Chapter 25
CALM YOUR TEETS
Seryn
Mouth puckering, I placed one hand on Breena’s wrist, ignoring her simmering aura. She was struggling to keep her temper at bay. I understood the anger and disgust, but I also believed Caelora didn’t mean to hurt anyone in Helos.
They’d taken her in when she had nowhere else to go. The shame slightly curling her usually straight back was obvious. Maybe just to me. Because I knew what it was to want vengeance. To risk everything to grasp it.
The thought of my grandmother being culled weighed on me, but I had to hope she was alive and put the blame where it was due.
Firmly in Melina Harrow’s hands.
I reached for a flaky piece of bread, broke it in half, and offered it to Caelora. Kaden’s mouth quirked. Her features twisted in gratitude before she realized I had offered her at least my understanding if not my absolution. She nodded, took the bread from me, and nibbled on the edge.
“And how did you come to be here in Surrelia?” Therrok broke the silence, his question spilling like rocks over the table. After sizing up the group dynamics since we’d arrived, he must have decided the others posed no threat. His leather wings twitched when she didn’t answer quickly enough.
Caelora swallowed, and Kaden leaned forward, answering instead, “The pixies found her outside the arch, the portal we come through during the Dormancy.”
Her mouth flattened, and Kaden shrugged.
“When Melina followed you through the portal at Hallowed End, her two Akridais dragged me with them.” Frowning, she dropped the remaining bread on a plate as if it had soured.
“And conveniently left me stranded in the Murk after she entered the Epiales Tombs, as she called them.”
Breena ran her tongue over one incisor and plopped down onto the bench. “You’re sayin’ that you survived the Stygian Murk, and made it all the way to the portal … on your own. On those short little legs?”
Caelora’s mouth pinched, and she shot Breena a look of mild annoyance. Her mouth parted as if she might reply, but instead she smoothed her hands over her dress and stayed quiet.
Thesa stomped back into the hall, a furry carcass in her hands. She didn’t pay us any attention.
Kaden glanced at Caelora, and she dipped her chin, not making eye contact with anyone.
Never one to let awkward silences fill a space, he stood and began pouring mead into everyone’s goblets.
“And now that that’s out of the way, how about a drink?
Then you can entertain us with stories of the Nether Void. ”
Raising one dark, thick brow, Therrok jerked his glass away before Kaden could taint it with the honey wine. He passed it to Thesa, who took it and another chalice to the stage along with her kill. I looked away, not wanting to see how she filled the cups.
Kaden shrugged, pouring more mead into his cup, his dimple peeking out.
My mouth tipped up. He seemed to be in better spirits since we had last seen one another. I hoped it wasn’t an act; only time would tell. I glanced at Caelora. She hadn’t glanced his way once. Was she actively ignoring him? I tilted my head, curiosity kindling in the back of my mind.
“Well, our Firefly here is a top-tier demi-Ancient …” Breena started, pulling my attention back to her. Animatedly, she spun our tale for the others as we filled our bellies and wet our tongues with the sweet golden liquid.
In this moment, it all seemed like a bad memory. Like hope and providence were the only things to look forward to in the next part of our journeys.
Absently, Gavrel rubbed one hand over his chest, his other hand never leaving me. His thumb brushed back and forth over my thigh, and tingles buzzed along my skin. Gratitude flowed over me in waves that kept cresting and breaking. He was here. Safe.
So was my mother. My father. Kaden. Breena. And even the Grim Twins.
I didn’t want to think about needing to leave Surrelia. Perhaps I would be all right, being a demi-Ancient. But if the others lingered beyond the next full moon, the aether would come for them.
Kaden leaned back, brows furrowed. “Morpheus gathered loyalists from the realm to guard the palace and grounds.” He set his goblet down with a clink. “Elders Ash and Craven likely escaped to Midst Fall. There’s been no sign of them here or in the city.”
Caelora’s nostrils flared delicately. He glanced at her and then clutched his glass once more. “Where do we think Phobetor and Melina fled to?”
Gavrel cupped his chin and scraped his fingers over his stubble. “Seryn significantly weakened him. You could see it in his eyes; he was stunned by what she did. My coin would be on the Epiales Tombs.”
I nodded. “He’d have had access to the energy source at the center of the prison. All those stolen nightmares while he recovered.”
Therrok shifted, licking the crimson off his lips. “He’ll likely be there for at least a couple of days. The Murk will work against his recovery. And he won’t have this to help him travel.”
His sister peeked at him, sipping from her chalice. The male vryka dug in his leather vest, pulling out a twisted black ring. He held it up, then slipped it on his thick, blue-gray pinky.
I coughed, almost choking on a bit of food. My eyes darted to my tourmaline ring. “How?”
“Calm your teets,” Therrok grumbled, rubbing his belly. “Mama Nightshade stole it from the bawbag before ’e scampered away like a void rodent.”
A recollection flashed in my mind. My mother’s ember lashing out before Phobetor disappeared. I grinned.
With a laugh, Breena raised her cup to the vryka. “Bloody brilliant, Rocky.”
His mouth twisted to the side, and Kaden chuckled. Thesa’s black gaze snapped to him, and he gulped back his mirth.
My amusement morphed into something else entirely as Gavrel leaned into me, tucking strands behind my ear. “Are you … feeling weary, Asteria?”
I turned to him, cupping my heated cheek. I bit my bottom lip, searching his eyes. His pupils dilated, gaze darkening.
“Not one bit, Commander,” I lied.
He frowned, and I ran my thumb over the crease between his eyebrows, and giggled, my voice low so only he could hear me as I continued, “Care to join me in my chambers, regardless?”
His fingers tightened on my thigh, and his dimple flashed. “We bid you all a good evening.”
“It’s only midday,” Breena sing-songed.
I shrugged, waving my hand in the air. “Must be the realm change.”
Breena winked and popped a magenta mirberry in her mouth while nudging Thesa with her shoulder. Thesa didn’t budge, the tops of her wings twitching.
Kaden offered me a smile, dipping his head. “Have a good night, you two.”
Caelora rose and wandered out of the hall without a word, her footfalls steady.
Gavrel and I had almost reached the wide entry when Therrok called out gruffly, “Little Nightshade.” I turned, and he stood and lifted his nose. “Well done today. You didn’t die.”
I pressed my lips together, holding in my amusement.
Gavrel took my hand in his.
The vryka was right.
We hadn’t died.