“I’ll page Baal as soon as anything happens.”
“My troops are in place,” Baal said. “Camped out on the borders of the realm. The Overlords have been informed of your safe return and an announcement made to the public, but until they see you, I doubt they will believe it. I’m hoping Kai will be generous enough to spread the word, after all it was your return that led to his release.”
So, Orin’s plan to throw them off the scent had worked.
Baal sighed. “In the meantime, we need to get you washed and fed.” He scooped me up into his arms and strode toward the exit.
I opened my mouth to protest but snapped it closed again. He was right, I reeked, plus my gut told me that things were about to get ugly out there and this may be my last down moment before the world went to shit.
I’d take what I could get.
***
The water was hot, but not scalding. I lay beneath the suds, allowing Baal to massage my scalp and scrub away the aches and pains. Davin was gone. He’d exposed his secret to save me and was now on the run. When this was over we’d have to do something about his predicament. No one had the right to unmake him for being who he was—an amazing individual. Baal left me to soak a moment, and the steam, the hugging heat, leaded my lids until I couldn’t keep them open any longer.
The world tilted and I was standing by the tub looking down on myself sleeping. My head was tipped back, arms gripping the side of the tub. I could reach out right now and place the palm of my hand on my bathing self’s head. It wouldn’t take much to hold her down. She’d flail and fight, but soon the water would enter her lungs and she’d drown. Then the vessel would be mine.
The vessel.
I raised my arm and stared at the black veins throbbing beneath my pretty human skin. I glared at the ink holding me prisoner. Home wasn’t far. I could take this vessel home. But she would fight me. She was strong. But Legion was patient and it was almost time for us to rise. Still, it would be fun to watch her flail.
I reached, palm out, and touched her silver head.
I awoke on a gasp, my hand shooting out to smack away the hand reaching for me.
“It’s all right,” Baal said. “You were dreaming.”
Dreaming? I stared at my black inked hand. Had it been a dream?
“Kenna? Are you all right.”
He lifted me out. I was pink and clean, but the lethargy that should have infused my limbs was absent. Baal wrapped me in the hugest fluffiest towel I’d ever seen, and lay me on the bed before lowering himself down beside me.
His gaze travelled over my face and his fingers made lazy circles on my bare shoulder, soothing away the final dregs of the vision, dream, whatever it had been.
“I’m sorry I wasn’t there to protect you,” he said softly. “I should have insisted on coming with you.”
“I would have insisted you didn’t.” I sighed and closed my eyes, a sick feeling blooming in my stomach, because if we were going to move forward then he needed to know the truth. He needed to know that I’d doubted him. He needed to know I would never doubt him again.
“The reason I asked you not to come with me, the reason I was weird with you for the last couple of days, was because someone told me something about you, something bad, and I allowed myself to believe it.”
His fingers froze on my shoulder and his eyes narrowed. “Who was it?”
“Sabriel.”
His emerald eyes clouded in confusion. “What did he say?”
I told him everything—about Sabriel’s accusations, about my denial, and then reluctant acceptance. I told him about Mum’s revelation in the carriage and how Sabriel had confessed at the end, but I didn’t tell him about Dante … that I was her, or had been. I needed him to forgive me for me, not for who I’d been.
I pressed my hand to his chest. “So you see, I doubted you. I doubted my feelings and my instincts and that is what caused this. I’m sorry, so sorry. Can you ever forgive me?”
His expression was stony. My eyes pricked and I pressed my lips together.
Baal slipped off the bed. “Get dressed, Kenna. I want to show you something.”
He kept his gaze averted while I pulled on my prosthetic and quickly dressed. He hated me. Great. I should have just kept my big mouth shut. But if I’d done that, my guilt would have eaten away at me. No. I’d done the right thing, and if he didn’t forgive me then … then I’d have to deal with it.
“I’m ready.”
Baal walked onto the balcony and held out his arms to me. “Come.”
If this was the last time he was going to hold me then I’d make the most of the contact. The air kicked up around us and we were flying. I held on tight, inhaling his scent, that liquorice aroma that made my heart ache with longing. We landed on soft grass a moment later in a part of the grounds I didn’t recognise. A tall hedgerow grew to our left.
“Where are we?”
Baal released me and walked off parallel to the hedge. “Come, Kenna.”
I followed, the grass soft and cushioning beneath my boots. Baal stopped by a tangle of ivy, leaned in and vanished.
What the heck?
I rushed forward and stopped by the ivy plant. Shit, where had he gone? “Baal?”
A hand shot out from the ivy, grabbed my wrist and yanked me forward. I tumbled through the green into a sun soaked garden. Fountains, a gazebo, a huge lounge swing and flowers—hundreds of pink and purple blooms—Dante’s favourite flower. The scent hit me then, so strong it made my head reel.
I walked up to the fountain filled with crystal clear water. “It’s beautiful.”
“It was our place, Dante’s and mine. We found it on one of our trysts and claimed it. We’d meet here often and spend lazy days under the sun. The polyander flower was her favourite, so I planted them here for her.” He locked gazes with me. “I would never have hurt her. Yes, I thought she might have been having an affair with Erebus, and it killed me, but my plan was to let her go. I wanted her to be happy.” His jaw tensed. “I was ready to forgive her, but Sabriel I doubt I would have been so forgiving with. He planted lies, he is the reason she is dead. I never got to tell her how sorry I was, or beg her forgiveness for doubting her. She would never have doubted me like that. I’ve carried that guilt for decades.”
“I think she knows.” It was clear now, the strange connection we had. The aroma only I could smell when around him. It was a memory. Dante had associated this place with him, the scent of the blooms with him.
“Kenna?” He took a step toward me. “I want you to know that I understand how doubts can be sown. I understand because I too have been a victim. My doubt killed your sister.”
“Nothing ever truly dies.” I smiled recalling Davin’s words. “And neither did Dante.”
His brow furrowed. “What? What do you mean?”
I pressed my hand to my breastbone. “She lives on in me. In my soul.”
His brow cleared. “What are you saying?”
“Sabriel told me … He told me I was Dante.”
He took another step toward me and I held up my hand. “But I’m not now. You get that right? I’m me. I’m Kenna.”
Baal bridged the gap between us and tilted my chin with the crook of his finger. “Listen to me, Kenna. Look into my eyes, into my heart, and hear me. I loved Dante, but she died. She died, and I grieved, and I moved on. Then I met you and felt things I’d never believed possible. I loved Dante, but I am in love with you Kenna. Heart rending, can’t-breathe-without-you love. Forever love.” His lips lifted in a crooked smile.
There were no words, because he’d said it all. I wrapped my hand around the back of his neck and pushed up on my tiptoes to press my lips to his. I kissed him softly, teasingly. His fingers tightened on my waist, digging in. He was holding back, letting me take the lead when all he wanted to do was throw me down and take me. My pulse kicked up. I needed him to lose control. To take the lead. Pressing my body against his, I flicked out my tongue and swept it ove
r his bottom lip before drawing it into my mouth. A low moan shook his chest, and then I was hauled up against him, his hands in my hair, his mouth devouring mine. He lifted me off my feet and onto the ground.
Thank goodness for soft grass.
***
I found Brett and Irina holed up in my study. Erebus had recruited five dark djinn and was ready to go. Baal was running damage control with the other Overlords after Kai had gone whining about being unjustly tortured.
Brett hugged me, careful not to accidentally crush. “I’m coming with,” he said.
“To Evernight?”
“Yes. I spoke to Erebus. I’m on the hoard watch crew.” He grinned, showcasing glinting diamond teeth.
“I have the potion,” Irina held up the vial. “You’ll get about five minutes of underwater time with this. You won’t need to breath, and you’ll be able to project your thoughts.”
I reached for the potion and she snatched it away. “No. I’m coming with you. Erebus told me what happened last time you got close to the water creature Adamaris. I’m going to make sure that doesn’t happen again.”
She had a point. “Fine. Any progress with the serum?”
Irina glanced at Brett, who crossed his arms over his chest.
“What’s going on?”
Irina pulled out another vial. “The serum is ready, but Brett won’t take it.”
“Brett? What the heck?”
“I’ll take it when this is over. Right now I’m more use to you like this.”
“Do you think I give a damn about how useful you can be? You need to take the damn serum and get back to being you.”
Brett stood, his huge frame towering over me. “What I need to do is be in shape to kick some fucking ass. Caldwell is confidant the serum will work, but it may knock me out completely, or leave me weak. I can’t take the risk. Lindrealm could be attacked at any moment.”
He had a point. I’d probably be make the same decision. “Fine. But as soon as this is over, you take it, ‘kay?”
“Yes, boss.”
I grinned. “It’s your majesty now, I got an upgrade.”
He chuckled. “Fine. Your majesty.”
Irina’s gaze was fixed on my inked hand. “How are you feeling?” she asked.
“Okay.” I raised my hand and turned it over. “The tattoos are working.”
She nodded. “Good. It’s an ancient runic barrier spell. Are you strong enough to burn it out yet?”
“Probably, but I don’t want to risk burning out. Like Brett said, Lindrealm could be attacked at any moment. If I use my flame for this, it could leave me weakened.”
There was a rap on the door and Erebus stepped in. “We’re ready to leave.”
My hand went to Frieda, snug at my waist. Baal had retrieved her from the carriage wreckage.
“Let’s get this over with.”
***
Erebus took the reins as I settled on the leoequise. We were in motion almost immediately. Brett, due to his size, had opted to ride with Irina, and they’d taken the largest of the mounts. Once out of the palace gates, we picked up speed, galloping away from the Black Forest to the east and toward the Cinder lands to the west. Evernight lay beyond the arid landscape, half a day’s ride if we rode nonstop, which was what we’d planned to do.
I patted the mount. “Don’t these creatures ever get tired?”
“The leoequise are hardy beasts,” Erebus said. “They need very little food or water, and are able to ride long distances without breaks. They make the perfect mount for long journeys and battles, but their numbers are dwindling.”
“Why?”
“Not enough young are born, and the few that are birthed die young. This pack is the last of its kind, and so far they’ve shown no interest in procreation.”
We rode in silence for the next hour or so, past markets and homes and taverns and down winding dirt tracks and across open fields. The fifth dimension was truly beautiful, and when this was over, I’d take a tour and enjoy every part of it to the fullest.
I relaxed against him. “When did you last get word from Aidan, Baron, and Vale?”
“An hour ago.”
“While we were riding?”
“Yes.”
I had to know. “What are they?”
“They are my clan.”
“Yeah, but what does that mean? I thought you were the only dark djinn left when the others disappeared. So where did Aiden, Baron, Samson, and Vale come from? In fact, surely you’ve wondered why The Hunt didn’t take you too?”
“I’ve wondered, yes.”
I waited for him to continue. The lush green gave way to hard packed earth. Up ahead the sky was purple, and even further in the distance it took on an indigo hue that reminded me of Baal’s hair.
“We approach the Cinder lands,” Erebus said. “Hold fast, we will ride like the wind. The Cinder lands are not a place to stop.”
It looked like the conversation was over.
The leoequise let out a rumbling cry, and then we were moving so fast. I was forced to close my eyes against the hot wind in my face.
Putting my questions about Erebus’s clan aside, I focused on the task ahead of me. The thought of climbing into the lake with Adamaris didn’t tickle me, but it had to be done.
Hopefully, when this was over, I’d have the answers we needed to defeat Legion.
25
BRETT
So, this was the hoard—this mass of inky viscous darkness slowly bubbling toward the gate. It was less than a quarter of a mile away from them and creeping across the ground like an obsidian mist. Denizens burst from their Evernight burrows, skittering and sliding away from the destructive masse’s path. The ones that got trapped in it turned on each other in a fight to the death.
“How long before it reaches us?” Brett asked Erebus.
“Not long.”
“It began to move when Kenna was taken,” the dark djinn called Aidan said. “We were hoping that now she’s been found it would settle again, that the relief of the masses would leech away the hoard’s strength.”
“It may still settle,” Baron said. “I believe it is slowing down.”
It was too hard to tell. But this was what they did, they watched the hoard and they kept it at bay, so he’d take their word on it.
Erebus walked over to the dark djinn that had travelled with him from the fifth dimension. They began to speak in their strange guttural tongue. Something to the left of the hoard, probably a hundred metres or so, caught Brett’s eye. It looked like mist, no, a dust cloud.
“What’s that?” He pointed out the phenomenon.
Vale followed his gaze. “Erebus, we have incoming.”
“What is it?” Brett pressed.
Erebus broke away from his people and drew his sword.
The dust cloud was advancing rapidly, overtaking the hoard, and shit, it was no dust cloud, it was a hoard of a different kind—a bloody denizen stampede.
“Ready yourselves.” Erebus took up station beside Brett.
Brett drew his everlight blade, the luma gleaming wickedly in the darkness. A surge of adrenaline, warm and familiar, rushed through what remained of his human veins. This was what he’d been born to do. Finally, something he could kick the shit out of.
The denizen hoard attacked, desperate to get through the gate, and with an earth-shattering roar Brett countered.
Blood, thick and black and bitter, flesh torn and bloody and warm. Here in Evernight, the denizens didn’t fold in on themselves and blink out of existence. Here in Evernight you got to eviscerate the fuckers.
“Hold the line,” Aidan bellowed.
“There are more,” Vale shouted. “Coming from the west.”
Sure enough, another cloud was advancing on them.
“What fuck is going on?” Erebus sliced the head off a creeper.
Brett took out the legs on a scuttler. “This doesn’t happen often?”
“This never happens,” Erebus sa
id. “Something has them spooked.”
“The hoard?”
“No, it’s more than that.”
A loud buzz, like the rotors on a helicopter, filled the air. The denizens faltered in their attack and went impossibly still.
“What the …”
It was coming from above, above and all around. The moon went out for a moment, obscured by a dark cloud … a rapidly moving dark cloud. The denizens were silent now, silent and frozen, as if waiting instruction.
“Erebus? What the heck is that?”
Erebus stared at the mass in the sky, his mouth slightly agape, and his silver eyes wide with astonishment.
“Erebus!”
Denizens. Hybrid denizens.
Brett’s pulse skipped a beat. “They’re headed for the gate.”
Erebus locked gazes with him. “It’s happening. It’s happening now.”
He had to warn them. Had to enforce curfew and get the Fearless on the streets. And the way back was right behind him.
Brett took a stumbling step backward. “Get Kenna, tell her what’s happening. I have to go.” He turned and ran full pelt for the gate.
“Brett, wait!”
But there was no time. Lindrealm was about to be under attack, and he needed to be on the front lines when it happened.
26
Erebus had dropped us off at the fortress, then run off to join Vale, Aiden, and Baron at the gate. Brett had gone with him. There was nothing he could do in Lindrealm right now, not until Orin attacked. But the hoard was something he could help keep at bay. Lauren was probably in Twilight by now, with his finger on the pulse, and Irina was by my side. Her mouth parted slightly in awe as we stepped through the doors into the fortress. It greeted me, as it had the last time, sending warm welcoming vibes to envelope me.
“What was that?” Irina said.
“You felt it?”
“I felt … something.”
“It’s the fortress saying hi.” I walked toward the nearest door. I could make my way through the vast structure and find the courtyard, but it was easier for the fortress to take us straight to it. Visualising the garden, I pushed open the door, and stepped out into the night air.
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