Chapter 40 Samkiel
SAMKIEL
Dianna’s foot rested on my knee as I laced up the thigh-high boot I had made for her. She sat on the edge of the bed with a pout on her face.
“That’s all he said.”
My brows rose and fell as I tightened the laces. “If there were other gods alive, I assure you, they would be right alongside me, not hiding away, especially from Nismera. While she is a formidable force, they were not afraid of her. A handful of us could deal with her swiftly.”
She blew out a breath and said on a sigh, “Yeah, maybe he was just confused about the timeline of events.”
“Perhaps.”
Dianna shrugged. “He also said you would destroy the world in his place because you love me, so there’s that.”
I met her gaze and placed a kiss on her knee. “Maybe he’s not as dumb as I assumed.”
“Samkiel.” She dragged my name out in reprimand.
“Dianna.” I copied her in response. “You are about …” I paused, counting how long it had been since she crashed into my life.
“A year and six months too late for that. I decided a long time ago I would rip the world apart for you, alive or dead. You only need to be threatened for me to start feeling murderous. So, in short, you shouldn’t have made me love you. ”
Her eyes narrowed in agitation, but I felt the warmth of our love slide along our bond. “Make? You make it sound like I forced you.”
“You did. I had no choice. You’re an evil, evil woman.” I shrugged. “I was merely a victim.”
She growled playfully and nudged my knee with her foot. I laughed and finished tying her boot before placing her foot back on the floor and tapping her other leg, asking for it. She gave it willingly, and I put on the other boot, giving it a slight wiggle as I pushed it up her calf.
“What else did he say before his timely demise?”
She turned her head toward me, the long, dark tresses of her hair shadowing her shoulder like a curtain as she watched me.
“That he wants me to find that chalice. He says we’ll need the extra power, and I’ll be honest, a part of me is tempted.
Especially if it can tell us about the past and give us more insight into whatever he was talking about. ”
I grabbed a lace and threaded the boot. “Your blooddreams haven’t come back yet?”
She shook her head. “No, unfortunately, but maybe this may help?”
“I think,” I said as I tightened her boot, “we have enough on our plate right now besides an ancient chalice in some cavern.”
I stood and pulled her up with me. She looked up at me and nodded. “You’re right.”
“Can I get that in writing?”
“No.” She scowled playfully.
I tapped her ass as she passed me, heading toward the circular mirror on the wall. She ran her fingers through her long, dark hair, separating it into sections.
“What if I grow horns? Like the permanent kind?” She wrinkled her nose as if picturing how it would look as she braided her hair back off her face.
I tilted my head and studied her. “Depends,” I said.
“Depends on what?” Her eyes caught mine in the mirror.
I shrugged and stepped in close behind her. Losing her had been torture, and I couldn’t stand any distance between us right now. “How big are we talking? Can I hold on to them?”
It took her a second to catch on to what I was implying, and when she did, her hands stilled on the end of her braid. Her frown turned to a smirk, and she kicked back, aiming for my shin.
“I’m being serious, you perv.”
Shifting to dodge her kick, I grinned. “Oh, I am, too,” I said innocently, placing a hand on my chest. “I am very serious about holding you for my pleasure, but horns or not, I’ll love you all the same.”
Her eyes narrowed as she chewed on the inside of her lip. “What about a tail?”
I placed my hands on her hips and kissed her cheek. “Doable,” I said with a shrug.
She snorted. “Good to know you have no limits when it comes to me.”
“Absolute zero.”
She peeked at me and scrunched her nose. “Flirt.”
She finished her hair, tossing the long whip-style design over her shoulder. “Okay, now I’m starving.”
I pressed a kiss to her nape and stepped back. “Let’s go find some breakfast, then we can ask around to see if we can find anyone who might have come close to Nismera’s palace.”
“What do they have here?” she asked as I stepped in front of her, leading the way.
“They have meat wraps filled with whatever you wish. One of the spices commonly used in the dishes here is illegal in other realms because many species cannot eat it. It is poisonous to many beings. Luckily, we are in no danger. To us, it tastes like a rich pepper.”
I held the door open for her, and her eyes were lit with excitement as she passed through. “I love everything about that.”
As we passed through the small lobby, I stopped to hand the owner a few extra coins as Dianna stepped outside. I thanked the man once more and hurried after her, really not liking that she was out of my sight.
Dianna stood on the curved path just outside the small hotel, her eyes shining with wonder.
Sunlight poured in through the massive cave entrance, beams spearing deep into the water that split Whitcliff.
The city looked almost delicate, carved deep into the cavern walls with both function and beauty in mind.
Businesses and dwellings were stacked on top of each other, connected by curving streets, sidewalks, and spiraling staircases.
Arched doorways and windows created shadows and nooks, the tops of the buildings nearly reaching the ceiling in pointed spires and domes.
The bright awnings and colorful stalls of the markets were a stark contrast to the unrelieved white of the stone.
The sound of the ocean ebbing and flowing was a constant background noise.
“I didn’t expect this place to be so beautiful considering the trade route and what it sells,” Dianna said, watching people walk by us. There were couples and families mixed in with the rougher crowd you would expect in such a busy trade port.
“I believe they put a considerable amount of money back into the city, and,” I nodded to a few cloaked strangers, pretending to shop and look around, “security.”
“Ah,” she said.
“Besides the trade, this is a great place for people to disappear if they wish.”
“Oh, yeah?” She wiggled her brows at me. “So if one day we want to, can we?”
“I’ll do whatever you want me to do. Just say the word.”
“All right then.” She smiled. “Feed me.”
I held out my hand, palm up. “Come with me, my queen of flame and ruin.”
She giggled and placed her hand in mine, keeping close as I tugged her across the street. We barely made it a few feet before she jerked me to a stop. I looked behind me to see her standing still, her eyes dilated.
“Dianna?” I said cautiously.
She blinked as if hearing her name startled her back to the present.
“What’s wrong?” I asked, my skin prickling. Anticipating a threat to her, Oblivion rose, eager to defend her. “Is it Gathrriel?”
Dianna shook her head, and her hand tightened on mine. She turned, peeking around my shoulder as if hoping to see whatever had spooked her. “No, it’s … It’s nothing.”
“Are you sure?”
She turned back to me and gave me a soft smile. “I think maybe my body is still settling after the possession.”
I nodded slowly and scanned the area around us as I turned. Tucking her against my side, we walked side by side, our footsteps aligned. “Let’s feed you.”
Dianna nodded as we approached the eatery, but her body remained tense.
“I need to research if there are any residual effects of possession,” I said.
A small chime rang as I pulled open the door.
Holding it with one hand, I let her enter first, my eyes continuing to scan behind us.
There were a lot of people, but any threat would swiftly meet their end.
Dianna was on edge, so I was too. Perhaps we both needed more sleep after Gathrriel’s visit.
“Of course, but first things first,” she said, stepping through in front of me. “We need to find Miska.”
I nodded, knowing the memories were brutalizing her. She struggled with losing anyone she considered hers, but Miska sat too close to the spot in her heart where Gabby had existed. Add to that, it was Kaden who had taken her, and I knew this had been a nightmare for her.
Dianna stopped so suddenly that I nearly collided with her.
“Are you seeing what I’m seeing?” Dianna whispered, her eyes having gone wide.
My head snapped up, wondering what had put that touch of fear into her tone.
Tables lined the small dining room. Some had groups sitting around them, others with only a single occupant, but it was the small girl with pink skin that my gaze snagged on.
She was swinging her legs and sipping from a glass of water.
Her clothing was dirty, and she looked tired, but she was alive and here.
Miska.
Disbelief washed over me, followed by happiness. “Yes.”
My voice must have carried because she was lost in her own world one second, and in the next, she was hopping out of her seat.
It was as if her body had moved before her mind registered why.
Her eyes widened before filling with tears.
She sprinted toward us, and Dianna stepped forward, her arms wrapping around Miska as they collided.
“What are you doing here?” Dianna asked, her voice husky with relief, fear, and love. She held on to the young girl tightly, as if afraid she was not real and would disappear if she let go.
Miska sobbed, speaking so fast I barely caught her words. “I thought I’d never find you guys, and then I was lost, and they said they were going to sell me, and I—”
Dianna pulled back, gripping her shoulders. “What?”