Page 45 of The Salvation

A feral growl rises within me, and my blood turns to pure ice when I take in the amphitheater and find one missing.

Where the fuck is Reaver?

16

“Give me back my child now,” I demand, stepping toward the invader.

QUINTESSA

After Bartie has failedat getting me to eat in my anxiety-ridden state, and after I’ve paced about the small library next to Merikh’s suite, I finally give up trying to distract myself.

“I could give you a little tour, My Lady,” Bartie offers, gesturing to the obsidian staircase leading to the base level.

I glance at the hall leading down to Merikh’s room, considering my daughter sleeping in the protected coffin. “Y-yes, I think that might help. But I’ll bring her with us.”

His brows taper. “After I changed her and rocked her until she finally went to sleep?” I muster a smile as the steward throws his hands up in the air. “I declare that child is just like you, sweet girl.”

I throw him a curious look. “I’m not sure what you mean. She’s far more like her fathers. All four of them.”

“No, My Lady. That child may be their spitting images for the most part, but the way she looks around, takes everything in with her inquisitive eyes, and how difficult it is to get her to sleep...it’s as if she doesn’t wish to miss anything. She is quieterthan you, but that child has as much curiosity, daring, and life in her heart as you bear. And with four father gods, I rue the day when she sneaks off for the first time. Because you know she will, My Lady.”

A hearty blush finds my cheeks, and I press my lips into a smile. Oh, I can imagine the first day that will happen. Especially if she sneaks away to meet a boy. I only hope I am there to witness her fathers scolding her. And reminding them of the first time I sneaked away...through the Veil of Souls.

When something rough brushes my leg through the black lacy gown, I glance down and softly laugh. The one-horned wyrm warbles his familiar trilling sound while nudging my leg. Ever since Kyan left, Happ has kept close to me, much to Jinxy’s chagrin. On my other side, my little fox bats his tails at my leg, seeking attention.

I gather both of them into my arms, heaving from the effort. With Happ’s wings and Jinxy’s tails, they are a little heavier than Aislynn. But they’re my babies, too. I smile as I consider the contrast between the scaly one in my left arm and the soft, furry one in my right. They are little more than children’s age, though Jinxy is an old soul, thanks to his innate Rook magic.

“Don’t worry, Happ,” I reassure the baby dragon and kiss his little muzzle. “Kyan will be back before you know it. Theyallwill.” I stare at Jinxy’s unblinking, glittery eyes. He tilts his head as if to double-check. My chest squeezes as I acknowledge my fox’s affection for Merikh, who has brought Jinxy back to me every time.

At the sound of baby coos and hushing from down the hall, I swing around, my eyes widening because Bartie is standing right behind me as he was moments ago. That means...

I set Happ and Jinxy down and tear into a run, scrambling down the passage and rushing into Merikh’s coffin room. My heart ricochets in my chest. Terror ravages my insides at thefigure rocking Aislynn with tender care as he makes a soft hushing sound. A tremor rattles my very bones. I recognize him from the Court, from the other night when he entered, disrupting the end of the Blood Crest. I remember his name.Reaver.

Back then, his countenance was casual and submissive. And despite his affectionate treatment and gentle words as he gazes down at my daughter, nothing about him is casual...or submissive. His posture is firm, his muscles determined. And his eyes, primal and predatory, chill me to the bone. Blood splatters his leathers.

Just behind him is the coffin. The lid is open. My skin crawls with a needle-like horror. How did he open her coffin? It’s protected. Merikh’s Blood Crest should?—

“She has her father’s eyes,” he says knowingly but darkly, measuring the depth of Aislynn’s eyes as she gazes up at him. Her wings are relaxed, folded behind her. Her eyes stare, only blinking now and then, her lips parted. She’s just a baby, unaware of any threat.

Like me, Bartie remains frozen. Out of the corner of my eye, I pick up on a host of flames trimming his figure. Sparks rupture from his very pores. His veins throb and pulse, fingers twitching with the need to do something, but he won’t risk hurting my baby.

“Give me back my child now,” I demand, stepping toward the invader.

“Such a lovely child,” he observes, triggering violent emotion to burn my throat.

One turn of his chin. One deadpan of his deep-set eyes. Reaver presses his lips into a cunning smile. My insides turn to rot, and everything in me regrets pressuring Merikh to take Mayce. If Mayce were here?—

“How appropriate her diet consists of blood.” He lifts his wrist, and I choke on a gasp at the sight of the two little pinprick marks with a tiny stream of silver blood, vampire blood dripping from his vein.

When I narrow my eyes upon Aislynn, I nearly seize, noticing the signs of the silver blood on her lips. I don’t know much about the magic of the Court of Hollows, but I know blood matters. And this...this is significant.

He holds up her wrist. All the blood drains from my face when I see the other fang marks. He drank my baby’s blood?

“You have five seconds to give me back my daughter. You know Merikh won’t let a single drop of blood flow in your veins when he returns...” I don’t phrase it as a question. It’s a fact. As soon as Merikh comes, he won’t rest until Reaver is an empty shell of loose skin and flesh, all drained of blood. He’ll make a whole series of brand-new whips and add Reaver’s bones to his collection.

“Tsk, tsk, tsk, I assure you, Your Highness, such a notion is not within your best interest. Much less, hers.” He turns back to Aislynn, crooking his lips into a crafty grin. “The most important thing you should know and what you should spend all your focus upon is the knowledge that my blood is now tied to your daughter’s. Such a lovely child.”

It’s a brutal strike to my chest, and I almost double over. Tears burn my throat.

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