Page 12 of The Last Heir of Elsewhere

“Are you alright, little monster?” Bael asked, bemused.

I sucked in a breath, like I’d been underwater, and shook my head to clear it. “I’m…tired.”

A technical truth, if not the full truth. I wastired, but more so, I was reeling from the realization that I never once thought Scion wouldn’t accompany us to Aftermath. It never even crossed my mind that we’d have to leave him…and why? Why would I assume such a thing when he’d made no mention of it, never shown any indication of wanting to come? Worse, why did I care?

Why did I feel like I was about to lose something vitally, crucially, important?

4

SCION

THE CUTTHROAT DISTRICT, INBETWIXT

“Alright, mate?”

I looked up at the sound of Cross’s voice and blanched. The room was nearly empty. The meeting must have ended some time ago, and I hadn’t bothered to notice.

I shook my head, struggling to think of a truthful answer that would appease him. “I’m…tired.”

That was true enough. I’d hardly ever slept worse than I had this week, for a number of reasons, not least of which was the constant noise of the thieves’ den.

Cross seemed to read some of this in my expression, because his grin widened behind his copper beard. “The barracks not what you expected?”

I gave a stiff jerk of my head, that could have meant anything, being neither a nod nor a shake. I didn’t have the energy to come up with a satisfactory misdirection, nor did I want to openly insult my only friend outside my own bloodline by telling him that, if not for our long friendship, I would have slaughtered every single one of his children for just one hour of peaceful sleep.

“You could always sleep up in the house. No one is forcing you into this exile, Sci.”

“No.” I grunted. I’d heard enough this morning to confirm my decision not to set foot anywhere near the townhouse bedrooms. I’d rather take my chances fending off Cross’s many daughters.

I pushed my chair back from the table, and the sound of wood scraping against stone sent a new throbbing through the back of my skull.

“Did you want something?” I asked, realizing Cross still hadn’t moved from where he stood beside my chair.

“Not especially, just curious to know your plans.”

I raised a sore eyebrow and pressed my lips together in a flat line. It was clear he really wanted to ask if I was planning to go with Lonnie, or if I’d be traveling to Overcast with the rest of my family. If only I knew the answer to that myself, I’d gladly tell him.

Unfortunately, whenever I considered Aftermath, my mind was stuck on the same scenes, replaying them over and over. The thick, black smoke clouding the air and suffocating me. The unrelenting flames devoured everything in their path, reducing buildings to rubble. The desperate cries of villagers, a mix of Fae and humans, as they fled for their lives.

I had absolutely no desire to set foot in that hell ever again, but still, I was considering it, and I wished desperately that I could convince myself there was any reason other than the obvious; where that infuriating, stubborn, beautiful woman went, I felt compelled to follow…even if it was the worst decision I could ever possibly make.

“Just say what you came to say, Cross, or I’m going to go try to sleep.”

“I just thought I’d let you know we’ll be leaving tonight instead,” he replied.

“Why the change?”

“Siobhan’s idea.” He jabbed a thumb behind him, indicating one of his crew I knew he was especially fond of. “It’s good, yeah? Always best to leave a false trail when dealing with your brother, so he might see the meeting, but get the details wrong.”

I grunted in lackluster acknowledgement. His efforts were undoubtedly good, but ultimately pointless. The truth was that if Ambrose had seen Lonnie leaving the city and wanted to go after her, no amount of planning could stop him. It was impossible to out maneuver a seer as talented as my brother. I’d learned that lesson time and time again, but the destruction of our home had finally made it stick.

When I met my brother in battle, it would be no surprise, but a test of pure strength, and I took some satisfaction in the knowledge that he’d know I was about to kill him.

It was barely mid-day,and I already knew that no amount of exhaustion could force me to sleep at this hour. Still, anything was preferable to lingering out in the den. I’d found Lonnie’s constant presence impossible to ignore when we inhabited the same enormous fortress. Now, I would have traded anything for my most pressing problem to be the woman haunting my tower.

I stepped into the barracks and was reminded of telling Lonnie that I’d die before letting her sleep here. The sentiment hadn’t been nearly strong enough.

The room was nearly as long as the den itself, with two-dozen beds placed end to end along each wall. At a glance, nearly every bed was occupied. Some people were sleeping, others talking, while still more engaged in far livelier activities until the sounds of heavy breathing, snoring, whispers, and sex filled my ears.

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