Seventy-Three
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Cameron. Three Days Later.
I tossed the small ball at the council wall, catching it with ease when it
bounced back. The council halls were empty, the light of the setting sun
sparkling off the shiny stone floors.
“Where is Neverra?”
Logan sighed and flipped another page. “Helping Imogen transcribe that
journal.”
“I’m bored.”
Logan scowled at me. “You’d probably be less bored if you helped me.”
“Roccurem said there is nothing in the books.” I threw the ball and caught it again when it hurtled back at me. “Along with some other weird riddle shit.”
I dropped the ball on the table and nudged a text on the different dimensions. “We already read through these. Yejedin isn’t in them, and none of us know why. Maybe we will find out once Immy gets that journal transcribed. So, do you want to go with me or not?”
Logan closed his book and leaned forward. “Why? Because Xavier is ignoring you?”
I bristled. Xavier had been ignoring and avoiding me. I just didn’t know why. Every time I tried to joke or talk to him, he stated he had somewhere else to be and left.
“Fine.” I stood. “I’ll go check on Samkiel myself.”
“Samkiel?”
“Yeah, it’s been three days. I assume that Dianna has gotten her powers back and killed him in cold blood by now.”
Logan sighed in exasperation. “He’s not dead. Every realm would be
open, and we would also be dead.”
My lips turned down. “You think?”
Logan shrugged. “Yeah, no telling what’s been festering behind those
gates.”
“Okay. Then he is probably near death.”
“No, you are just nosy.”
I shrugged. “Partially, but he hasn’t checked in once. Are you not a little bit concerned?”
Logan’s eyes narrowed, my words hitting home. I waved and turned
away, striding toward the door.
“Wait!” Logan shouted.
I didn’t slow, but I heard the chair topple over and heavy footsteps as Logan practically ran after me.
W e landed outside the palace . N o lights flickered or shone through any of the windows. I hurried up the path to the front door.
“I doubt anything is amiss,” Logan said, following at my heels.
“Pfft. Samkiel’s like a worried mother hen. The fact that he hasn’t checked in to make sure I haven’t burned the council down is cause for concern.”
Logan shrugged as we reached the end of the bridge. “True.”
We entered the long hall, and I let out a low whistle.
“He really made this place extravagant. He made her a whole fucking
castle,” I said.
“Yeah. He loves her.”
I stopped, Logan nearly colliding with me. “He told her that?”
Logan shrugged and scowled, sidestepping so he didn’t plow into me.
“Doubtful. He can’t even say it himself.”
“I was about to say.” I shook my head, placing my hands in my pockets.
“Dude has been anti-feeling since his mom died.”
“So has she since her sister.”
“True.”
“I think it’s a lot of stuff, honestly. They both have lost a lot. I think that word symbolizes death to them more than anything else. Think about it.
Who were the last people they said it to? Samkiel to his mother and father,
and Dianna to her sister.”
I grimaced. “Yeah, that will do it.”
“What was that the other day?”
“What?” I asked, genuinely confused.
“Oh, okay, we’re just going to keep ignoring this?”
I leaned against the wall and crossed my arms over my chest. “Honestly, I don’t know what you’re talking about.”
“Elianna? Seriously? Of all people?”
My lips curved in a slow smile. “Oh, are we judging now? Let’s not forget you were no saint before the ever-gorgeous Neverra walked into your life.”
“This isn’t about that. It’s about Xavier.”
I tossed my hands in the air. “You just said it was about Elianna.”
“I saw the way he looked, and I know things have been tense around here lately, but I think Dianna shook up more than just Onuna.”
My grin fell flat, and I turned from him to walk into the kitchen.
Whatever Logan was about to say died as we froze in the doorway. The fridge was half open, the light within spilling out. The island had a mountain of empty containers piled on it. I stepped forward, crumbs and
debris crunching beneath my boot.
“What the fuck?”
Logan stepped around me, heading toward the living room. I followed him, staring in amazement at the mess. Furniture lay overturned, the table on its side, big chunks missing from the edges. Shredded couch cushions and pillows lay strewn about the floor, feathers floating in the air.
“Think a wild animal attacked and killed them both?”
Logan snickered and pointed up. My gaze followed, and I saw what looked like lacy underwear hanging from one of the chandeliers.
“If by wild animals you mean Samkiel and Dianna, then yes.”
“Well, they didn’t destroy a city, but they are definitely trying to take down a castle.” Logan and I laughed. I turned and backpedaled, swallowing my scream.
Samkiel towered over us. “What are you doing here?” His voice reminded me of the battle of Hazlun when he’d ripped an enemy king’s head off with one hand.
He took a step forward. The moonlight illuminated him, and I realized Samkiel was stark, fucking naked. “Holy gods, dude! Put that weapon of mass destruction away!”
His eyes burned pure silver in the dark room. The glow dimmed as he realized there was no threat. He must have heard us and thought we were intruders. His first instinct was to protect, and he hadn’t even bothered to stop to put on clothes.
Logan snickered. “We were concerned. Didn’t mean to alarm you.”
Small bruises lined Samkiel’s neck and shoulders, bite marks marring the heavy muscles of his chest. “You’re like her own personal chew toy,” I said with a laugh.
“Why?” His voice came out a tad bit rougher than usual.
“I don’t know. You tell me.”
Samkiel gave me a frosty glare that shut me up, and I realized he was answering Logan’s question and completely ignoring me.
“It’s been three days. Cameron thought you might be dead and wanted
to check on you. I followed him.”
His face grew slack. “Three days?”
“Yeah. I lost a bet. I didn’t think you would be gone for more than one.”
“We were just worried,” Logan cut in. “Nothing has changed on our
front, only more research.”
Samkiel nodded.
I raised my hand toward one of the bruises on his shoulder. “I’m assuming Dianna has her powers back,” I said.
Samkiel slapped it away and scowled at me. “No.”
I glanced at Logan, pointing to a snarling Samkiel. “That’s without powers.”
Logan smiled a fraction wider and crossed his arms, a deep chuckle
resonating from his chest.
“We didn’t—”
“Sami,” a feminine voice edged with sleep called from above. Samkiel’s head shot up so fast he nearly broke his neck.
“Sami?” I whispered in breathless wonder.
A hint of silver flared in Samkiel’s eyes when he turned back to me. He reached out and lightly popped me upside the head. I lowered my gaze, but
my grin remained.
“Quiet,” he said, shaking his head.
“Violence is never the answer,” I said, rubbing the back of my head.
Logan covered a snicker with a cough and grabbed the back of my
elbow. “We were just leaving.”
“I’ll be back tomorrow just—”
“One day,” Logan said, and Samkiel smiled at some inside joke.
“One day.” The next second, Samkiel was gone, and Logan was pulling
me outside.
“Sami?”
“Let it go,” Logan chided.
“Never. I just think it’s cute and all, but do you remember the last time someone tried to give him a nickname? He practically disemboweled them.”
My humor died as I glanced back toward the forest edge and the council hall beyond. I wasn’t ready to go back to Elianna’s staring or Xavier ignoring me or books with no answers.
“Are you hungry?” Logan asked, watching me.
“Are you reading my mind right now?” I asked.
Logan gave me an understanding smile that made me shift uncomfortably. “They have these cool chocolate bowls this time of the year on Onuna. Steam rushes out of them when you cut them. I was thinking about bringing one back for Neverra and Imogen if you want to come? Gets us out of the council hall for a while and people you want to avoid.”
My lips thinned. “I am so in love with you right now.”
“Shut up.” Logan laughed.
“I’m so serious. Annul your rites with Neverra. I’ll marry you right now.”
Logan tipped his head back, laughing as he pulled me into a sideways hug. We shot into the sky and toward Onuna.
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