Page 295 of Dawn of Chaos and Fury
“You cannot leave me here!” Cressida cried again as Axel turned away.
He knocked twice, the door opening a moment later, and as he stepped through the door, he looked over his shoulder one last time. “Goodbye, Cressida.”
He could still hear her furious cries echoing while Kyra’s Source led him back out of the small incarceration unit, and when they stepped out in the daylight once more, he reached for his hood again.
“Dey? I didn’t know you were going to be here,” the Fae male said, and Axel turned to see who he was talking to.
Dark red hair was cut to her shoulders, bangs touching brows over emerald green eyes. In fitted pants and a shirt, she had daggers strapped to her thighs. She’d clearly been trained to fight. Her eyes were narrowed, studying him, and he didn’t need the shadows drifting around her to know who she was. Knew she was five years older than he was, weeks younger than Theon.
Shoving his hands in his pockets, he stayed put, waiting for her to make the first move.
She stepped up on the first stair, stilling once more. “You’re her son?” she asked.
“She birthed me,” he replied. “But I don’t claim her as my mother.”
The female didn’t respond. Only studied him more, and he didn’t care. He’d long since stopped caring what other people thought of him. He had a family he’d kill for, and an Underground full of people in his care. If his sister decided she wanted nothing to do with him, it’d hurt, but he’d move on. He’d understand.
“Aiyana told me of you,” she finally said, moving up another step.
“I’ve been told of you as well,” he replied. “But I’m guessing you’ve known of me far longer than I’ve known of you.”
“Probably,” she answered, venturing another stair closer. “You were speaking to her?”
“For the last time,” he said, watching the mist of shadows trail her. “Have you met her?”
She nodded. “Once.”
“And?”
Her lips thinned. “She took one look at my shadows and cried. Sobbed about what her life should have been to have produced an Arius heir.”
“Herlife?” Axel questioned.
“You heard me.”
He huffed a laugh of disbelief. “Yeah, that tracks for her.” He tipped his head, studying her. “And now?”
She was still four steps down from him, spine ridged. “Aiyana will return to her sons, and I…” She shrugged.
Axel took a step down this time. “What do youwantto do? Stay here?”
Her hands clenched at her sides, and he knew what she was going to say before she said the words.
“I’ve been forced to stay hidden here,” she replied.
“Valter is dead. No longer the Arius Lord,” Axel said. “Would you like to see the rest of the realm?”
Her shadows thickened, caressing her in a way they used to do to him. “Your brother won’t consider me a threat?”
“He’s not the ruler, and even if he was, no. He wouldn’t, and he wouldn’t be a threat to you.”
“I’ve heard…things. About him. And you,” she ventured, her nerves finally flickering in her eyes.
“Most are true,” he conceded. “But much has changed too.”
She remained quiet, features hard.
“Think about it?” he said, jogging past her down the stairs. “I have to get back to my wife and son, but when you’re ready, we’ll be waiting.”
