Page 72 of Of Blooming Embers
Rhaegar and Breena leaped into the mist. Frowning, Marek hesitated as he looked at his cousin and grandmother.
“We’ll be right behind you. Go on, boy!” Neoma barked. His jaw tensed, but he walked grudgingly through the threshold.
I stepped forward as Seryn’s eyes met mine, her curls snapping in the portal’s wind.
Neoma whirled, a scowl cutting across her features. My shoulders stiffened at the sound of a familiar voice calling my name like a tinkling chime flitting in a breeze. It slithered over my vertebrae.
Melina.
I drew myself to my full height as I turned, my teeth grinding into one another. Seryn’s hand gripped my waist, her warmth pressing into my back in fear or comfort. Both.
Like a feral cat, Melina grinned as she stalked toward us over the swaying bridge. Her cape snapped behind her, and her gauzy, black dress gripped her curves.
The two Akridais who’d been hunting us since we’d escaped Evergryn flanked her, their greasy, yellow auras licking at her smoke-like energy.
Another female trailed behind them, her pretty, oval face familiar. She wasn’t fazed by the dead bodies groaning and grabbing at her feet.
“Caelora?” Neoma snapped, ignoring Melina and glaring at the woman. “How could you?”
Ah, the traitor.
Seryn’s forehead scrunched and then lifted as Caelora squared her shoulders, and her violet aura surged around her, amethyst eyes glinting like jewels. She tossed Seryn a defiant look—everything about her was defiant—as her honey-colored waves snapped in the breeze.
Although an Akridai rune didn’t brand her throat, perhaps the Elders had recruited her. Her gift hailed from two bloodlines, which was a rarity Melina would covet.
My mouth pinched, sympathy for the traitorous female creeping over my anger.
“Enough chatter. I wish I could say it’s a pleasure to be home again, but I find other things pleasurable nowadays.” She licked her crimson lips and raised one perfectly arched brow at me and then at the Korax leader. “Neoma. It’s been too long.”
Acid boiled up my windpipe. She made me fucking sick. My head lifted, and I raised my sword, eager to impale her. Slice through to the evil core within her.
“Haven’t you missed me, Gavie? You’ve been such a naughty boy. We’ve much to catch up on.” She sighed and then flicked her wrists to either side irritably.
The female Akridai immediately flung her power toward the closest bog bodies, and the creatures froze, their moaning silenced.
As Melina cocked her head, her platinum hair flowed over her shoulder. The male enforcer at her back slashed his energy over the undead, and they collapsed into cloudy depths.
Melina twirled her hands as if conducting a music ensemble and continued, “You’ve done as I asked.” She wiggled her eyebrows at me. “Found my petandpotential Scions. Well done, Commander. I’ll reward you as usual.”
Seryn’s aura was buzzing against my back as she leaned into me, her voice carrying over the bog bodies’ cacophony. “Touch him, and I’ll tear your pretty face off.”
Melina clapped her hands, tittering. “Ah, my little pet bites. Come closer and show me your teeth. I would love to tame you. As I have Gavie.”
Seryn growled, and—fuck me—if it wasn’t the sexiest noise I’d ever heard. Heat surged to the bottom of my spine. Reaching behind me, I brushed my fingers over her waist. “Go on, I’ll be right behind you.”
“I’m not leaving you,” she snarled.
And she wouldn’t.
Desperately, I flicked my gaze to Neoma behind us. She met my eyes, stiffened her frame, and nodded.
I stepped back, forcing Seryn to do the same. My jaw clenched as I dipped my chin, eyes locked on Melina’s slippers. She savored the taste of submission. “Mistress, I’ve done what you asked. I’m at your disposal.”
She tapped a claw-shaped nail on her chin. “Have you, though? It seems as if you’ve been avoiding me. As if you’re back to choosingher. I think there’splentyyou haven’t told me. That won’t do, Commander.”
A slow smile curled at the corners of Melina’s lips, cold and knowing. A nagging spasm ticked under the scar on my chest, more dread than usual skittering along my nape at her words.
Elder Harrow was a predator savoring the moment before the kill. Her smoggy aura flicked angrily about, and I nudged Seryn closer to the portal.
