Page 43 of Last Ride of the Umbra Fae

I didn’t notice how bright his eyes were until they were emeralds drowning in a sea of a sprawling, bloodshot gaze. When I felt satisfied, I released him.

We entered a tavern, where patrons were scattered in their own private booths; dim blue light filled each space. It was half empty, showing we’d come at the perfect time.

End’s Wrath arched a brow, already surveying and most likely planning.

When the bartender saw who strode in beside me, he gave me a quick nod and jerked his chin to the staircase on his right. We went down a dingy flight of stairs made of stone. Every few feet were oil-filled lanterns. There was no evidence of using the blightstone to light the way, which struck me as odd, considering what went on down here.

It was the main source of light for most of the city. The stones were melted down into the same liquid as Vessa’s tonic, only, they made a portion of it into candles so they’d burn longer.

As we descended, the air became thin, stagnant, and I wondered how anyone could live or do business in a place that smelled like this, but I already knew how deep desperation could run.

We made it to the end of the stairs, entering a large basement that was set up like a lair. To the naked eye, it looked like a bunch of metal crates, but the contents were valuable and stacked by size, depending on how many nara coins one had to offer.

As the last Umbra Fae stepped into the space, I felt the shock course through them both, invoking a power that caused the hair on the back of my neck to rise. The only one who was hard to read was Raven, which was a shocker, given End’s Wrath always held a poker face. As he plucked the toothpick from the corner of his mouth and surveyed the vast room, a look of relief and worry etched his face. I would have given a left nut to know what he was thinking.

“The contents of those boxes are the fuel behind the motives of every greedy villain lurking within the shadows of this city,” I said as we walked past them.

I’m a bastard, knowing I’m one of them.

Vials upon vials filled wooden tables. Half-made constructs and some mid-experiments littered the space as the honey-amber glow of the blightstone rested on top of several small candles.

This was the largest stash of tonic one could ever dream of getting their hands on. I looked over my shoulder, watching Vessa’s eyes widen, an angry, grief-stricken expression crossing her face as her eyes trailed over the room. This whole operation went against fae nature and beliefs, especially the Umbra’s. It seemed like seeing the Eternal being used, melted down, and sold did something deeper to her. The flutter in her jaw was enough for me to want to say End’s Wrath warned her, but I reached back and squeezed her hand. She blinked, tears stingingher eyes, as if I had snapped her into the now, as if she somehow needed to place the blame somewhere. Here I was, in her range. Her brows slammed together as she locked eyes on me.

“I wish I could unsee all this.” Her faint whisper echoed throughout the space, striking another pang of guilt inside me.

“This is what’s needed,” End’s Wrath reminded her. I could tell she was indifferent, as if she had somehow changed how she felt about the tonics.

“It’s what you paid me for, End’s Wrath. You’re finally here,” I said. Vessa shot me a look that could have ended me, but I turned as the hair rose on the back of my neck.

At the end of the room was a man who was like me—half man, half fae—a being who could walk both worlds yet didn’t belong, and he was staring straight at us.

27

Vessa

There was a distant hum in the air, a slight shift in the breeze that had sent an awareness down my back the moment we’d entered this room. All at once, the center of my chest burned where the mark of the moon carved my path, a call to my very own power. Though I stood in the entrance of a place that held so much greed, by some inclination, I knew I was destined to be here. I felt it beneath my footsteps, and as I pressed my palm onto one of the stacked metal crates, the vibration grew. There was a small basket with a handful of blightstone in such strange shapes. I picked one up and held it in my palm. Raven’s arm brushed against mine, his body heat dragging my glare away for him and I to share a look. I opened the bond.

He reached out, examining the stone closely before saying,“What the fuck have we walked into?”

“I don’t know, but something isn’t right,”I replied through the bond. These stones had been melted down only to be hardened once more. As I looked at some above a low-lit candle, I realized they were being melted…again.

Now I knew the city was not humming, it was wailing—the Eternal was hidden somewhere in the city walls. Stones were known for having energy, and somehow, I was able tohearit.

At the end of the room, a man stood behind a table with his sleeves rolled up and shirt slightly untucked. He looked to be in his sixties, but his rich, tan skin had a glow—no doubt using the power of longevity from these stones.

“Ah, there you are,” the man said, moving his attention to Ryder.

Within a few strides, Ryder sauntered over to the table, dragging a hand along the metal crates in examination as we trailed slowly behind. “I’m always on time, Sergil.”

Now getting a closer look, I studied the artificial firmness of Sergil’s face. It was unnatural for humans to use this; the sheer wanton effects of the tonic had made every fading line and wrinkle look like a waning façade.

“My, my, she has the brightest of curious eyes,” Sergil drawled as he slightly tipped his glasses for another look. His almond-shaped eyes roamed over my face, as if he was piecing something together, observing me like I was another specimen to be pulled apart in his shit-festering lair. While he had me under his glare, I had a feeling he wasn’t fully human nor was he the main maker. He was trained, because there was no fucking way he could have learned this on his own.

“Keep looking at me like that, and I’ll drain every ounce of that tonic from your veins.” I smirked, leaning into the table until I was inches from his face. “And I promise you’ll feel every ounce of it leaving your body.” He was part of the problem as to why this shit kept being sold on the black market. “This whole fucking place should be burned to the ground,” I said, glancing over at Pa, who had resumed his poker face.

Ryder pressed a firm hand over the top of my stomach, gently nudging me back. “This is all just a transaction. We are only hereto get what you need,” he warned before turning to Sergil. “Then we will be on our way.” Ryder’s stilted conversation had me on edge as something unsettling raked down my spine.

I gritted my teeth, turning to look at Pa for some sort of response, maybe fucking backup? He returned my daggered stare with a warning as he walked up to Sergil. “Business is business until you cross this table. Count your blessings—this transaction is the only reason I haven’t slit your fucking throat.” He tossed a bag of nara coins onto the table, slowly pulling out another.

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