Page 18 of Draekora

Alex knew exactly who he was talking about. She made a face and said, “That guy was a jerk. He made everyone think I was one of Aven’s Rebels. I mean, who does that?”

“Focus, Alex,” Roka reprimanded softly. “We don’t have much time.”

“Is that why you brought me here? Because of Niyx?”

“Of all my brother’s followers we’ve captured over the years, he’s the most renowned,” Roka said, a tinge of bitterness coating his voice. “I’m certain he knows something, despite being locked away since Aven’s banishment, but he refuses to tell us anything. I’m hoping your presence might unsettle him. Perhaps enough that he’ll let something slip.”

“My presence?” Alex repeated. She arched an eyebrow. “Don’t sugar-coat it, Roka. Don’t you mean my scent? Aven’s scent? Whatever it is that makes me smell like one of theGarsethbecause I share his blood?”

At least Roka had the grace to look sheepish. “I was trying to be vague and ease your level of discomfort, knowing how sensitive you are to this topic.”

Alex snorted and drew his cloak tighter around her body. “I guess it’s the thought that counts.”

“Will you do it?” Roka asked. “Will you talk with him?”

She shrugged, deliberately pushing aside her apprehension. “Sure. What’s the worst that could happen?”

“Nothing,” the prince promised, a little too quickly in Alex’s opinion. “And I’ll be with you the whole time.”

“Then by all means, lead the way.”

Seven

Niyx looked exactly the same as whenAlex had last seen him. Despite his scruffy appearance, complete with dirty, ripped clothes, he was still unfairly handsome. His choppy, black hair contrasted starkly against his pale skin, and his amethyst eyes drew Alex in, holding her gaze captivated—at least until he spoke.

“Well, if it isn’t my mortal friend,” he said, his soulful voice washing over her and causing her to shiver. “I must say, I was expecting to see you sooner.” His eyes flicked to Roka and he smirked. “But I guess your keeper has had you on a tight leash.”

Roka didn’t respond, yet his body language was anything but relaxed. Alex had sensed his growing tension ever since he’d led her down a dark staircase—made of the same blacktraesosstuff as the rest of the prison and lit sparingly with dim lanterns—and through a maze of cells, stopping at one with an impossibly thick door blocking it. To open it, Roka had inserted a stylus-like engraved Myrox key into a small indent in the door. There was an inscription etched into the metal—a flowing language Alex hadn’t been able to decipher.

“The only power greater than darkness is light,” Roka had translated for her, turning the key until the lock clicked open. “Even the smallest star can brighten the blackest of nights.”

Alex had merely raised her eyebrows at the philosophical inscription before following him into the cell.

“Nice place you’ve got here,” Alex said, having no idea where to start but also refusing to rise to Niyx’s bait. “Cosy. Quaint. Could use a little colour, but hey. Black works for you, right?”

Given that the entirety of his cell was constructed out of the darktraesos, his accommodations were undoubtedly rather bleak. He was sitting on a thinly cushioned pallet resting against one side of the wall, and other than a few books, there was nothing to offer him any kind of entertainment. Alex couldn’t imagine being in his position, locked in the one small room for thousands of years with barely any social interaction, only let out a few times a day to use the amenities and stretch his legs. It was a wonder he hadn’t gone mad.

“It’s the colour of my soul, so it seems fitting,” Niyx said. “But you didn’t come all this way to talk about the décor, did you? Speak your cause and be on your way.”

Alex crossed her arms. “What’s the rush?” She looked around pointedly. “It’s not like you have any pressing engagements.”

“Or so you’d like to believe.” He turned to Roka with his taunting smirk still in place.

“Fine,” Alex said, drawing his attention back to her in an effort to keep her escort from doing anything… rash. Taking a small step closer to Niyx, she said, “You seem like a smart guy—”

“Do I?”

“—which means you’ve probably figured out why we’re here—”

“Have I?”

“—so we’d appreciate it if you would be willing to cooperate with us—”

“Would you?”

“—and answer some of our questions,” Alex finished, her eyes having narrowed further and further with each of his interruptions.

Niyx, on the other hand, seemed greatly entertained. “What did you say your name was, young mortal? Aey-something?”

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