Page 130 of An Empress of Air & Chaos

She looked at Taymir—really looked at him. “Your eyes…” She noticed that the rims of Taymir’s eyes glowed red. “What have you done?”

A shocking smile graced his lips. “Emara, you don’t get to dance with the devil and remain human. The Dark King made a promise to me that my grandfather never could. After delivering you to him, my heart will beat for a million moons.”

“I wouldn’t be so sure about that.” Torin held his gaze.

Taymir ignored Torin and focused on Emara. “Come with me; let’s not prolong the inevitable. No one else needs to get hurt…for now.” He glared around the room. “He has plans for you. I will not trade you for a stone that I am not even sure is credible. If he wants it, trust me, he will receive it in time.”

Emara shook her head in disbelief, struggling to understand. She fought hard to breathe against the pains that constricted her chest.

Viktir Blacksteel spoke, “It looks like he has made his choice. He doesn’t want the stone. He wants you.” His gaze burned into Emara’s face as if he was trying to piece together what was happening. So there was a piece of the puzzle that wasn’t clear to him, too.

“She is going nowhere,” Torin spoke through his teeth. He shifted. “Emara is soon to be bound to me and, therefore, she will not be leaving my side.”

Bound to me?

Emara knew that Hunters would say anything to stall, delay, or trick their opponent. But something in Torin’s voice was sincere.

He continued, “In case your little performance here tonight has fogged your brain”—he looked at Taymir with repugnant disgust—“the last time I checked, the late Empress of Air is pinned to a wall over there with a spear through her heart. As is the Empress of House Water and Fire. Your Dark God evidently hasn’t given you all the information. Therefore, at the next Witching Moon, Emara will ascend to be the Empress of House Air.” Torin’s hard jawline lifted into a dangerous smile. “Oh, did I forget to mention that Emara Clearwater is the lost Empress of Air, and the rightful Empress of House Air?”

A look of frustration finally revealed itself on Taymir’s face. “You Hunting lot don’t miss a trick, do you?”

“She is the lost grandchild of Theodora Clearwater, thought to be dead. And as you can clearly see, she isn’t dead; Emara survives as the only true heir to the title.” Torin pointed to the woman in the emerald gown. “The woman who is speared against that wall was the Empress of Air, but did not belong to the Clearwater bloodline. She was a mere stand-in until Emara emerged, and if she never did, then the Clearwater bloodline would have been lost to the Witching world.”

Viktir’s lips pursed. “If you are correct, Torin, Emara cannot leave this room.” The Commander threw a glance at the Elite and Emara wasn’t sure if Vikir was playing into Torin’s words or if he was serious.

“It was confirmed by a trusted Witch and by Emara herself. Her grandmother was Theodora Clearwater,” Torin announced. “Previously known as Theodora of House Air—and the Supreme.”

Another bustle of noise broke through the room. Viktir dipped his chin before turning to Taymir. “Emara is bound to Torin, and we do not let what is ours be stolen from us without a fight.”

The warning was delivered.

Torin smiled and Emara didn’t know if it was because there was a mention of a fight or that his father had acknowledged he was right with his facts, but her heart squeezed in her chest.

Gideon moved uneasily. “What do you mean she is soon to be bound to you?” He glanced at Torin, his face grave.

“The Empress of Air is bound in an engagement to the Blacksteel Hunting Clan—to the first born. The House of Air offered their Empress to forge an alliance with us for protection,” Viktir informed. “Therefore, she is bound under our oath to protect.”

Emara’s heart almost gave way.

It was all too much.

Torin softened his approach, “As you know brother, my marriage was always going to be set in stone.” He turned his gaze to Taymir. “So, dick, she’s going nowhere with you. Unless you kill me first.”

“The Darkness does not bargain with Hunters,” Taymir’s voice barked with ferocity. “Come with me now, Emara.”

She hesitated. His eyes maddened by the second. “I thought that would be the case,” Taymir huffed. “Therefore, I arranged a little bit of motivation for you. Bring her in.” Taymir gestured to the threshold of the door. A winged creature entered, holding onto a weft of golden hair.

As he dragged her, the girl yelped out in pain.

It was Cally.

Cally.

Emara’s head spun, and dizziness almost took out her legs from underneath her.

“Shit,” Gideon whispered.

Torin’s hand tightened around the blade that he now held up, ready to fight.

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