Chapter 26
Gabe
Mari let out another strangled cry, pressing her head deeper into Feather’s side as I knelt, placing the two glasses of water on the floor beside them.
“We’re going to find him,” I promised, for the umpteenth time, not knowing what else to do or say.
Nearly an hour had passed, but the pair had refused to move from the spot where they’d found Tulli.
The young woman’s corpse still lay there now, staring at the three of us with sightless eyes.
I itched to go myself, joining Algrin and the rest of my guards in their search for the murderous servant, but I couldn’t leave Mari.
Not like this.
The two women had claimed to have seen the same thing in their dream—Tulli’s murder, at the hands of…
Fucking hell.
Harald.
I leaned in, bringing one of the cups of water closer to Mari’s lips. “I’m so sorry,” I whispered.
Her lips curled around the glass as I pressed it closer, but her eyes showed no sign of recognition or understanding of what was happening or where she was.
My fingers dug into the palm of my free hand as she sipped at the water. Here I was, King of the Fallen, and yet I’d never felt so helpless. Even with every resource I had at my fingertips, I couldn’t bring Tulli back.
And she’d been killed right here, where she should have been safest.
Feather squeezed Mari even closer as I pulled the glass away, rocking her gently and beginning to hum some strange song that sounded like a nursery rhyme.
I could hardly imagine what Mari was going through right now, but it was obvious that a part of her had died with Tulli.
Would she ever be the same after experiencing something like this?
Hell, I couldn’t even get them to leave Tulli’s side.
A soft knock at the door had me shooting to my feet, and my hand was on the hilt of my sword when the door swung open, revealing a somber-looking Rufus.
While I hadn’t been sure of him at first, after the incident with Priscilla and her father, I’d chosen to at least give him some of the information regarding the situation topside.
He knew I was fighting to form allegiances with the other leaders, and while he did not know the details, he knew that we were all fighting an unknown force that looked to destroy the Alpha Territories. I trusted him, but only so far.
“I know it’s a bad time, Your Highness, but it’s nearly nine. Diana and Raven will be expecting your call with the Prism.”
I cursed inwardly. “They can wait. I’ll call on them tomorrow and explain.”
Rufus nodded, striding closer. “If that’s your decision, I will accept it. I only pray that it doesn't hurt our chances at making an alliance with the Angels and Fae.”
I winced, knowing that what he said was true. That every piece of the Alpha Territories was needed. I couldn’t just shove this call aside.
“I can’t leave them here.” I motioned at Feather and Mari.
“The killer—fucking Harald—could sneak back in, he knows this castle better than anyone else. I can’t…
” I couldn’t leave her, and yet I had to.
I clenched a fist, slowly releasing it along with a long breath.
“Keep watch over them, Rufus. If they will go back to their rooms, go with them.”
“I’m certain Harald isn’t a current threat, sire. He will be trying to get as far away from here as possible…”
I stayed silent. Not because I disagreed, but because I’d already cost one woman her life by my lack of vigilance.
It would not happen again, no matter how unlikely.
The sorcerer dipped his head into a solemn bow, though his eyes slid to land on Marinnia, not Feather. “Of course, Your Majesty. I’ll keep a careful watch over them.”
It was obvious Rufus knew how much she meant to me. He would do as he promised. Annoying as he was, he had been working in my best interest all along.
I turned toward Mari. “Mari, you and Feather…stay here if you feel you must but…I’ll be back soon. I’ve reached out to Diana, the Werewolf Queen, in hopes of getting some more information .”
She nodded, but hardly seemed to register the words, and my gut twisted as I strode away, determined to make this quick and get back to Mari even quicker.
That strange realm within the Prism twisted and warped as I focused in on Raven, and his face fuzzed into view a moment later.
“Speak of the devil…”
“I don’t have much time,” I said, ignoring the joke. “Things have gone to shit over here.”
Raven cocked an eyebrow. “Mav?”
“He’s almost certainly involved somehow, but we’re still figuring things out.
I need you to put all your guards on alert.
I believe Maverick is on the run and will be trying to leave my territory with a human in tow named Harald.
I’m not sure what their future plans are, but something tells me that a certain evil goddess is pulling strings. ”
Just prior to contacting Raven, I’d touched base with Algrin in the field.
Some of the guards had caught sight of two men fitting Maverick and Harald’s descriptions on the run near the top of The Spire.
Algrin’s men tried to swoop in, but were stunned to find them gone, like they’d vanished into thin air.
Either Lilis had stepped in, or Maverick had scooped Harald up and used his preternatural speed to save them both from being captured. Whichever case, they’d either moved on because things had gotten too hot here for them to stay, or they’d already done what they needed to in my Territory.
Had one of the murdered Doves been the key?
I wasn’t about to let that thought take hold.
“Shit,” Raven snarled. “Roger that. We’ll let Dom and Rabia know to keep an eye out as well.”
“Any progress with Cleona?”
Diana stepped into view at Raven’s side.
“Bringing you up to speed won’t take long.
Cleona is still being a pain in the ass, but I think the destruction along the eastern seaboard gave her pause.
She wants to do another meetup with us, along with the rulers from each territory to discuss terms for an alliance. Tonight.”
Fuck, of course she did. It never failed that Cleona wanted things her way, or not at all. Like a spoiled child, she’d throw a tantrum and freeze us all out for weeks, months, years even, if she didn’t get her way.
Even with Rufus’s warning in my head, I pursed my lips. “Not gonna happen. I have way too much going on here to do it tonight.”
“This might be our only chance,” Raven interjected.
Diana nodded. “Elka and Will are already on their way. Cleona was very insistent about the timeframe.”
“I’ll join in with the Prism, then.”
Diana frowned. “It must be in person. She wants us all to swear some kind of binding oath, to make sure we don’t betray her…but it works both ways, she won’t be able to betray us either. It’s our best chance to finally crack her, Gabe.”
I pressed a finger to my temples and growled. “She is a paranoid fucking lunatic. Where is this supposed to happen?”
“At the temple of Elamor, on the border of the Angel and Vampire Territories.”
“There isn’t even enough time to get there, Diana. I’m the furthest one out.” There, that should shut them down.
Logistics.
“We’ve already sent one of the Hunters. They will be there in under an hour and can get you to the meeting place in time,” Diana said.
Damn her and her fucking problem-solving skills. Even if I wanted to ride one of the dragon-like hell-spawn created by the Vampires, I couldn’t leave my people.
I couldn’t leave Mari.
“I am telling you, I can’t do it. Seventhell is in chaos and I cannot leave.”
“If you leave now, you’ll be back by tomorrow morning,” Diana promised. “This might be our only shot at this, Gabe. Whatever chaos is going on pales in comparison to the entire world’s destruction, you know this.”
I opened my mouth to refuse again, but I cut short as I felt a pressure on my shoulder, bony fingers digging in hard.
What the…
The image from the prism blurred out of sight, and I was back in my room, spinning around to see Myrr standing just behind me. She swayed rhythmically, as if in time with some unheard song, and had a distant, glassy look in her eyes.
“You must go, Gabriel.”
Shit. The old Oracle was having another premonition.
“Why?”
Her lips pulled into a smile. “Go, King of Demons, and unite the realm. You must leave if the key is to be found.”
She staggered backward, and I dove to catch her as she dropped. I lowered her gently to the floor, listening closely to her breath, her chest barely rising. Her body was limp, as if she’d been knocked unconscious, but everything else seemed normal.
Sweat broke out on my upper lip as I swayed myself. Maybe having a premonition took the same amount of energy from Myrr as using the Prism took out of me.
Was it really that important that I went? Just the fact that the Oracle believed the key was still out there was enough to jolt me into action. With Maverick and Harald far from here now, surely, it would be alright…
I strode back over to the Prism, pressing my hand into it and reconnecting with Raven. “I’ll go. I do not need a ride. I can be there by midnight.”
I would be exhausted, hell, I already was, but I trusted my own wings far more than any Hunter. Even if Sienna was the one training them up.
“I’ll let Cleona know,” Diana said.
“I have no time for Cleona’s games. One hour, max.”
Diana nodded. “Understood and we are in complete agreement. Thank you, Gabe.”
I let the connection fizzle away without another word, then closed my eyes and connected with Algrin again.
“Any updates?”
“They’re in the wind, my king. Last seen heading due north.”
I cursed inwardly, but that was not our only priority right now. “Send Luc and one of your guards back to the palace. I must make an emergency trip to speak to the other Territory leaders and need someone to watch over the Oracle and the Briar Queen.”
“Immediately.”
I let the connection drop, already planning out my next move as I knelt and lifted Myrr from the floor, hefting her gently over my shoulder.
I took a quick trip to my bedroom, setting the Oracle on my bed before going back to the kitchens. I was there in minutes, and everything was just as it had been, with Rufus keeping watch over the borderline catatonic Mari and Feather.
He turned as I entered, cocking his head. “What now?”
“I have a meeting with the leaders from the other territories, and I want you with me. We leave in thirty so that we can make it in time .”
A smile pulled at his lips. “You are becoming quite the king, Your Majesty. I must admit that I underestimated you at first.”
He strode from the room without another word, and I knelt next to Mari, who noticed me this time. It wasn’t much, but at least it was something.
“I’m going to take you and Feather to my quarters, Mari. I’ll be back by tomorrow morning but, until then, I need you to stay there, no matter what. Luc will be here to watch over you. In the meantime, you need to try and get some rest. Do you understand?”
Really what I was asking was, did she hear me?
She bit back a sob as her eyes flitted back toward Tulli, but she nodded. “I…yes, I understand.”
I grabbed her hand, squeezing it lightly in mine.
“Harald was seen headed topside. I will find him, and anyone who aided him in this, Mari, even if my men can’t find them tonight.
I have reason to believe that the werewolf now traveling with Harald is known to me.
A former human named Maverick with a chip on his shoulder about the Fallen…
amongst other things. I think he and Harald might’ve been in league.
I’ll chase them to the ends of the earth, if that’s what it takes, as soon as we find the rest of the keys. I swear, he won’t get away with this.”
She nodded dully, then nudged Feather, whose gaze was still fixed on Tulli.
“We need to go, Feather. Gabe is right. We need to go.”