Page 29 of Queen of Darkness
If something was wrong, who would he be talking to, then?
I waited, trying to remain patient until Fred appeared, followed by Aaron and another.
“Fenrir,” I said, standing. “Wasn’t expecting to see you here.”
The short, curly-haired man bowed his head respectfully. “I wasn’t exactly welcome to stay in Seguin. So, when Aaron discovered you missing and set out to find you, I tagged along. We ran into Fred at the Broker’s, and …”
I nodded as Fenrir shrugged, the rest of the story obvious.
“It’s good to see you,” I said, meaning it.
Fenrir was the only other one like me in the world. A hybrid shifter-vamp cross. Only he was thousands of years old and had long ago mastered that dark, shadowy Hunger that lurked within us. It was something I would be working on for a long time to come if I survived the mission I’d set myself.
Even now, I could feel it, resting just out of reach in my mind. Never quite seen, but always felt. Ready to swarm forward and overwhelm me, turning me into a brutal killing machine at a moment's notice. Strong enough to attract the gods if I lost control.
A shiver struck me at the knowledge of what I could do. And the punishment. Fenrir had lost control once, many thousands of years ago. He’d killed hundreds, perhaps thousands. Each death enabling him to grow larger, stronger, than the one before it. To the point where he’d become a danger so substantial that Odin himself had ordered his capture, sending literal gods to take Fenrir down and imprison him for eternity in Mordathu.
I shuddered at the idea of being thrown in one of those green-walled cells. The prison for paranormal entities, Mordathu was located deep under Mount Olympus. Being sent there was a one-way ticket, though apparently, Fenrir had managed to find a way out. But I wasn’t Fenrir. I was me. Joanna Alustria. I would be confined there for eternity if I lost control.
You’re also avoiding something.
Sometimes, I really hated my inner voice.
“You went looking for me?” I asked, tearing my attention from Fenrir and letting it settle on the tall blond with bright blue eyes that pierced my hardened defenses with ease.
It was so good to see him again. Looking down at him, having his presence, made me keenly aware of how much I’d missed him.
Control yourself. You don’t need him.
Maybe not. But I wanted him around. I liked having him close by. It was comforting and reassuring in ways that I didn’t have the words for.
“Of course,” Aaron said with his typical stoic bluntness, the words somehow conveying an attitude of “you should know better than to doubt that.” “You left without telling me anything. For all I knew, someone had grabbed you.”
“You don’t have to worry about that,” I said, getting up from the throne. I felt silly looking down at them. They were my friends. Well, Fred was. I didn’t really know what to call Fenrir. And Aaron was more than a friend. How much more still remained to be seen, but I couldn’t deny it.
There was a connection between us. Even as I descended the steps to stand in front of him, I could feel it, my heartbeat increasing with each step.
From another passageway, Drakul half-floated into the room, his giant sword strapped to his armored back. He and Aaron exchanged some words that sounded friendly, even with the harsh tones of their language.
To my surprise, Fenrir jumped in as the conversation died, speaking to Drakul. The ancient warrior focused his attention on Fenrir, speaking back with … excitement? I watched the exchange, intrigued. I hadn’t known Drakul was capable of emotion.
“Who would have thought it,” Aaron said, clearly watching as well. “Two loners who have lived alone for ages, getting along.”
“I mean, this is like the perfect place for them to hang out. Nobody’s around or even knows it exists.”
“I agree,” Fenrir said before returning his attention to Drakul. The two of them wandered off down one of the passages, walking side by side, deep in animated conversation.
“Well, that’s cute,” I said, shifting awkwardly. “But what now?”
“Now?” Aaron asked, blinking at me.
“Yeah.” I sighed. “Listen, I’m sorry for just upping and leaving, but I knew if I told you what I was doing, you’d just argue with me some more or try to stop me, and I didn’t want to do that. I don’t like arguing with you.”
“Neither do I,” he replied softly.
“I’ll be over here,” Fred said to nobody in particular, moving to the far side of the chamber to give us some space.
“I’m sorry as well,” Aaron added stiffly. “For yelling at you. I’m just scared for you. I … don’t want to lose you, Jo.”
