Page 77 of Blood of Two Crowns

“Yes, they’ll be safe there… I just can’t make any promises about when we’ll return.”

If we return,the fear in my mind whispered. Much to my dismay, my Knowingness often remained silent when I had adrenaline pumping through my veins.

Asterion gave me a nod of gratitude, ushering the females, who were all staring at the portal with wary, nervous eyes. I couldn’t help but stare as he murmured words of reassurance to them. One of them appeared reluctant to leave him, but eventually, all of the females took hold of each other’s hands and disappeared through the portal together.

The rioting of the prisoners peaked when they saw the females disappear, all bellowing for their turn to be released. “How long do we have before one of Azrael’s guards comes to investigate all the noise?” I asked, shouting to be heard.

Asterion huffed his derision. “They won’t be. Even the food iswilledinto their cells, and their refuse iswilledout. Whoever enters this prison dies in this prison.”

“So how do we get out?”

Asterion frowns. “I have a way, but it’s not ideal.”

Malekai shifts impatiently on his feet. “So long as we survive. I don’t care what it is.”

Asterion's frown deepens, and he and my father exchange a knowing look, but he eventually nods. As if it were a cue, Rumielstepped forward. “If the layout of the prison hasn’t changed since I was last in Vassileo, the entrance should be some distance in that direction.”

Mine and Malekai’s brows pinched as myolana kah’heishift nervously beside us. “That still doesn’t explain how we’re going to escape this prison…”

The foreboding look in Asterion’s eyes has unease winding through me.

“There won’tbea prison after I unleash my magic.”

Chapter

Forty-Five

MAREINA

My eyes scaned the broad, scarred, muscled planes of Ataraxus’ body. Outside of the desire his powerful form inspires, it was also a map of his history that I wanted to travel. Something deeply rooted in my soul longed to know more about this male that I’d only just met but was undeniably one of mysoulbound.And while I was filled with gratitude that against all the bizarre and gut-wrenching odds, we’dmiraculouslybeen united—there was also an unshakable sense of dread.

Somnus told me Nakoa and Malekai were coming for me. I should have been ecstatic. Instead, my gut was churning, and a tremor took over my hands. Ataraxus stole concerned glances as he tugged his trousers on, tucking away his long, thick, half-mast erection.

My breathing stilled as he stalked over to me topless, momentarily easing my anxiety. He tugged me against him before taking my head in his hands and guiding my gaze to his. “I won’t allow anything to happen to you, Mareina. Neither will Nakoa and Malekai.”

The fear in my chest pierced deep enough to draw tears.

“It’s not me that I’m worried about.”

Ataraxus leaned in to capture my watery emotion with his lips.

“It doesn’t end this way, Mareina. If I’ve learned anything in my life, it’s thatAkashis conspiringforus. Not against us. She didn’t bring us together just to tear us apart. No matter what happens, have faith in this.”

I wasn’t sure I could muster that kind of faith. While meeting Ataraxus had been nothing short of an absolute fucking miracle, I had also experienced and witnessed too much senseless suffering to have such an unwavering ideology.

Before I could reply, there was an abrupt knock on Ataraxus’ bedroom doors. Ataraxus hesitated a moment, holding my gaze. “Weallleave here together. Understood?”

I managed a weak nod. Ataraxus pressed a kiss to my forehead before calling out.“Enter.”

Erius and the pale female, whose name I still hadn’t learned, stood beside him. I’d tried asking her shortly after I’d arrived, and she’d only given me a blank stare before giving me her back and walking away.

Both were fully dressed in fighting leathers and wearing tense expressions. Erius’s breath came in quick pants. All of which painted a scene that spurred my anxiety.

“A portal’s been opened.”

Apparently, either the drakonati weren’t fond of permitting riders, or they didn’t socialize with anyone outside of their own kind because they had zero harnesses. And despite having four wings, there was no way I’d be able to keep up with their gargantuan 70-plus-foot wings.

Which is why I was currently being clutched inside a cage of Ataraxus’ talons as hundreds of drakonati flew towards Azrael’s palace. Or what was left of it, at least.

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