Seventy-Seven
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Imogen
X avier had taped together the pictures of the runes the celestials had
taken, mapping out different cells and structures. Cameron strolled in
with an oversized bag of snacks in hand. He stopped beside Neverra, offering her some. She smiled at him before grabbing something from the bag and turning back to Xavier.
“Okay, that’s most of them. Half of the words are older than even us.”
I flipped through the large codex translation book. I had been using it to translate Elianna’s journal but failed to make much headway.
“Most don’t make sense. I think it’s just a jumble of words and symbols,” Vincent said, towering over me to read over my shoulder. He’d tied his hair back, but small pieces had escaped the knot. Vincent usually only pulled it back like that when he was in a bad mood or stressed. “What if it is a language, and we are just looking at it wrong?” he asked, pointing to the text I had highlighted.
I turned my head to the side, and that’s when I saw it.
“You’re right.”
Cameron laughed around a mouthful of chips. “Ha! Vincent right? Who would have thought?”
Vincent flipped him off. Cameron leaned back and propped his feet up on the table with a lazy grin.
“Isn’t it weird Kaden had a whole archive on Samkiel and the other gods?” Cameron asked, crunching loudly on more chips. Neverra leaned over and grabbed the bag from him. She sat back, sharing the salty snack with Logan.
“Wasn’t there a rumor that Unir and Nismera were, ya know…”
Cameron made a lewd motion with his hands that I ignored.
Logan nodded. “There were rumblings.”
“Please. The gods had meetings all the time that lasted days. Cameron just assumes everyone is fucking,” Vincent said with a scowl.
“Most are,” Cameron said. “All I’m saying is, what if Kaden is a secret child of Unir?”
Tension built behind my eyes. “You do know how babies work, right?” I
asked Cameron.
“Yeah, Immy, just like you and—”
I sent him a death glare. He chuckled, and I flipped another page in the journal. “If he had a child, it would be documented. Also, Kaden is an Ig’Morruthen. How would that even work?”
Cameron shrugged. “I mean, we all know he was like Samkiel before he met Zasyn. So I don’t know, Imogen, but if he was a secret, that is why it wouldn’t be documented.”
Neverra snickered. “Regardless of Cameron’s brilliant theory, I highly doubt it.”
“I think he’s older than Unir himself, especially if he can open portals.
So, who says he didn’t make Yejedin? The kings follow him, right?”
Vincent added before taking a seat.
“That’s a good point, Vincent. Unir had a long list of enemies,” Neverra said.
Logan popped a chip into his mouth and swallowed before saying, “That makes more sense.”
Cameron sighs and digs into the bag, looking for more snacks.
Neverra pulled a book from the stack next to her. She flipped to a page she had marked and turned it toward us. “I found a brief history of Samkiel’s great-grandfather. It recounts how he went insane and blamed the gods for some future darkness that would taint and ruin the bloodline. He spread his lies and eradicated thousands before they dethroned him.”
I placed a hand under my chin. “That could also create a legion of enemies.”
“Phanthar, Samkiel’s grandfather, took the throne next, which we all know, but you know what they say. Cut the hand, and the blood that follows trickles down to the child.”
“Yeah, that makes no sense,” Cameron chided.
I glared at him. “Well, I didn’t make it up.”
“Oh.” Cameron sat up a tad bit straighter. “Wouldn’t it suck if Kaden was like Samkiel’s long-lost uncle or something?”
The room stilled. Even Logan stopped with a chip raised halfway to his mouth.
Cameron glanced at all of us and then sighed. “He’s right behind me,
isn’t he?”
I nodded.
“Kaden is not blood kin or whatever Cameron has concocted in his brain,” Samkiel said calmly.
Cameron leaned his head back to meet Samkiel’s glare.
“How do you know?” Logan asked before the rest of us could.
“Porphyrion informed me.”
“You went back? Alone?” Vincent asked.
Samkiel nodded. “He informed me that Kaden was one of my father’s generals. He was there with him before the Gods War. Kaden created the
Kings of Yejedin.”
The room fell deathly still.
“He said some other things, but I need to get those sorted before discussing them.”
Xavier scratched the back of his head. “He made the Kings? Thats—”
“Power,” Cameron finished. They traded a look but quickly glanced away. I didn’t know what had happened between them, but they hadn’t talked much these last few days.
“Yes, power that I need to figure out,” Samkiel said.
Cameron exhaled a breath on a low whistle.
“We collected more symbols from that destroyed room we found, but mostly it looks like a jumbled mess,” I said, spreading the photos on the table. Samkiel walked around the table, studying the images before lifting
one.
“Spells,” Samkiel said.
“You think so?”
Samkiel nodded. “Or enchantments. I am not sure what they do, but I
am pretty sure that is what they are.”
“What if it’s more?” Neverra asked.
Samkiel threw a look toward her that had Logan stiffening. Neverra swallowed as if she knew she was in trouble.
Neverra cleared her throat and lifted her chin before continuing. “When Dianna and I went to Onuna, his beasts showed up. They wanted Dianna. I know we discussed the possibility of rituals, but what if that’s why he is so desperate to get her back? What if he needs her for whatever he wants to do?”
Everyone sat frozen with shock. A crack sounded from the corner of the room, and I wondered what he had fractured.
Neverra had gone back to Onuna, and she had taken Dianna. Not only that, but those hideous creatures Kaden controlled had gotten close to them.
“When was this?” Logan all but yelled next to her. “Nev.”
Neverra tucked a lock of hair behind her ear. “She asked me, okay? It was short notice, and I couldn’t say no. She saved me, or planned to, at least. Listen, we didn’t know they would show up.”
Cameron’s eyes darted between Samkiel, who looked like a statue on the verge of exploding, and Neverra. “Well, at least I’m not the only one in trouble.”
“Look, you all can be mad at me. That’s fine, but Dianna is my friend, or at least we’re trying to be. Gabby was my friend, too. I only wanted to help them both.” Neverra didn’t break eye contact with Samkiel, even as Logan practically boiled beside her. Her words seemed to calm the storm that raged behind Samkiel’s eyes. He placed his hands on the table, leaning on his fists, and shook his head.
“All I’m saying is something comes for Dianna every time she steps foot on Onuna.”
“That means Kaden is watching,” Vincent interrupted.
Neverra nodded. “That’s what I’m thinking. You told us before how desperately he wants her back. What if she is, and has always been, the key to whatever he is planning?”
Samkiel cocked his head as if a memory assaulted him. “I had my theories regarding that.”
Vincent closed the book in front of him, gleeful that we had something of a lead. “We should head back to Onuna. Search until we find him. He has to be there.”
Samkiel tapped his knuckles against the table. “I’m staying. I have something I need to do, and I’m not leaving Dianna.”
Logan still seethed. We could all feel his quiet rage. “Okay, when do we
leave?”
“After dinner,” Samkiel said.
We all looked at each other.
“Dinner?” Vincent asked, almost hesitantly.
“Yes,” he said. “It was actually Dianna’s idea, but I wish a peaceful evening for us all after everything. Something fun, something other than research and work for days on end. I think we could all use some downtime before we tackle this most recent problem.”
My lips twisted. Fun. I smiled at Neverra, who was already looking at me. It had been so long since we’d all gotten together and done something really fun.
“I’ll pass,” Vincent said, going back to his book.
I felt the growing bubble of excitement in the room pop. My gift from Athos was often a curse. Cameron received the hunter’s drive, that extra enhanced sense of smell and ability to track that made even gods envious.
But me? I got pure empathy. If someone’s aura changed, I felt it. I could feel emotions on some basic level, which made me great in council meetings and negotiations. Liars? I could sense every false truth they spat.
Right now, Samkiel’s basic chemistry seemed to be altering. Not unpleasantly, but something waiting patiently to be known, something powerful and life-altering. Then the pieces clicked. My breath caught, and a smile spread so far across my face it pinched my cheeks. Finally, I thought.
My joy was short-lived as Samkiel turned toward Vincent, focusing wholly on him.
“I apologize if that came out incorrectly, but it was not a request,”
Samkiel said. Logan sat up a bit straighter, getting ready to do what he often did and act as a barrier between them.
I knew what was coming. There has been so much tension between them lately. Everyone could feel it.
“As I said, I’ll pass. I don’t want to fight, but let’s not pretend that we’re not just ignoring the fact that Dianna’s a mass murderer and almost destroyed the world. I’d rather pack and get to Onuna early.”
Samkiel sighed and placed his hands on his hips. “Vincent.”
Vincent shook his head and glanced around the room at all of us. “You guys can pretend all you want, but I refuse to.”
Even Xavier’s ordinarily calm demeanor slipped. “Dude.”
Vincent slammed his book closed. “What? Why am I the bad guy when I am the only one thinking rationally? This isn’t some random person
Samkiel decided he enjoyed for the time being. She’s a fucking Queen of Yejedin. We know Kaden is a general now, your father’s, from what the giant said, and that he’s strong enough to make something like her. So no, I don’t care about stupid dinner parties, and you all shouldn’t either.” Vincent got to his feet, glaring at Samkiel. “You know, I bet she even has her powers. I used to respect you. But now she has you wrapped around her fucking finger like a whipped dog, doing whatever she wishes, using our resources to chase after her, and for what? Pussy? Your father would be ashamed.”
Lightning split the air, the flash of light so bright it was blinding. When I could see again, Samkiel had Vincent pinned. The table beneath him cracked in half. Lightning sizzled at the edges of the room, Samkiel’s face mere inches from Vincent’s.
“The next words from your mouth need to be an apology,” Samkiel growled, menace dripping from each word.
Vincent didn’t back down, holding Samkiel’s gaze defiantly. “Or what?
Listen, I get it. It was fun when we were all younger, but we aren’t anymore. She’s Kaden’s blood, no matter what you feel or how often you fuck her. Do you think pretty words will stop her the next time she gets volatile? She’s a ticking time bomb. I’m just the only one not blind to it.
You’re our king, our protector, and you’re going to get us all killed. What happened on Rashearim is going to happen again, and all because of her.”
Samkiel’s fist connecting with Vincent’s face sent shockwaves through the room. Chairs toppled as Logan, and I jumped to our feet.
Samkiel released Vincent, realizing what he’d done. Logan was already at his side, pushing him back by his shoulder. I remembered the quick- tempered young king we all grew up with. His eyes burned silver as he shrugged Logan’s hand off and focused on Vincent as if he faced an enemy.
Vincent struggled to his feet, none of us moving to help him. Books and papers skittered to the floor.
“See what I mean?” he spat, wiping his hand across his split cheek.
“You’re all idiots.”
He adjusted his council garbs and glared at Samkiel a moment longer.
Then, without saying another word, he stormed off, yanking the doors almost off their hinges.
Samkiel wiped his hands over his face before lifting one and correcting the room. Neverra, Xavier, and Cameron picked up the scattered books and
papers as Logan thumped Samkiel on the chest and said something too low for me to hear. Samkiel took a deep breath, and they walked to the balcony.
I glanced toward the others. “I’ll talk to Vincent.”
Not waiting for them to respond, I rushed out of the room, jogging to
catch up to Vincent.
“Vincent.”
“You know she tried to kill you, and you’re just as bad as them. I heard
about the beach, Immy!”
“She was hurting. It’s different.”
“Oh, bullshit! You think she is the only person who has ever lost anyone? Cry me a fucking river,” he spat. “People hurt all the time. They don’t kill.”
“Hey, where is this coming from?” I sprinted to him. “Talk to me like we used to. We’re family.” I grabbed his arm, spinning him toward me. The cut on the left side of his jaw was already healing, but a bruise formed nonetheless. I reached up to touch it, but he shoved my hand aside, repudiating my touch, and unleashed.
“Don’t lecture me about family! What family? He has been gone for a thousand years. You, Xavier, and Cameron left, too. You three stayed here.
How often did you visit, Imogen, huh? While Logan, Neverra, and I stayed on Onuna. Neverra never came to see you, either. Logan was the only one who even tried, and those were few and far between. Admit it. We haven’t been a family for a very long time.”
His words cut me deep, my own emotions heightened by the pain he was feeling. I felt it in the words he spoke, but there was something else as well—fear.
“We lost a lot, Vincent. You can’t fault how we chose to deal with the aftermath. And we’re trying now.”
“It’s too late, Immy.” He ran his hands across his head, disturbing the bun atop it. “It’s too late.”
“What’s wrong with you? I feel fear. What are you afraid of?”
He avoided my eyes, and I felt him try to shut down his emotions so I couldn’t read them. “We should be looking for a way to stop Kaden without
worrying about anything else.”
“We are.”
“We’re not.” Vincent tipped his head back, taking a deep breath.
“This is more than just Kaden, isn’t it? More than Dianna?”
His head whipped toward me. “What? No.”
He was a terrible liar, especially to me. “Tell me what’s really wrong.”
Vincent’s smile was small and forced. His hand cupped the back of my head as he leaned forward, placing a kiss atop my head.
“Have fun at the dinner,” he whispered into my hair, and then he was gone, his boots echoing down the hall.
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