Chapter 49
Sage
F allon stood across the room from me, arms tightly crossed, back against the wall.
She’d looked seething mad all morning. Her jaw was clamped so tightly it was a wonder her molars hadn’t combusted, but then again, maybe they had.
Even when Von and I had announced to everyone we had wedded last night, she offered only a brittle congratulations before going back to her brooding.
Apparently, she and Kaleb had spoken earlier that morning, but the conversation became heated, and Kaleb had decided to end things between them. Artemesia had whispered it to me before Von and I walked inside her and Folkoln’s room a couple hours ago.
I was seated on the bed along with Lyra, Harper, and Kaleb.
Lyra’s fingers were threaded with mine, her head resting against my shoulder, her other hand linked with Harper’s.
Every once in a while, I’d sneak a glance at the ring on my finger, checking to make sure it was still there, that I hadn’t just dreamt up last night, that Von and I really were husband and wife.
Earlier, I’d shown everyone the ring, and the girls—plus Kaleb—had all squealed and fawned over it while the guys slapped Von on the shoulder in congratulations.
Soren, who was more so cowering in the corner of the room, had spoken through our minds, offering me a small congratulations before he scurried back to his hole.
Ryker sat in the chair next to us, his big body dwarfing it.
Von and Folkoln lingered by the window while Artemesia stood in the middle of the room, leading the discussion surrounding what our plans were and how we were to get home.
Von and I had yet to tell them about our plans to find out what happened to our child, but we’d get to that when the time was right.
During the meeting, the others shared how they had arrived here—which sounded horrible, by the way.
Von showed Artemesia and me the travel stone he’d received from the giant.
She conceded she didn’t know a great deal about them or how they worked—however, she had plenty of ideas about who might know more.
“This . . . Goddess of Knowledge that you spoke of earlier,” Folkoln started, his chin tipped ever so slightly, small bits of smoke breaking off from his imposing form. “Where would we find her?”
Artemesia turned to face him. “She resides in the south, in the Naftiah Desert. However, the palace she lives in is protected by a vicious sandstorm, something she herself was rumored to create in order to keep unwanted intruders out. It is said those who dare to tempt the storm are rarely ever seen again.”
“I’m not opposed to it, but it does sound really risky,” Ryker said, his fingers scrubbing at his beard—a new addition. It looked quite good on him.
“It is,” Artemesia agreed, arms threading loosely over her chest.
Kaleb’s voice came from beside me. “Perhaps we should try the miner town you suggested earlier, where some of the energy stones were once harvested from. Maybe someone there will know why they quit working.”
I glanced at him. His hair was disheveled, eyes tired, and it wasn’t just from the hangover.
Fallon scoffed.
My eyes turned into slits as I slid them over to her, my gaze cutting like a lethal blade. I unthreaded my hand from Lyra’s, just in case.
“What?” Kaleb asked, his voice like death. Cold, harsh. Unwelcoming.
“Nothing,” she said with disdain, shaking her head.
“Clearly, it’s something, so why don’t you just say it?” he grated.
The room fell silent, so silent I could hear the rapid drumming of Kaleb’s heart. Perhaps it was mine—the whole situation had the rest of us on edge, wishing we were anywhere else.
“Alright, fine,” Fallon stated, her chin raising in superiority as she looked down her nose at my brother. “It’s just so you to pick the easier option, because that’s what you do, isn’t it, Kaleb? When things get tough, instead of fixing them, you fuck off.”
The skin over my knuckles groaned as I clenched my fists.
Sage, Von warned, sending the words down the private river that connected our minds.
I didn’t answer.
Still, Fallon went on. “Leave it up to you to take the easy way out. You are such a damn coward, and everyone in this room knows it.”
That’s it.
I flew off the bed, leaving a spray of sheets in my wake as I leapt at her, my fist sailing through the air. She charged for me too, but right before we collided, Von’s arm wrapped around my torso and pulled me back while Folkoln grabbed her.
“You do not get to speak of my brother that way,” I roared, pushing against Von’s hands. Let me go ! I snarled through our bond.
“What sort of man needs his sister to stand up for him?” she snipped back as she tried to free herself from Folkoln. “And besides, who are you to judge me ? You had sex with someone else too, you fucking hypocrite.”
Red bled into my vision.
I was going to kill her.
But Artemesia beat me to it.
Faster than a bolt of lightning, she swung, cracking her fist against the side of Fallon’s face, sending her head careening to the side in a spray of blood, misting the wall .
The blow was so hard it made the whole room wince.
Folkoln released Fallon.
“Don’t you ever speak to my sister like that again,” Artemesia warned, her voice deceptively calm, the kind of calm that took place right before a devastating storm.
Kaleb and Harper shot up from the bed, Lyra following after them.
Then, Ryker was there, placing himself in front of Artemesia and Fallon. “Enough,” he said, his voice firm. “Fallon is hurting right now, and the last thing she needs is everyone to pile up on her.”
Folkoln maneuvered protectively behind Artemesia, his dark eyes fixed on Ryker, like a snake in the grass, ready to strike if given reason.
Fallon winced as she wiped at her bloodied cheek.
I glared at Ryker. “Just because she is hurting doesn’t give her the right to treat Kaleb like shit or speak to me like that.”
“No, it doesn’t,” he agreed, his voice soft, understanding. He took a breath.
I did the same. I think we all did.
“I merely spoke the truth,” Fallon muttered under her breath.
I bristled at her words.
Von’s iron arms loosened from my torso, the one swirling from my front to my back as he moved to my side.
He towered over everyone else in the room, his head nearly reaching the ceiling above.
“Move aside, Ryker,” he commanded, his voice dripping with authority—a king speaking to a soldier.
It was absolute, drenched with raw, unfathomable power.
The whole room fell silent.
Ryker studied him for a moment before he complied.
Fallon looked up, her wide eyes locked on Von, watching closely.
“Sage is my mate, my wife, and your queen. You will treat her as such. This is not negotiable, nor is it something I will ask again.” Von’s voice was a steel blade, his words cutting so precisely, it was like watching her skin being flayed open, leaving her vulnerable and bloodied.
“You will show her respect, or you will find yourself on the wrong side of my sword. Am I understood?”
Fallon dropped onto bended knee, her head bowed in subservience as she stammered, “Yes, yes, my king.”
I had never seen her so humbled before, so obedient.
I’d be a liar if I claimed it did not please the immortal side of me to see her like that.
“Good. Now—” He looked at me. “There is something else we need to discuss with the rest of you.”
I breathed in, knowing this topic wasn’t going to be an easy one.
After everyone returned to their places, we told them. About how I died. About how our child died.
It wasn’t easy.
Some parts were like taking a knife and pressing it to my scars, slicing them open again and showing them all how my body wept for my loss— our loss.
Throughout it all, Von stood by my side, his hand locked in mine.
When we finished, Harper stood. “We’ll help you find them. Then, we’ll all go home together.”
I shook my head. “We can’t ask that of you all.”
“We aren’t leaving anyone behind, and if your child is here, that includes them too. Besides, having more eyes and ears will be helpful,” Ryker interjected.
“Or we might be slowing them down,” Soren piped up from his spot in the corner. I’d all but forgotten he was here. “Perhaps we should concentrate on finding a way home and then take it.”
Ignoring Soren, Harper looked to Artemesia. “The Goddess of Knowledge would probably be able to help us find out what happened to the child’s soul, or at least point us in the direction of where to look, right?”
“She’d give us more of a lead than the mining town would,” Kaleb added.
The group nodded—well, everyone except for Fallon and Soren.
“So, we’re going to the desert then,” Ryker stated.
“There is a third option,” Artemesia suggested.
“Which is?” I asked.
“We split up and do both,” she answered. “Vatara knows these lands better than I do. She can fly some of the group to Viscourt so they can speak with the miners. I’ll take the other group to the desert.”
“I’m not fond of the idea of splitting up again,” Von stated, a muscle feathering in his jaw. Green eyes roved over mine. “But I also know the sooner we can leave these lands, the better.”
Artemesia glanced at the rest of us. “What do you all think?”
“I think it sounds like a plan,” Kaleb said.
“Agreed,” the twins concurred.
“Alright then. Von, Sage, Folkoln, and Kaleb—you four will come with me to the Naftiah Desert while Vatara, Harper, Ryker, Lyra, Soren, and Fallon go to Viscourt,” Artemesia said, and the rest of us nodded.