. Is this not all you desire?”

“What about the others? My brothers are being forced into a battle that will cost them their lives. You see this as well as I do. Otherwise, you wouldn't be asking me to do you this favor,” I say.

“You, my dear, need to learn when to be selfish. I can offer you help. There is nothing I can do for the others. He will take them as far into this as he needs them. If that requires their end, so be it. But you can walk away with your life.”

“Why should I betray him for you? What have you done to help me thus far? It is because of you I am in this state.

“And you are right, I don't know what you are. I could be agreeing to a deal with a trickster.”

“Or you could be signing up for your death if you remain this way. Take my help and at least see your way through this.”

“Maybe my existence has already been long enough.”

“Take the deal,” she snarls into my head. “You are not innocent in all of this. You have followed him for centuries. Blood creates a path that follows him, so your hands must be soaked in it. You cannot escape the past, but I’m giving you an option for the future. Take the deal.”

I don’t trust her, but I think it over. If my mind and body are free to enter the battle of my own accord, I may be able to help some of my brothers. I know I’m not the only one who feels like this isn’t what we signed up for. And if they had the information I have, they would all raise a coup.

“What the fuck are you waiting for?” the bishop snaps at her.

“I am waiting for him to call to me. Then I can weave my way into astral projecting him here to speak with us. You know this takes time, Your Grace. I only ask for a little more of your patience.”

“Hurry this up. This isn’t the only task I have to oversee. I want to be done with this and the incompetence around me,” he hisses back at her.

“Do we have a deal?”

“Yes,” I bite out for her thoughts only.

As soon as I agree to this arrangement, a young man appears in the room. However, he’s in his ethereal form. She has truly astral projected this young male fairy to kneel before us.

“Cole, is it?” she says to him.

“Y … yes. I am Cole. Who are you?”

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