by Bailey Dark
Serus who has been laying in the shadows, slips into the light. “You did?” He asks with surprise.
“I did.” Verity purses her lips at her familiar and I wonder if she’s still angry at him. “But whoever designed it didn’t want anyone else to use the spell—break it or replicate it.”
“So what does that mean?” Thal leans forward, curious.
“It means I need more time to unravel it,” Verity says. She rubs her temples, scrunching her nose. It’s adorable.
“What do you mean, unravel it?” Erzur presses.
Verity sighs. “Picture an enormous, tangled ball of string. Imagine that some strings are glued together. Imagine that it’s filled with impossibly tight knots. That’s the way the spell feels to me. I have to take it apart before I can understand it and replicate it.”
“And how long will that take?” I ask, chest suddenly tight with doubt.
“It could take days,” Verity mumbles. She drops her gaze, looking guilty. “But I’ll work as quickly as I can tomorrow morning.”
Erzur shakes her head. “The Shades won’t hold back for long. I doubt we have days.”
“I’m doing what I can,” Verity snaps.
She presses a hand to her forehead as a look of pain flashes over her face. My gaze cuts towards Erzur. “Don’t pressure her. Verity is well aware of the dangers here and the urgency of our mission.”
“There’s something else,” Verity says suddenly. She narrows her eyes at Sadal. “How did Freia know I’m from the mortal realm?”
Sadal glances up, eyes focusing on Verity as if noticing her for the first time. He chews on a bone from the carcass. “How should I know?” His dark eyes flash. “Freia is clever, I’m sure she would know you aren’t a Fae even without seeing the ears you’re hiding under all that hair.”
“It doesn’t seem right,” Verity starts, looking suspicious.
“Focus on the spell.” I interrupt her. She glowers at me, but I dip my chin, eyes locked on hers to convey a silent message. “Let us monitor the Gods.”
Verity nods after a moment of tension between us. She lays down with her back to me. Serus pads to her side and I see her reach for him and run her hand over his back. He purrs. A corner of my lip quirks up in a wry smile. I take the first watch of the night as the others rest but I can’t get Verity’s words out of my mind. Sadal is laying with his back to me, facing Freia. She’s still awake in her prison, watching us. I narrow my eyes and wonder just how much about the Gods we don’t know.
Chapter 14
Verity
My magic is restless, vibrating around me so powerfully I worry the others will notice. But they're resting now. Altair is focused on the darkness, watching for any signs of danger. I feel more at ease with him watching over us, but the Third Stratum is the deepest part of the Ether—the evilest and darkest. I'm afraid of what might lurk down here. Sadal told us before that Freia frightened almost every living thing here away. I'm beginning to wonder how she managed to do that from inside her prison. The thought makes me shudder.
I don’t want to leave us vulnerable to the Goddess even for a second. I pat Serus on the back, waking him. “Serus,” I whisper.
"What?" His hazel eyes are sharp as if he was never asleep at all.
“Will you help me cast a spell?” I ask tentatively. The last time my familiar and I attempted anything magical together, we ended up bickering. I don’t want a repeat of that.
But Serus seems more forgiving than mortals—or perhaps less petty. He rises, stretching and curling his tail. “What kind of spell?”
"A protection spell to keep us safe throughout the night." I roll onto my stomach.
“To protect us from the creatures in the darkness, or a certain Goddess?” Serus looks at me knowingly.
“Both.” My eyes flick towards Freia.
“I think a rune will be our best option considering our lack of materials,” Serus says.
He sits still while I begin tracing runes experimentally in the sand. I carve two lines into the dirt, connecting them with a diagonal line. A light breeze ruffles my hair as the magic infuses into the ground. I connect a second diagonal line, careful not to disrupt the runes I've already carved. The shapes come slowly but naturally to me. The last form I create is a diamond and I close my eyes while I let the lines streak past the point. I press every hope and wish I have for protection and safety and peace into the last rune. The ground trembles slightly, just enough for me to feel it underneath the tip of my duty finger.
“Well done,” Serus murmurs, nodding.
“If it works,” I say, sighing. I roll onto my back, looking up at the starless sky. The air shimmers with magic and I relax.
“It will,” Serus yawns. He curls up beside me and I know he falls asleep quickly.
I lie awake longer. My mind runs wild with thoughts of the terrors that await us in the darkness. The Shades could be slipping across the desert from the portal towards us as we speak. I picture their full mouths open, saliva dripping down from their yellow teeth as they leer at me. I shiver, goosebumps pocking over my skin. I know in my gut they're coming. They won't be warded away by Freia knowing that I'm here, just outside of their grasp. No, they're plotting, preparing. And we must be prepared in turn. But it all depends on me, and I don't know if I can do it.
Whispers of leather and sand crunching underfoot reach my ears. I turn my head just enough to catch sight of Altair creeping towards me. He keeps his eyes turned away from me as he settles beside me on his back. He seems relaxed, and his hand brushes against mine. My breath catches in my throat when his fingers lace through mine. A smile ghosts over his lips. I glance towards Erzur, feeling a wave of guilt. But she's sleeping soundly.
“Aren’t you supposed to be on watch?” I whisper.
“What’s the point of a watch when we have your powerful spell to protect us?” He murmurs back.
I’m quiet for a moment, surprised he noticed my magic. I study the noble slope of his nose, his sharp jaw, and square chin. His hair is a greasy mop and I see the ghost of a beard on his cheeks and chin. “Were you watching me?” I tease.
“Always.” The simple word makes my stomach flutter. “Do you think I could ever take my eyes off you?”
“I think you’ll have to try,” I say, looking towards Erzur.
Altair shakes his head. “Verity, I can’t go through with it.”
“Altair,” I start, my heart swelling.
“I don’t know how I can.” His voice breaks and he pauses, settling himself. “Have I ever told you how my parents met?”
“You don’t talk about them much,” I whisper. I always wished he had.
Altair rolls over to face me and I see the pain in his hazel eyes. "My mother was not royalty. She was no one of importance, just the daughter of a merchant in Desmarais. When my father was Prince, he was tasked with running the Merchant Council. He would go to Desmarais and meet with them personally to hear their grievances."
“Let me guess.” I smile wryly. “Your mother was at one of these meetings.”
“No,” he says, eyes sparkling. “But she was outside with a basket of goods as a gift for him. You see, she had seen him before in passing and thought he was very handsome—at least that’s how my father always told it.”
“So it was love at first sight,” I murmur with a smile. It was nothing like that for Altair and I. I remember the first time I saw him, in his beastly form, glowering at me. And then later, looking regal at dinner. He made me want to stab a fork in my eye with all his arrogance.
"It was." Altair nods. "They married within months, and my grandfather disapproved but my father wouldn't hear anything about it. Growing up, I always hoped to have a love like that. When they died at sea and I had to assume the throne, it was a very dark time for me. I was moody and foul and I hardly fulfilled my duties."
Altair pauses, as if reliving the memories. I slip my hand into his, not bothering to feel guilty for the show of affection. He�
�s quiet, staring out into the darkness with a melancholy frown. I wait for him to continue, stroking the back of his hand with my thumb.
"And then Maaz arrived," Altair finally says. I narrow my eyes at the sound of her name. I won't lie and say I'm not glad she isn't dead. I just wish I could have been there to see it. The woman betrayed everyone and everything for the love of a man without a heart, and I'll never forgive her for that. Altair squeezes my hand. "She was beautiful, and I almost trusted her. When I refused her demands, and she cursed my people and me, I thought everything was over. I thought I had failed as King. I was already failing before, but now, I was completely incapable of ruling. I hated myself."
“Altair,” I whisper, voice fading at the gravity of his words. My heart pounds painfully.
“And then there was you.” He turns his gaze to me and I feel a glow blossom from my chest. I feel whole and perfect in his gaze. “And you changed everything. Do you understand why I can’t possibly give you up?”
In my heart, I know exactly what he means. Altair’s life has been filled with more sorrow than mine—at least that I have memories of—but I know I felt like my life was ending on the day I was to marry Henry. And then it all began again when I met Altair. It was magical and unbelievable, and I was hungry for it.
“I understand, Altair,” I whisper. “But you made a promise.”
“I also made a promise to you.” He leans his forehead on mine and we breathe the same, warm air. “And that means more to me than any promise.”
“What will you do when she attacks Alnembra?” I say quietly, eyes darting toward the sleeping Erzur.
He hardens his gaze and tightens his grip on my hand. “Whatever I have to.”
Images of war flash through my mind and I shake my head, ready to protest. But Altair silences me with a kiss. His lips are gentle on mine, moving slowly as if exploring the taste of me again. I don't press him to discuss it further even though I refuse to put his people in danger. He tugs on my bottom lip as he pulls away, ending the kiss, and I sigh.
Altair drops his lips to my forehead. “You should get some rest. Tomorrow will be difficult for you.”
“I don’t know if I can sleep,” I admit.
“I’ll stay awake,” Altair promises. He pushes himself into a sitting position and glances down at me once more before staring back out into the night. “I love you, Verity Chastain.”
His words send a tremor of desire through my body and into my core. I bite my lip, blushing. “I love you, Altair.”
“Now sleep,” he orders sternly.
I roll my eyes but don’t retort that he isn’t my boss even though I would very much like to. A smile plays on my lips. It’s been a long time since Altair and I had a normal conversation that had nothing to do with the Shades or Sadal or Erzur. It felt right—more than right—to spend the night listening to stories of his life. There’s so much I don’t know about him, so many years to spend reminiscing about with him. And I want to do it all. I nuzzle into my cloak, thoughts swirling around the Fae King beside me.
Sleep takes me while I smile.
I open my eyes to darkness. I’m in the desert still, but there is no fire to light the night, and the gossamer cage is out of sight. I spin in a slow circle, trying to get my bearings. I’m alone, the others are nowhere to be seen. My jaw clenches as I stare into the night. The air shifts and I hear the sound of something being scraped over the dirt. A foul scent fills the air, sickly sweet. A shiver lances up my spine, and then another, until I can’t escape the feeling that I’m being watched.
A dark shape moves, looming over me. It's tall and thin, with a large head and a long neck. It's blacker than the night. I bite back a scream, wrapping around myself instinctively. Pure evil and dread wash over me, sticking to me like tar. The shadow pounces, and I see wicked, yellow teeth gleaming. Yellow eyes open, batting at me. A scream rips from my throat as the Shade closes in on me. Its long, spindly arm reaches for me, fingers shaking. I stumble backward, screaming.
The Shade inches closer. It purrs as if it enjoys my fear. I whirl around, scared to turn my back to it but too frightened to stand still. I sprint into the darkness, away from the Shade, in any random direction. My lungs burn, thighs aching with the effort of rushing. I've never run so fast in my entire life. I can hear the Shade over my shoulder, the pounding of its limbs on the ground as it hurtles across the desert. I feel itching between my shoulder blades and duck just as its clawed fingers swipe at the air above my head. I'm going to die, I think, heart racing.
The loud breath of the Shade fades away, and its footsteps slow. I dare a glance over my shoulder and see it falling back, still smiling. My brows furrow suspiciously, but I keep running. I have to make it back to the group, to Altair. I can only hope I’m moving in the right direction. It might be smart to stop, to wait until morning when I can see my surroundings and look for anything familiar. But the Shades are out there, likely watching me. So, I run.
Suddenly, a black shadow leaps up, blocking my path. I skid to a halt as the Shade reveals itself. More pour out of the darkness and surround me. My throat is dry with fear as I take them all in. There's an endless number of them, and I lose count once they all cluster around me. That feeling of dread and hopelessness, as if I'm on the edge of Hell, hits me again. My legs are like jelly.
“What do you want?” I ask. My voice is high and trembling with fear.
The Shades smile at me, and the sight makes me sick. But they like to hear my voice, they like it when I speak to them. I can feel their pleasure radiating off of them with the evil aura they ooze. "To be like you," one of them rasps, reaching for me.
Chapter 15
Altair
Bright, yellow light pierces through my closed eyelids, waking me. I yawn and roll into a sitting position. The stress and physical demands of our journey and the war before it are catching up to me. My bones ache from sleeping on the hard ground and I roll my neck, popping it. When my eyes adjust to the bright light, I look immediately to my left, where Verity was sleeping. But the ground beside me is empty, not even an impression of her left in the baked earth. I spin, eyes roving over the camp in search of her. The others sleep, oblivious to the bright light overhead from the sunless sky. I narrow my eyes, fear coiling in my chest.
I glance at the prison, hoping Verity waited to study the cage until one of us could keep her company. I see Verity through the haze of morning heat, crouched beside the cage. Her shoulders are curved, head bent in concentration. I shake my head, making a note to remind her that Freia is too dangerous to be near alone. But I know Verity wouldn’t appreciate such a warning, even if it was made in good faith.
I squint, looking closer to see a gossamer thread in Verity's hands. She twists it around her fingers and stretches it, twisting more, and looping it in complicated braids. All the while, more white silken webs slip from her fingers into the loom of her hands. Pride sweeps through me, driving out any fear I had for her. She's done it. I watch, fascinated, as Verity continues to weave the complex spell. Her brows are furrowed in concentration, tongue poking out from between her full lips. It's like looking at a school child who does a particularly difficult math problem. Freia is watching with just as much curiosity. I know she's wondering if Verity could free her from the prison. After all, if she can make one, she can surely destroy one.
Verity doesn't notice either of our attention. Her frustrated murmuring echoes towards me, and I catch a few choice curses from the mortal realm. I grin. She was so morose and defeated yesterday, it's good to see her with some energy back. Suddenly, the thin webs between her fingers collapse. They disintegrate, separating into tiny, unusable pieces before seeping into the baked earth. Verity lets out a hiss of frustration and throws her hands up in the air. Freia purses her lips and drifts away.
I jog across the desert, carrying a bit of cooked meat for Verity. She glances up at me as I approach. I furrow my brows, noticing the swollen dark circles under her eyes and the red ve
ins spidering around her irises. She looks exhausted, and I wonder just how long she’s been out here. It’s dangerous for her to continue like this, to exhaust her body—the conduit for her magic. She might lose control.
“Here,” I say, offering her the meat. “Eat a little. You need to keep your strength up.”
She flashes me an irritated look but takes the food begrudgingly. “I’m fine. Feeling very strong,” she says sarcastically.
I purse my lips but choose to ignore her tone. “Was that your first successful attempt?”
“I wouldn’t call it successful.” She picks at the meat. “But yes.”
“You’re doing great,” I say with a smile.
“I don’t need your encouragement or for you to babysit me,” she says bitingly.
Anger sparks in me and my nostrils flare. “Would you care to explain your sudden attitude?”
“Yes.” She tosses the remains of her breakfast aside and scowls. “Let me put it this way: we’re in deep shit.”
I cock a brow, lips quirked with amusement. “Deeper than we already thought?”
“It’s not funny.” She crosses her arms.
“Verity.” I brush my hands over her shoulder. She’s burning up, I can feel her body heat through her clothes. “How much sleep did you get last night? You need to rest or you won’t be able to do this.”
“I was sleeping,” she says, rubbing a hand over her face. “But I walked again last night. A Dreamwalk.”
“I thought Serus was working on that with you,” I snap. I search the landscape, twisting, to find the black cat.
“We’ve been a bit busy with other things,” Verity says. “The point is, the Shades are moving against us.”
I pause, turning my hazel eyes back to her. She looks less angry now, less frustrated. Her eyes are filled with concern, lips twisted into a frown. “They’ll be here soon, Altair. And they have an army.”
“Gods.” I groan. I run my hand over my jaw, feeling the stubble growing there. “Let me get Thal.”
