Page 26 of The War of Wings
I stared into her eyes, into the swirling silver pools that held knowledge so ancient, my mind had no way to comprehend their depth. “What are you?”
A sinister smile pulled up at her lips, those ancient eyes reflecting an unseen darkness. “I am older than time itself. I’vebeen here longer than any man or woman or king or saint. I am eternal.” Boredom quickly flashed across her features as her posture loosened, all traces of that chilling intensity gone. “Eternity gets tedious. And eternity does not preclude the effects of time. Who wants to spend time aging, withering and wasting away? Beauty is a small price for humans to pay in pursuit of what they truly desire.”
Cal had gone as still as I had. Was his jaw as tight as mine? Was his stomach tied in the same knots mine was? “And the souls?” I asked, fighting to keep my voice even.
“I can only take so much beauty before the well runs dry,” she answered as if it were obvious. “I needed more. What else does a human have to give me? I have no use for money or land or a throne. But a soul…” She sat back again, a satisfied smile on her face. “They make the most beautiful decoration, don’t you think?”
Cal and I were silent as the echoes died down and an eerie silence descended. “Has Malosym tried to infiltrate your realm?”
The Sanguilite threw her head back, a melodic laugh chiming around us before she looked back to Cal, a hunger in her eyes that made my skin crawl. “Malosym knows better than to come anywhere near my realm.”
Cal’s brows knit together. “Because he’s not strong enough to enter?”
“Because I can kill him.”
My eyes flew wide, my body jolting at her words. “You can kill him?”
“Sure,” she answered, bored once again.
Oh, thank the fucking Saints.I wanted to turn to Cal, jump up and down in excitement. She could kill him. She was our answer, she was the key to this. Cal had gone rigid beside me, his brain no doubt flipping through the same thoughts mine was.
I took a step forward. “How can we convince you to kill him?”
She scoffed. “You think I have any interest in ending his pathetic life?” Her sky blue eyes rolled in her head. “As far as I’m concerned, Malosym is an overgrown child throwing a fit. I have far better things to do than spend even a moment of my time on that pitiful excuse of a being.”
“Do you want my soul?” I blurted. “Take it.”
Cal jolted behind me. “Petra–”
“If it’ll be enough to convince you to kill Malosym, it’s yours.” My lungs stilled, my words hanging in the air between us as Cal protested behind me.
“Your soul, Daughter of Katia, is not mine to take,” she answered, silencing Cal. And I couldn’t read the look on her face, nor could I decipher the tone in which she spoke. Dismay? Anger? “Perpetuity does not grant me the right to bend the laws of the universe.”
And just like that, my excitement was gone. If I had my flames right now, my palms would be sparking to life. “So what, you’re just going to condemn the rest of the world to death?”
She sucked her teeth, cocking her head as she stared at me. “You’re the one prophesied to burn this world. So burn it and be done.”
I narrowed my eyes, furrowing my brows. “You want me to burn the world to the ground?”
“I’ve been here since before the clock started ticking. I’ll be here when it runs out and long after.”
“Please, just–”
“I can restore your powers,” she cut in, peering back at me with that same unreadable expression. My eyes must’ve widened in surprise, because she leaned forward slightly. “That’s the real reason you’re here, is it not?”
The surprise quickly wore off, frustration setting in once again. My jaw ground back and forth. “Yes.”
She nodded, once again tapping a slender, elegant finger against the arm of her chair. “Very well. But I’ll need something in return.”
Cal and I exchanged a glance, his mouth set in a hard line. “My sword,” Cal offered, stepping forward. “It’s all I have to give you.”
She let out a laugh, as if the mere suggestion was the most humorous joke she’d ever heard. “Oh, I’m not looking for ideas. I know exactly what I want. Besides,” she said, staring down at Cal’s sword, “that blade has no use here.”
I narrowed my eyes. “What do you want?”
That sickening, feline smile returned to her face. “I wanthim.” Her eyes narrowed on Cal, her pupils dilating. “For my collection.”
I reared back so quickly I swore my brain rattled in my skull. “What?”
