Page 70 of Tales of a Deadly Devotion
‘We …’ he began, but before he could answer, the storeroom door opened, revealing a stone set of stairs leading down. The house clearly making the decision for us.
‘It’s rude to listen to people’s conversations,’ William grumbled at the wooden-beamed ceiling as if the house’s presencewas no more than a bat hanging there. The only response was the door rattling in annoyance.
‘All right, we’re coming.’ William crossed to the door and I followed. Slapping irritably at my skirts. Not used to being in a light simple dress rather than the confining heavy fabric of my maid’s attire, but relieved the house and William had given me a distraction.
I was desperate for a distraction.
Even if that distraction was at the bottom of a drafty and twisting stone stairwell. Steps so narrow I had to watch my feet, fingers dragging over the cold, damp walls. All warmth seeping from the air, as if the house’s comforting magic couldn’t reach down here.
William paused in the gloom at the bottom of the stairs which was no more than an archway leading to endless darkness. My nose twitched, rough scales forming on my palms as if in anticipation of touching something.
‘Sorry. It has to be the old-fashioned methods,’ he sighed, pulling down a torch from the wall that was strung with cobwebs and dust, as he rummaged in his apron and pulled out a small box of matches, handing them to me. ‘Magical flames don’t do well down here.’
Thank fuck Kat hadn’t found this place then.
I quickly lit the torch, stuffing the matches back in his apron as the cavernous space was illuminated. Large stone arches greeted us, solid wooden doors spaced evenly all the way down the hallway. The remains of a red carpet clung to the stone floor as gargoyles peered down from perches above.
As if we’d wandered into ancient ruins from one of Kat’s history texts.
‘What would you two be up to?’ came a sly, smooth voice from the shadows.
‘Bloody fuck!’ William hissed, almost jumping out of his skin as he struggled to keep hold of the torch.
‘Language, dear William,’ Thean drawled, only there was no amusement on the voyav’s face. Just that sharp annoyance where they stood at the base of the stairs, one arm braced on the wall, peering down at us in striking female form.
‘Why are you creeping around in the dark?’ I demanded, refusing to acknowledge the strange play of my magic over my skin in their presence. The wildness in me not knowing if it should preen or bite. Of how the richness of their scent chased away everything else.
‘Why change the habit of an eternity?’ The voyav shrugged a graceful shoulder, that beautiful auburn hair catching the torchlight as they ran their fingers idly through it.
‘You’re not that old.’ William frowned, sucking his finger where he’d burnt it on the torch. ‘Besides, Alma wanted to see the compendiums.’
William winced slightly, clearly realising he probably shouldn’t be telling a rebellion voyav that information.
Thean didn’t seem to care, those troublesome eyes coming to land on me instead. ‘Of course this wasyouridea, little nightmare.’
‘I don’t see you helping.’ I crossed my arms, feeling the sharpness of fangs against my gums. My treacherous body wanting to mimic them. Ignoring the stupid name they’d chosen to bestow upon me.
‘Perhaps I’m not in the mood to take a beating from a dark lord after rummaging through his cursed collections.’ Thean leant back against the damp wall, apparently unbothered about ruining their outrageous suede jacket.
‘You shouldn’t have said anything about Kat’s breasts then,’ I snapped. Remembering how frighteningly quickly Emrys had moved at Thean’s taunt and how brutally his fist had madecontact with the voyav’s grinning face. Thean not having the chance to hide within their more feminine form.
I doubted it would have saved them. I knew Emrys wouldn’t hit a woman – hitting aTheanwas a completely different matter.
The voyav leant forward, a sly smile upon those full lips. ‘Don’t fret, darling, if I was interested, I wouldn’t have said anything at all.’
I snorted. I didn’t care what the voyav said about Kat’s breasts. Or if they thought about them at all.
Their smile grew sharper as if hearing my treacherous thoughts. Although those amber eyes mercifully left me and drifted to William. ‘Lead the way, dear William.’
‘I don’t think you’re allowed to be down here.’ The boy shuffled nervously, looking down the dark corridor as if waiting for the house to respond. Only for silence and dead air to greet us.
‘The house has clearly made the decision on Blackthorn’s behalf.’ Thean came closer to me, bringing with them that bastard scent that I dragged in too willingly. Anything to get the demonic stink out of my nose – or so I told myself.
I saw the only open door next to us, a gloomy dilapidated room that appeared to have once been an office. A perfect place to wait.
‘Give me those matches,’ I sighed, grabbing the box out of the boy’s apron. ‘I’ll keep an eye on them, William.’
I pushed the voyav’s very firm shoulder so they had no choice but to move into the side room with me. Ignoring how easily they went at my command despite how much taller they were than me.
