Page 92 of The Storm of the Empire

I didn’t know how he could be so friendly with a male who was responsible for the death of at least two flights and so many fae.

I trembled with rage.

Was I just fooling myself and Luka was really in on this? How could he be so well-known to the higher ups if he only made deliveries? And were the priests really working for this cause? They had to be, I reminded myself. It was them stealing the eggs, and now Luka was standing around chatting with them, like old friends. I wanted to flee, but how could I? Even if I left alone, I could never convince Nyx and Zaria that Luka was in on this.

My world felt like it was closing in on me, and I needed to fight back. I needed a plan to take Kalon down. He was right in front of me, and he was vulnerable. I wouldn’t leave him or his undead to escape again. Not like Damona Island. I had to do this myself.

Kalon excused himself and took a door through to a passageway within the temple wall. Luka waited, wandering around the sanctuary until he reached the sacrifice of the Goddess’ garden where I was positioned. He took a seat a little distance away from me.

“Did you hear that?”

I nodded slowly, trying to assess how deep he was in all of this. “I heard. Did he really offer you a job?”

“Yes,” he said breathlessly.

“What are you going to do?”

“He knew about the eggs. He either knows about Kerani and knows that’s where they went, or he has them somewhere. That might include Alora’s egg. I want to stay so I can figure it out.”

I fought back emotion, refusing to have any outward reaction. “I knew you would.”

“I don’t expect you to stay. You can go to Nyx and Jaxus. But I know I’m meant to stay.” He seemed so genuine.

I hated myself for doubting him.

“I’m staying, too,” I told him.

“What?” Had he really expected me to leave?

“I’m not leaving. I’m staying to find Alora’s egg, and I’m not leaving you alone again. If you think we should stay, we’re staying.” I wasn’t entirely sure if I was staying because I trusted him or because I doubted him, and it all felt like a betrayal to myself and my kingdom, but I would see this through.

Live or die,I was seeing this through to the end.

Luka held out his hand for mine.

I hesitated, then put mine in his. He brought it to his lips and kissed my knuckles.

“Thank you for trusting me.”

“Don’t make me regret it,”I implored.

“I won’t.” He stood, helping me to my feet. “Let’s follow Kalon, see what we can find. If we get caught, I’ll ask him more about the job to distract him while you leave.”

I nodded, my stomach churning, but I checked my weapons belt and steeled myself for whatever was to come.

We used the same door Kalon had taken and found stairs leading under the temple. There was a network of chambers down there, some filled with supplies while others stood empty waiting for whatever illicit things they were involved in moving. We came upon a set of doors with barred hatches in them, and a shiver worked its way down my spine. I listened, and there were no signs of life beyond, but knowing what we now knew about their prisoners, I pictured Kol in a place like this and wanted to burn it all to the ground.

Luka reached for my hand and squeezed, understanding where my thoughts had gone.

“It’s empty,” I told him, and he nodded in understanding.

We heard voices raised from the end of the corridor to our right and both froze, listening. Someone was unhappy and was venting their anger on another. It was like how the King had bellowed at Nyx after the raid. We crept down the corridor, getting closer to see what was happening, and when we peered into the chamber, we saw a ghost.

I blinked, trying to clear whatever was fooling my eyes because I could not be looking at Octavian, yelling at Kalon. It simply wasn’t possible.

He didn’t look right. It was clearly Octavian but an almost ghoulish version of him.

“Is that—” Luka started to whisper, but I turned and pressed my finger to my lips in warning. Octavian was a dragon, and he might hear.

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