by JD Monroe
“Do you serve the Raspolin?”
At the word, Natalie grabbed for Herilah’s phone. Tahin didn’t look like he was long for this world, and she didn’t want to miss anything. She opened the camera and started a video.
“I serve those who want a better world,” Tahin replied. “Your glory days are long gone. It’s time for a new era.”
“Where did you take her?” Natalie asked quietly, stepping forward. Rosak whipped his head around to glare at her. Natalie ignored him. “Where’s Thea?”
Tahin shook his head. “Did they tell you what you are?”
“A hybrid. Where is she?”
“They won’t let you find your real power,” Tahin said. “Find Dornan, and you’ll be more than you ever imagined possible. Greater than any of them. A queen, in your own right.”
“Are you part of the Chosen?” Natalie asked.
“Get him up,” Rosak said. “We’ll take him back.”
Tahin’s lips quirked. “I hope you find the true path, Natalie. Don’t let them fool you,” he said. He reached up and dragged his arm across Ruana’s spined foreleg. Blood sprayed from his arm, but he repeated the motion with his other arm. Then he slumped, arms spread wide as crimson gushed from the deep gashes on both arms.
“No!” Rosak bellowed, grabbing the man’s forearm to try to stop the bleeding.
“The dawn is coming. Justice will cleanse you like fire,” Tahin murmured. “Your time is nearly up.”
And then he was silent. His body shook a few times, then went limp. Their only lead was gone.
A toxic brew of anger and despair boiled in Erevan’s stomach as they rode back to Skyward Rest. It didn’t help that they had the bodies of two dead shifters in the back, which was open and filling the rest of the vehicle with the smell of death.
He’d intended to make it back with at least Tahin still breathing, although bringing Herilah back alive would have been ideal. Instead, he had two dead bodies and no answers. He couldn’t even muster a sense of vindication that for all his bravado, Rosak had been just as useless as Erevan had. It would take him another few hours to work up the courage to tell Ruana she’d been right. The only way this could have been worse was if she had let him go forward on his own, only to have the same outcome without Rosak’s involvement.
Natalie hadn’t spoken since they left the campground. He’d made her take the front seat to put some distance between her and Herilah’s body in the trunk. Her eyes were blank and wide as they made the solemn ride back home. This was why he didn’t want her involved. Not only had she been in danger, she’d had to watch Herilah murdered in cold blood. And while he knew Herilah had betrayed her kind and signed her own death warrant, he still felt a pang of guilt at leading her into a certain trap, especially since it had gained them nothing.
The whole thing had been a pointless waste. He’d promised to find Thea, to find all of the other Kadirai that Tahin had handed over to his monstrous employer. And he had nothing. No answers. No leads.
As if they’d sensed it was the worst possible time, his phone rang with Thosrin’s office number. He grimaced as he answered. “Erevan Skyblaze.”
“Mr. Skyblaze,” Aktil said. “Her Eminence requests an update on the operation.”
He swallowed. No point in mincing words. “Herilah is dead.”
Aktil paused, a heavy silence on the other end. “I see. Did you get any information?”
“Not much,” Erevan said. “Please tell Thosrin I’ll be in touch soon and let her know what I find out.”
“Yes, of course,” Aktil said. “And you’ll inform Queen Valella that the Queen and her Flock were cooperative.”
“Of course. Wait.” The mention of the Flock had jogged something loose in his brain. “Did all of the Flock report back?”
“No,” Aktil said after a brief pause. “It appears that Kalin and—"
“Lilya didn’t come back,” Erevan interrupted.
“Yes, that’s right.”
Lilya was usually at Thosrin’s side and should have been there that morning when they confronted Herilah. He’d assumed that she didn’t answer his initial call because she was indisposed and had been too distracted by Herilah to ask about her. His stomach churned. “Can you get a hold of her?”
“I will try. If she didn’t check in already, then she’s likely still searching.”
“This much later?”
“It’s…unlikely,” Aktil admitted. “Do you think she was involved?”
“Herilah said she worked alone, but…God, I hope not,” Erevan said. “Keep me posted.”
“Of course,” Aktil said. “And you’ll tell them?”
“Yes, you have my word.”
After he hung up, Ruana glanced back at him. She’d been on the phone while he spoke to Aktil. “Rosak says we’re to meet with the queen when we get back.”
“Shit.” His stomach lurched. What was he going to tell her? As she slowly drove the winding mountain road to Skyward Rest, he texted Sohan.
We’re almost back. Bad news. Going to see the Queen. Help?
When Ruana parked in the underground garage, there were already two Tempest agents waiting for them. He recognized them both—Garid and Piryne. The pale, dark-haired woman Piryne stepped forward and said, “You can leave the vehicle with us. Rosak called ahead. The Queen is already waiting.”
Piryne led them through the winding underground halls toward the center of the palace. He felt disheveled and dirty after the battle in the woods, and certainly unprepared to stand before the queen. His stomach sank as the Tempest agent opened the door to a tight spiral staircase up to the throne room.
The Throne of Exiles stood in a grand hall of variegated gray stone. The back wall featured a massive dragon springing forward with its silver-veined wings spread. Fist-sized diamonds glittered in its eye sockets, reflecting the light of the flame burning in its jaws. Beneath the watchful eyes of the Skymother were two silver thrones, elegant and low.
Today, the thrones were empty, and the numerous silver sconces lining the stone walls were unlit. Instead, Piryne led them down the side of the hall and into a narrow corridor. Two guards in charcoal gray uniforms stood at the end of the hall, both with ceremonial spears at the ready. They stepped aside as the entourage approached.
Past the door was a richly appointed sitting room. At one end of the room was a slightly raised dais with a large settee. Queen Valella and her husband, Eberand, sat on the cushioned settee. She wore an elaborate dress of burnt-orange silk, and her thick, copper hair was styled atop her head with red and orange blooms pinned into it. Her expression was stony as the Tempest led them inside and before the thrones. Eberand was similarly dressed, though his close-cropped hair was ornamented only with a plain silver crown. With his narrowed eyes and tense posture, he did not feign calm like his wife.
A servant bowed politely as they entered. “Her highness, Queen Valella and King Eberand accept the guests, Rosak—"
“We know why we’re all here,” Valella said mildly. “We do not need the formality.”
Despite her words, Rosak stepped forward and knelt before the queen. Erevan and Ruana followed his lead. Fear gripped his chest as he knelt respectfully. Out of the corner of his eye, he saw Natalie mimic the gesture.
“Who is the human?” Valella asked in Kadirai.
“She is a hybrid,” Erevan said in English. “And as such, she is welcome here. I humbly request we speak in English so she can understand.”
“I will determine who is welcome in my home, Erevan Skyblaze, and I will speak what I prefer,” Valella snapped, continuing in Kadirai. “Rise.”
He stood, trying not to wince at the aching marks on his back from Tahin’s claws. Raising his head, he met the queen’s even stare. She gestured silently, and Rosak took a seat at one of the nearby chairs. The rest of them followed his lead, taking their seats and staring up at the queen.
“I am disturbed by the reports I received from Rosak. Two wounded dragons.
One dead. A human believed to be responsible being cared for by my healers. And imagine my surprise to find out that you sought counsel with the Crow Queen before speaking to me.”
“I thought she would—"
“Silence,” Valella said. “You are an agent of the Skywatch. Your jurisdiction is Wanderers within the city. You are to enforce our laws with them. This is beyond your reach.”
“Su’ud redahn, if I may,” he said respectfully. Natalie looked frustrated as she looked back and forth between the Kadirai in the room. He continued in English. “We spoke to Rosak yesterday about the case. Due to his past…friction with the Edra, we agreed that I would continue to follow up with Thosrin for the best possible outcome.”
Valella shot a questioning look at Rosak. He nodded. Stubborn as ever, she continued in Kadirai. “Even so, this is a matter concerning our people. Not the Edra.”
Someone pounded on the door. There was a shout of surprise from outside. Eberand surged to his feet, drawing two long daggers from beneath his heavy cloak. Unlike Valella, he was born a common dragon, training as a warrior before he married into royalty. He stood in front of her, knives poised.
Rosak jumped up, heading to the door as it flew open. Cold filled the room as ice crystals formed on his fist. His pale eyes flashed. As a smaller silhouette passed through the door, Rosak relaxed. “Get out.”
Sohan pushed past Rosak, leaning on his cane as he glared at the queen.
Thank the Skymother.
“I did not send for you,” Valella said.
“And yet I’m here,” he replied. “Did you tell her already?”
“Not yet,” Erevan said.
“Tell me what?” Valella frowned as Sohan squeezed onto the couch next to Natalie. “No, you are not staying. Get up.”
“Tell her,” Sohan said, ignoring the queen.
“I will have you thrown out,” Valella said.
“Tell her.”
“Su’ud redahn, I’m sorry, I—" Erevan stammered.
“For fuck’s sake,” Sohan said. “Spit it out. The Raspolin have returned.”
Valella sucked a sharp breath through her nose. “Do not throw that word around lightly.”
“It’s true,” Erevan said, his voice shaking. He felt like he was walking on a knife’s edge. “Beale, the healer we brought back, confirmed they were using blood magic.”
“The Raspolin are long dead. Nothing more than bogeymen to scare children,” Valella said. She pointed one bejeweled finger at Sohan. “Your people saw to that.”
“I told you and your mother before you that we couldn’t be sure,” Sohan said. “We wiped out every last one that we could find, but ideas are hard to kill. It would only take one or two with access to their power.”
“This is nonsense,” Valella said.
“I told you years ago that you would be a fool not to keep a stronger patrolling force,” Sohan said. “But you didn’t want the nasty old wars of those dreadful dragons back in the Old World. So primitive and—"
“Watch your tongue, Shadowbane,” Eberand interrupted, his voice rising to cover Sohan.
“How many of your people will you sacrifice to pretend all is well?” Sohan said.
“I am sacrificing nothing,” Valella said sharply. “I only ask that you do not incite panic where it is unnecessary.”
“The Raspolin are worth panicking about,” Sohan said. “They’ve been under our noses for Skymother knows how long, and you didn’t have a goddamn clue.”
“I will not ask you again to watch your tongue,” Eberand shouted. One hand rested at his hip, ready to grab a knife. Would he actually strike Sohan?
“You sound like Velati,” Valella said.
Erevan sucked a breath through his nose. Once one of the Arik’tazhan like Sohan, Velati was infamous for being banished from Skyward Rest decades ago. People talked only in whispers about what had happened, and the reality of it had passed mostly into rumor. Removing all speculation, all most of them knew was that Velati had defied the queen and had paid for it by being cast out of the community forever.
“Ah, yes,” Sohan said bitterly. “Would you care to banish me as well, so you can pretend as though all is well in the land of the Exiled?”
“Get him out,” Eberand snapped, gesturing to Rosak.
“My pleasure.” Rosak surged to his feet. The temperature plunged as the cold energy swirled around him. His smile was nasty and vindictive, sending a current of white-hot anger through Erevan. He stood, blocking Rosak’s path.
“You’re not taking him until she listens,” Erevan said. Rosak glared down at him. His pale blue eyes glowed with the power pulsing inside him. As cold poured off him, Erevan let his own fire push back, radiating heat. There was a crackling tension as their energy tangled, unseen in the space between them.
He didn’t want to do this. Rosak would obliterate him in a fight, but he was willing to risk it. He’d seen what this power did, and he’d take on a dozen Rosaks if that’s what it took to make the queen listen.
“Don’t throw everything away for this old fool,” Rosak said quietly.
“Su’ud redahn,” Sohan said hesitantly from behind him. The honorific sounded as if it hurt, like spitting up barbed wire. “Please, hear me.”
There was a painful crack of shifting joints as Sohan sank to one knee. Rosak’s eyes widened at the sight. Erevan had never seen Sohan kneel before the queen. His body trembled faintly with the effort of balancing.
Finally, Valella said, “Stand aside. Let him speak.” Rosak stepped back, and Erevan stood aside so Sohan could address the queen. “Rise, Shadowbane.”
Sohan remained kneeling as he stared up at the queen. “I’ve never lied to you. I’ve never said anything but what I believed to be the truth, and then only when I felt there was evidence to back it up. When Erevan described the weapon that forced him to change, I knew what it was before he did. I smelled their magic on him, and on the unfortunate souls who still lie on the brink of death in your infirmary. I know that magic. It’s in me now. It’s in my bones, in my very marrow. That’s the same power that ripped the dragon out of me and left me like this.” Despite his fraught words, his voice was calm and even, betraying no emotion. “Believe me, I wouldn’t say it if I wasn’t sure. If it’s not the Raspolin, then it’s someone who has rediscovered their power and shares their hatred for our kind, and as far as I am concerned, that’s just as bad.”
The queen was quiet. Though some knew what had happened to Sohan, it was never spoken aloud, and certainly not in front of a group of people. For him to mention it made it clear how serious he was.
The older man continued. “You—we have a serious problem. The Unresting did everything in our power to wipe them out. Blame me for this if you wish. Blame Velati. Blame all of the Arik’tazhan who survived, who made the mistake of thinking we finished the job. But do not fool yourself by thinking that you can pretend it doesn’t exist,” he said. “I’ll do whatever I have to for our people’s protection. But you have to help.”
The queen finally took a deep breath and picked at her skirt. With a resolute expression, she asked, “What is this weapon you mentioned?”
There was a painful tension in the room as Sohan gripped his cane and got to his feet, then sat on a nearby couch. Natalie scooted further to make room for him, and he spared her a subtle nod.
“The Crimson Elegy,” Sohan said. After glancing at Natalie, he continued in English. “It was used in the Great War to fell hundreds of capable Kadirai warriors. It’s a sound. The vibration triggers our transformation. There is little protection against it.” His gaze flicked to Natalie, then back to the queen. “The Arik’tazhan of old employed hybrids, specifically the sul’kadi. A bond between Kadirai and sul’kadi confers protection from the Elegy.”
“Very well,” Valella said. “We will begin recruiting hybrids from our ranks and conducting training so that we may be prepared to confront them. Is that sufficient?”
“Our people are
suffering right now,” Erevan said. He glanced at Natalie, who was staring at him, as if she was willing him to stand up for her and Thea. Her expectant gaze bolstered his resolve. “We have to do something soon. We can’t wait for weeks of training.”
“We need Velati,” Sohan said. The king scowled. “Between the two of us, he and I could train your Tempest to fend off the Elegy in the long term. We can also begin a plan of attack to eliminate the Raspolin once more.”
“He is not welcome here,” Eberand said.
“Su’ud redahn, your husband does not grasp the situation,” Sohan said. “Perhaps I can use smaller words.”
“How dare you?” Eberand spat.
The quiet peace evaporated as the king and the grizzled warrior bickered. Erevan checked his phone to find a message from Aktil.
Aktil: I heard from Lilya. She’s miles out of town. Said she has something you’ll want to see. She says it smells like Beale’s facility.
Erevan rapidly texted back.
I’ll call her. Thank you
“You should have been preparing for this for decades, like I told you,” Sohan was telling the king. “Like Velati tried to tell you.”
“We cannot go back, so your incessant harping about the past does us no good,” Vallella said. “We can only move forward.”
“We may have something,” Erevan interrupted as he called Lilya.
She answered after the first ring. Her voice was strained and whisper-quiet. “Hi, Er. Can’t talk long. Bad place. Smells like death.”
Her disjointed speech was the result of a shifter spending a long period in their other form. It took time for their minds to catch up once they changed back. “Where are you?”
“North,” she said. “Highway…I’m not sure. I can’t get see any signs.”
Natalie grabbed his arm and leaned over. “Tell her to turn on location services.” Leaning close to him, she said, “Go to your messages—" He pulled the phone from his ear and handed it to her. “Oh, hi. Yeah, go to your messages like you’re going to text Erevan. There’s an I up there for info. You should see something about sending him your location. Do that. No, send location. Yes.” She held up the phone, turning it so Erevan could see. A map had appeared in his messages from Lilya. “That was it. Good—wait.” Her jaw dropped, her eyes wide and fearful. “Oh my God.”