Page 6 of Tales of a Deadly Devotion
‘They’re there. I saw them. Protected deep beneath the earth. They have to be there.’
It was a long shot but it was all I had. A memory of that horrid place. I saw Gideon’s eyes move to his brother, doubt creasing his brow. I couldn’t blame him. It sounded impossible even to my own ears.
‘I need to try,’ I pleaded. Hating the weakness of it. A madness, perhaps, but it was all I had. This one memory. This one chance.
Gideon’s lips parted as if to argue but Emrys spoke.
‘Then we’ll try.’ Firm, unwavering, as a light softened the darkness of his eyes. An olive branch between us. Between the secrets and lies.
Then he was moving across the room so he could lay a comforting hand on William’s shoulder.
‘Watch over her for me.’ Emrys’s command was gentle, but hoarse with pain. William blinked away his tears as a new resolve came over him with that order, his shoulders straighter, a soldier given new purpose.
‘Thean,’ Emrys instructed, sharp and lethal as he came back past me, striding deeper into the study, through those shelves the house moved without command.
Chapter Three
Alma
A dark wind pulled in from the east. Some say it was formed of nothing but putrid smoke, only no flames followed. Instead of thunder, there was nothing but distant screams contained in the storm winds, a storm so heavy and vicious it trapped the souls it killed. There was no relief when it broke, for its rains were nothing but blood, turning the canal waters red.
Whatever monster visited the bone markets was made of nothing but death, and all it left after its feast … was ash.
Council report from the eastern fields
I ran my palms down my creased skirts, trying to stop the sweat gathering against my skin. The rough nature of my hands snagged on the cotton. It didn’t matter how many times I changed forms, I couldn’t erase the callouses from my fingers. Couldn’t erase the past.
This mortal skin is just another disguise. One of many. Just another form to hide within, making me wonder if I was real at all, or just a ghost encased in flesh. A beast with no name.
A sharp shiver moved down my spine, the restless bite of my scales pulling me from my own pity as my eyes focused on the old Portium door before me, how the paint had begun to crack and peel at the edges. Something else that shouldn’t exist. A forbidden, dangerous thing.
Just like you.
‘You’ve chosen madness then?’ came Thean’s words over my shoulder, followed by their sharp scent. Rich cologne, brandy and a telling tang of blood.
Against my better judgement, I turned. A wild urge streaked through me in response to their small, teasing smile as the shadows cut across the striking feminine face they’d chosen and those amber eyes gleaming with devious intent.
‘I didn’t see you as one for loyalty,’ I challenged. Rebels didn’t do things for free. They also didn’t risk the wrath of their master for a Kysillian of all creatures. Not one beyond their master’s bounds.
‘I made a promise. Surely you of all beings understand that, darling?’ The voyav shrugged, picking at a stray thread on their sleeve. ‘Besides, your dear friend still owes me a favour.’
Thankfully, Thean’s latest taunt was interrupted as Emrys moved towards us through the dark, narrow shelves. A glowing crystal rested in his gloved palm, the white light reflecting in the pitch-black of his eyes.
‘You’re certain?’ He asked, an unforgiving shadow before me.
‘I can’t forget it.’ That was the only certainty I could give. ‘The trader didn’t trust anyone. He blindfolded his clients but I could smell the way. Then I was brought there. They wanted to steal what he had, but they ran out of time.’
My voice was distant, detached from that version of myself I’d once been. Scuttling and weak. Refusing to remember that my Keeper never had a chance, not when he’d been foolish enough to loosen my leash.
Whatever Blackthorn saw in my expression seemed to be sufficient as he held out the iridescent crystal to me. A portal stone. ‘Take this.’
‘I can change.’ I’d been a bird before and despite the fact the flight might hurt over such a far distance, I could get myself to safe territory, maybe even find my way back here.
‘This will bring you back here.’ He pressed the cold stone against my palm, clearly it wasn’t up for argument.
‘Do we all get one of those?’ Thean raised a dark brow as they ran fingers through their loose auburn hair with mild boredom. ‘Considering I’m beingcoercedinto this madness?’
Emrys ignored them, turning to the portal door to rearrange another crystal in the compartment. Kat had explained to me how it all worked but I didn’t dare allow myself to remember.
