Page 87 of The Light Falls
Kaius walks over and takes Solandis’ hand. “I’m sorry, love. This is my fault for choosing this body.”
She waves a hand. “You worry too much. I’m a princess with considerable power of my own. I can handle your absence for a day or two.”
He chuckles. “Two days? Are you sure?”
“Please. You used to be gone a lot longer when hunting for Lucifer’s enemies,” she reminds him. “Besides, I’ll enjoy having Callyx to myself.”
“Madoc,” I interject. “I’ll ask him. He’s a fierce warrior and could come in handy.”
Kaius looks at Cormal. “She’s right. We need back-up who can fight.”
Instead of looking angry, Cormal bares his teeth in a semblance of a smile. “I’ve been wanting to meet the bastard. This will give me time to observe him.”
I glance at my phone. “If I can find him,” I remind them. “I’m hoping he’ll go to the training room with the same idea.” Walking into the closet, I change into a crop top and shorts.
“That’s what you let her wear when she’s training with him?” Callyx asks Cormal, with laughter in his voice. “Brave man.”
Cormal sends a poisonous snake flying at Callyx. “Shut up.” He strides over to me and gives me a long, hard kiss. “Now you can go find Madoc.”
I chuckle. “Jealousy looks good on your face.” He once told me something similar when we saw Evren for the first time.
A wicked smile appears on his face. “Touché.”
Laken and Kian are waiting for me in the hall. “When is the funeral for Galen and Garren?”
Kian glances down at me. “Today. Sunset. In the back garden.”
“Thank you,” I say softly.
When we get to the training room, Madoc isn’t there. I send Kian to find his room, but when we get there, it’s empty of any personal belongings. Stumped, I try to think where he could be. If I were hiding in this drafty place, where would I not go? Grimacing, I look at Kian.
“Take me to the dungeon.”
When we get there, I make Kian and Laken wait outside in the hall. “Madoc. I know you’re here.”
He appears in front of me. “Look who’s suddenly braving the dungeon. Don’t you know there are monsters down here?”
“I’m well aware,” I reply drily. “Unfortunately, I’ve got bigger monsters to worry about today. Real ones. I’m supposed to meet with Fisk tomorrow.”
His eyebrows shoot up. “Fisk, huh? Why? You think you can talk him into not declaring war?”
I laugh. “Your spies are letting you down. I declared war on the Water Fae yesterday. Tomorrow’s meeting is to negotiate a treaty.” I bite my lip; absolutely certain this was a bad idea. “I thought you could help me learn faery fire. Or to walk in the shadows. Or pull power from a group of light Fae. Something a little more badass than my current bag of tricks.”
“You can’t learn all those things in a day,” he says with a harsh laugh.
“Which is the easier one?” I ask, an idea popping into my head.
He thinks about it. “Shadow traveling is probably easier than faery fire, but you still can’t learn it in a day.”
“I might not have to learn it,” I tell him. Explaining about my ability to mimic, I tell him how I can pick up on others’ powers. “The only thing is you have to be there for me to pick up the powers. Will you come?”
He rubs his face. “You know he’s going to have his best fighter challenge you, don’t you?”
When a look of panic crosses my face, he sighs. “Treaty talks always open with a challenge of power. You have to be a worthy opponent for them to sit down and negotiate with you.”
“Why the hell didn’t anyone tell me?” I cry out. “Do you think I’m going to have to fight a cirein-croin?”
He chuckles. “No, Fisk is the last of his kind. It will be his best fighter, though.”
