Page 176 of Between Soul and Vessel
“I don’t know what she’s talking about,” Naia lied. She tilted her head to the side, gaze shifting to mine. “What do you mean byothers?”
Damn it.Apparently, Naia hadn’t soldallof us out, and I’d just let a vital piece of information slip.
“Nemtuk and Imari,” my tongue swiftly supplied, before I could give it further thought.
“And they are?” Aurelius asked, his tone bored.
“My guides,” I said, hoping it was enough, praying to the Creator it was.
“Oh,them,” Naia cut in, nodding her head, playing the part. “I saw no need to involve them in all of this, and so I had some wine sent to their room. The wine was laced with something to make them sleep. I imagine they will all be out for a while. Since I betrayed you, I’ll pay what you owe them when they wake, and then I’ll send them on their way.” She shrugged, as if it was the least she could do. She raised her brows, looking at Aurelius. “Unless you want them?”
He glanced at us both, his expression flat, unreadable, then before he scoffed. “I couldn’t be bothered.”
Relief flooded my veins—he was buying our story, which meant Artemesia, Kaleb, and Folkoln were safe-ish—heavy on the ish—for now.
My thoughts returned to my mate. I tried the bond again.Von?
A deep yawningsilencewas all that answered—stretching on and on and on.
I didn’t understand what could have been blocking mefrom reaching him. Von had been suspicious about the tea, but we hadn’t drunk it. My brow furrowed—maybe we didn’t need to drink it . . . maybe the aroma was enough, something we hadallbreathed in.
“Well, as wonderful as this dusty palace is,” Aurelius said, voice full of sarcasm as his gaze shifted around the room, “I’d quite like to return to the palace.” His eyes—Von’s eyes—slid to mine. “Shall we?”
“I’m not going anywhere with you!” I roared. My powers erupted from me, marrying with the stone surrounding us. With a warrior’s cry on my lips, I gave a mighty heave, and the granite and limestone ceiling above him collapsed.
I didn’t wait to see if my plan worked, knowing even if it had, it wouldn’t be enough to keep him down for long. I dashed for the window and drove my shoulder through it.
Glass shattered, slicing my skin open as I launched to the other side.
Gravity grabbed me, its mighty hands pulling me toward the ground dozens of feet below. I picked up speed, falling faster and faster.
I fumbled for my powers, looking for the best option to break my fall.
Earth? Water? Fire?
Wind pressed against my back, and just the feel of it—of falling—called upon some instinctual part of me, and my wings erupted from my back. But this time, my skeleton wing, it was . . . it was fully covered in beautiful white feathers.A perfect set.
“Holy shit, I have wings,” I exclaimed, tears misting my eyes. “I havewings!”
Focus, dumbass. You’re about to be Sage splatter!my internal critic seethed.
Right.
Gritting my teeth, I twisted my body so my back was toward the sky. I pushed my wings out, unaccustomed to the heavy feel of them. I tried to remember all Von had taught me about flying. With his teachings returning to me, I looked for a current. Finding one, my wings caught it and instantly I began to lift—my body no longer falling freely.
I was flying! I was—
Thwishhhhh.
I twirled around, my bident emerging from my hand. I swung it just in time, hitting the arrow off course before it had a chance to bite. Pupils turning into slits, I eyed . . .
Myself.
Standing in a window, nocking another arrow, a wicked smile on my doppelgänger’s face. Chills ran the length of my spine, my blood to running cold—although the lips were mine, there was only one person who had a smile as cruel as that.
Nicholas.
Aurelius might have stolen my worth, but Nicholas stole my life, my baby, the future thatshould havebeen mine. He had stolen from me and Von, and for that . . .
