Page 30 of Of Vows and War: Special Edition
Lovely.
“Do you have anything of value to say or offer? For someone who has deemed themself a savior, you sure are being useless.”
“How rude.” This was getting very old, very fast.
“Listen, I think you need to leave before I make you—”
“Makeme? Hah! You’re funny. Anyways, I need Asher. She and I are going on a little treasure hunt.” With that, the pink-haired psychopath crawled up my bed and tucked herself beneath my blankets. Gaping at her, I did not register exactlywhat she said for a few seconds. When I did, I could do nothing but simmer in the anger and fear that had consumed me up until the moment she had arrived.
Adbeel had broken down in tears when I explained. Watching him sob had been heartbreaking. Listening to him rage at me for keeping her from him for the last year had torn me to shreds. What could I say to that?“Sorry that I selfishly delayed our arrival and then allowed her to hyperfixate on finding allies instead of meeting you?”
I knew what Asher was doing. That she refused to spend even a second of time doing something that she felt was self-serving because she thought she had not yet earned it. Could I have properly explained the importance of meeting him to her? Of course. Had I chosen not to because I refused to push her towards finding out truths that I thought might tear us apart? Definitely.
Adbeel’s fury was more than deserved. He had not spoken to me since yesterday afternoon when I told him. Soon, he would come to me. I knew that. Looking for Asher had been the only reason he had taken me all those decades ago. When he realized I was not, in fact, his grandchild that he had only been briefly informed of through a secret letter, he had assumed the youngling had been murdered after all.
Now the granddaughter he had never known was once more gone.
“Hello, I told you to go get your little princess. Fetch like a good dog.”
That was it.
I stormed over to her, grabbed her infuriating pink hair, and promptly yanked her out of my puke-stained bed. The horrible female shouted as she fell, and then she proceeded tobite my leg.
Furious shouted curses left my lips as I shoved my knee into her face. The beast then took out my knees with her tiny body. She was stronger than any demon or fae I had ever met, so strong it was concerning. Air whooshed from my lungs when my back made contact with the wooden floors.
“You pulled my hair! What kind of a male does that? I should kill you for your crimes!” Anastasia swayed as she stood, her nose bleeding not black, but a deepblue.
“What are you?” I asked with a wheeze. Something was very wrong.
“I told you, idiot! I am the holder of Sin and Virtue—a high demon. Your kind call us gods. Which is ridiculous by the way, there is no such thing.” Scoffing, she slowly lowered herself to the ground near my feet. Three deep breaths later, I too sat up, facing her with more than a few questions.
“So, the god that abducted Asher, was he actually a high demon?” My mind was racing, unable to comprehend so much information, let alone acknowledge the fact that she was freely offering it all.
“Padon? Yes, he is unfortunately the emperor of Shamay, our world. Which is why I need Asher’s help. He’s currently planning to take not only her, but your entire world. Whatever she is doing, he cannot sense her magic, but as soon as he does, he will come for her. The moment she is in his grasp, he will destroy Alemthian. The demons are desperate, and he thinks Asher is the answer.”
“Why does he think she can help? Why does he want to destroy our world?”
“According to him, she has the potential to become a high demon. If he ascends her, then she can possibly solve an issue we are experiencing. It is a long story. All I need is for Asher to help me find someone. Stella. She can fix everything.”
“You know Stella?” I inquired with narrowed eyes. Anastasia would not be deterred. She glared my way, crossing her arms and scowling. “Asher is gone.”
The words stung, admitting them like accepting defeat. But she would not be gone forever. Henry and Lian were taking care of her while I took care of Pike—of Eoforhild. That had to be enough.
“Fuck. That’s going to be a problem. Is she dead or did she just dump you?” The nonchalance of such a question practically left steam coming out of my ears. Blood lust seemed to fill me, like a pot left to simmer. I wanted to explode—to kill her and anyone else who stood in my way of Asher.
Instead, I took my shoe and chucked it at her. Glee stretched my lips into a smile as it connected with her face, sending her head careening backwards. I did not know why, but I felt closer to Asher in that moment, like she had rubbed off on me in some way. It was something she would do, after all.
“You son of a—ow! Eternity above, sorry I hit a nerve you big baby!” She grabbed her forehead, massaging the spot where the toe of my boot had smacked into her. Her nose had stopped bleeding, a blue streak running down her cheek where it had dried into flakes. She healed quickly, similar to demons and fae. Not a god, but a high demon. Had all gods of the faith been high demons all along?
Perhaps she could help me with all of that magic.
“Asher was taken by the fae king and queen. If you help me get her—” The words sent a spark of pain into my temples, Asher’s voice echoing across my consciousness.
“What is wrong? Why are you scrunching your face like that? You look ugly,” she said, indifferent. She was so odd. And gods was she rude.
“Asher has used her magic to stop me from helping her. It is why I had to send others to do it. Why I am here when she is there.” Broken. My voice could only be described as broken.
Anastasia cocked her head to the side, contemplating something in that wicked mind of hers. Probably nothing good.
