21. Kols
Sweet Fae.
Aflora’s display of power, coupled with her words, had me wanting to push back from the table and bow at her feet.
She’d burned down her tree. Destroyed it. And then she’d accompanied it with a statement that had floored me.
I had no idea what to say to her. Hell, I’d forgotten how to fucking breathe.
From the expressions of others at the table, I wasn’t the only one wanting to worship the goddess among them.
But it was Laki everyone waited for.
He studied the ash on the table, his expression giving nothing away. Then he stood, causing Zakkai to straighten in his chair beside me, immediately on guard.
Aflora didn’t move, her eyes holding the former Source Architect’s gaze.
He walked around the table, all of us observing his every move.
“Stand,” he told Aflora as he moved into position behind her.
Zakkai appeared ready to tell his father what he thought of that demand, but Aflora shadowed to a standing position beside him, her show of power not lost on the others in the room or the male now standing before her.
They locked gazes for another long moment.
And he knelt at her feet. “I choose to unite the fae.” A softly spoken, powerful announcement that sent a rush of energy through the room.
It’s done, I realized. She just bloody passed her fourth trial.
This amazing, beautiful female had achieved what I had not.
She’d just united the fae in her own way, proving her worthiness to the dark source and ascending to the fifth level.
Rather than rejoice or celebrate, she went to her knees in front of Laki as well and drew his gaze to hers. “Then we unite as equals,” she told him. “I don’t want a constituency that bows. I want one that stands proudly together, rejoicing in life and our prolonged existences. I desire equality among the Midnight Fae factions. No more superiority.”
Laki gave her a soft smile. “Then you truly are our queen,” he told her. “Because only a queen could deny her obvious superiority in favor of unity.” He leaned in to kiss her forehead. “Your parents would be proud. Just as I’m proud of my son, too.” He looked at Zakkai. “He’s a survivor, too. And with all he’s endured, he never truly lost his heart.”
He stood then and held out his hand for Aflora. She accepted the offering, more as a symbolic gesture than anything, and allowed him to pull her to her feet.
The Quandary Bloods at the table all seemed to relax, their stances suddenly tired, and I realized how on edge they had been for this meeting.
They want revenge for what happened to them, Aflora whispered. But that doesn’t necessarily mean they crave death.
Only she would be able to see that. In a realm riddled with darkness, it was hard to find the light. Especially when everyone was drowning in the need for blood.
She took her place beside me once more, the figments reappearing to fill our mugs and plates again.
The conversation flowed from Aflora’s plans to a discussion on what the future world might look like. Laki offered some suggestions for council development, as did Zeph and Zakkai. Aflora listened without commenting, taking in all the ideas and hearing from several of the Quandary Bloods as well.
Shade and I remained quiet as former members of the Midnight Fae Council. While we had our own suggestions and opinions to share, we were more interested in listening to the others.
Aflora must have known this because she didn’t ask us to speak. Instead, she sat between us, holding both our hands in each of hers while absorbing the comments from the others.
When they concluded their discussions, Zen arrived in a flourish, saying she’d finished preparing their accommodations. They might not be staying indefinitely—something Laki made clear when he said they would be leaving after they rested—but at least they would be comfortable.
“You’re welcome back anytime,” Zen informed Laki. “Or at least until Lucifer says otherwise.”
Laki snorted. “I will never understand this arrangement you have with him.”
She merely smiled.
I would like to understand it, too, I thought at Shade.
Understanding my grandmother is an impossible task, he replied dryly. But I know their arrangement involves him being allowed to send a set number of Hell Fae to study here annually. They’re too powerful for his Hellhounds to guard and train, so he lets her do it.
Intriguing, I admitted. Have you met him?
Yes,Shade replied, his tone telling me he didn’t want to elaborate on it.
As our mate appeared ready to pass out, I decided not to press him and caught her by the waist instead. She’d just finished saying goodbye to the last of the Quandary Bloods and looked ready to sleep on her feet.
Zakkai was in front of us in an instant, his mouth finding Aflora’s as I held her steady with her back to my chest. The metallic scent of blood taunted my senses, telling me he was feeding her his essence to help bolster her strength again.
I frowned and engaged my link with Zeph. She just fed from us earlier.
Yes,he replied, watching the exchange. The dark source seems to be taking a lot from her. Is that normal?
I don’t think so,I replied. My father never required this much blood.
Is it because she’s mostly taking from other Midnight Fae and not the human vein?
Perhaps, I replied. But the blood coffee contained more than enough mortal essence to replenish her today.
I considered her as she moaned against Zakkai’s mouth, her body hungry for more of his blood. He didn’t hesitate in offering more, but my lips curled further downward at the display.
I think the source is preparing her for the next trial,I said slowly to Zeph. It must sense something big coming.
Sacrifice, he replied. Yes?
It doesn’t necessarily have to come in that order, but yes, that would be the typical path.And it could require so many things of her.
With my grandfather leading the way, who knew what he would do?
Then let’s take her back to the suite and properly nourish her, Zeph suggested.
Yes, I agreed.
We’d bathe her in blood if that was what she needed.
And then we’d hold our breaths and hope that we’d given her enough.