Chapter 51 Dianna
DIANNA
Samkiel’s voice flooded my mind, and a shudder of relief rippled through me.
It was like I had been drowning, and I was gulping that first breath of air.
Confidence filled me once more. Not because I couldn’t stand on my own, but because, for once, in a world where I was surrounded by monsters, I had, and would always have, someone who had my back. Together, we were unstoppable.
“Which Prince are you speaking to?”
“Eryx.”
Silence fell, but I felt that lethal calm he always dipped into.
“What is it?” I asked.
“He’s powerful and old. Be cautious.”
“I will.”
Kaden bowed, dipping his head toward Eryx. “I was unaware Icnima abdicated her throne. My apologies once more.”
Shock fluttered across my gut, strong enough that Samkiel assumed I was in danger.
“What is it?”
“Kaden is … bowing.”
“The Princes of the Otherworld are formidable, but I’d never bow, and you will not either. In these realms, it signifies subjugation. Rulers do not bow to rulers, kings to kings. You, Dianna, are queen of not only Rashearim, but soon these realms, too. You bow to no one, understood?”
Pride filled my chest at his words, both his and mine.
“I wasn’t planning on it. You know I only get on my knees for you.”
A soft rumble of laughter floated down our bond, but I kept my face straight as I watched them.
“Your apologies are unnecessary. You’ve been gone a long time from these realms. Things have changed.”
“How so?” Kaden asked.
Eryx shrugged, as if what he was about to say was no big deal.
“Civil war broke out between us all. Everyone grasped for power when Nismera took the realms. What were once seven princes are now three, and Umemri sits on the throne in Icnima’s place.
And trust me, he and his creatures have no intention of giving it up. ”
A muscle in Kaden’s jaw jolted. I knew Kaden.
I had spent a thousand years as his puppet.
Even through the stoic mask he wore, I knew his every mannerism, and I could tell what he was thinking.
Eryx’s words shocked Kaden, and I felt his fear and apprehension as if the news of fewer of them wasn’t good.
It made sense. Empires tended to grasp for power within their own ranks when an old one fell.
Savees had told us that many months ago, when we were locked in prison.
Samkiel and I knew how they scrambled to rise and hold on to what power they could before proclaiming themselves the new epicenter of their kingdoms. But from Kaden’s subtle reaction, this fracture in the Otherworld seemed to go far deeper than we imagined.
“I was just thinking the same thing,” Samkiel said back to me.
“If what Savees had said is true, this only proves it,” I added, pretending to still listen to Kaden and Eryx. “But my concern is if he’s working with her. We know she had many under her control, and if the Otherworld hates gods so much, why initiate a truce if even that?”
Samkiel went silent along our bond for a long moment before saying, “Nismera is as hateful as some of the lowest beasts here. Regardless, they may share even a fraction of a kinship. Like Savees said, she offered a way to overthrow an empire they already despised. They loathe me. I am a part of the same gods who subjugated and let them rot behind their own walls. You know I’ve buried warriors and beasts alike.
My reputation may be prestigious where Rashearim used to stand, but I am a thing of nightmares to them. ”
“Not all monsters,” I said. “To me, you are a dream.”
“And you are mine.” A soft, warm glow slid over me in a physical manifestation of his love.
I turned my attention back to the room as Eryx eyed me warily.
I pretended to stare at the skeletons that still stood unmoving behind him, and then the decorations on his wall, as if I wasn’t feeding information to his enemies.
“You said three. Who else is left?” Kaden asked, drawing Eryx’s attention back to him.
Eryx shrugged as if he wasn’t about to name beings that made the rest of the realms sweat.
“My brute of a brother, Aeron. I don’t think anything could kill him or his orcs.” My eyes widened as I tried to picture such creatures. “And, of course, Morana. She’s grown more bothersome,” Eryx said.
“Morana?” I asked, cutting in. “I thought you said princes?”
“Male titles hold more power in these realms.” Samkiel’s voice flooded my mind. “And before you say it, I know, I know.”
Eryx repeated what Samkiel had said almost word for word, and I did struggle not to follow up with a completely unhelpful, snarky comment. Eryx watched me with a slight smirk, almost as if he knew exactly who I was talking to and the words I was holding back.
“Enough about me and my realm. I want to hear from you, Miss Ayla.”
“It’s Mrs.” I corrected it.
The slits of his eyes dilated in amusement. “Oh, is it? Explains why you turned down my marriage proposal.”
“What!?” Samkiel all but bellowed down our bond, and I felt the flicker of Oblivion at the walls of my mind, rising to defend me.
Eryx seemed to feel it. His smile grew wider as his eyes flared, and I wondered if he could hear us.
Impossible. Except Eryx drew closer, taking a step toward me.
To my utter shock, I didn’t have to move to defend myself.
Instead, Kaden stepped in front of me, his massive shoulder blocking Eryx from getting closer to me again.
“That’s far enough,” Kaden said, and I knew he wasn’t protecting me from Eryx or some dominating claiming move. It was to keep the maelstrom currently rolling down Samkiel’s and my bond from storming the Otherworld.
“Protective, are we?” Eryx smiled, canines gleaming.
“For your benefit, I assure you.”
The storm growing along our bond seemed to subside at that, but only by a fraction.
“Well, I know you aren’t who she beds,” Eryx added, his eyes raking over Kaden in pity. “All I smell is hate when she looks at you. So, answer me this, Ayla. Who is the lucky suitor you would turn down a prince for?”
I leaned to the side, past the barrier Kaden had made with his body, and raised my hand well above me. “Oh, he’s about six foot seven, has gorgeous eyes, an amazing body, and likes to end worlds.”
I felt Samkiel laugh down the bond. “I love you.”
But it was Eryx that held my attention, his hands tucked into his pockets. “I wondered if those rumors were true, and now I have my confirmation. A god in love with an Ig’Morruthen.” Eryx tsked before taking a step back. “What a tragedy.”
“I wouldn’t say so,” I defended myself.
“No?” He tsked. “Didn’t you hear what happened to the last?”
That got my attention. “What?”
“I wouldn’t worry about old history right now. I think you all have bigger problems,” Eryx said, waving me off, clearly not interested in pursuing the topic any further.
Kaden and I stood straighter at his tone. We knew a threat when we heard one.
“Is that so?” Kaden asked.
Eryx smiled and ran his thumb along his lower lip, his yellow, vertically slit pupils glowing a fraction brighter as he looked at me. “I wonder if you would feel the same about your World Ender if you knew what he has done.”
“What he’s done?” I asked. “You mean age-old battles started by those above him? Or the burden he carries in the form of a crown he didn’t ask for? Be more specific.”
Another spike of emotion hit our bond, this one filled with gratitude and pure admiration. “Only my wife would stand up for me in a realm surrounded by enemies. You mad woman, my love for you knows no bounds.”
“He’s a fool to think I won’t rip his throat out. You don’t deserve the disrespect, but I can show him someone who does.”
“Behave, my love,” he gently admonished. “Words mean nothing when you don’t respect those who toss them. He is nothing to us. I only wish for your safe return.”
“Oh, you are protective of him, it seems.” Eryx’s eyes shimmered with amusement.
Kaden snorted as he tossed a glance my way. “Oh, you have no idea.”
“Listen, I get it. He and I didn’t necessarily see eye to eye when we first met. I actually tried to crush him with a building, but I won’t tolerate any disrespect to him, regardless of some ancient blood feud and past transgressions. I know, he slayed monsters, etcetera, etcetera, but—”
Eryx shook his head, cutting me off. “Oh, he slayed plenty, yes, but I think his first mistake was taking the head of Umemri’s wife.”
“What? No. You must be mistaken. We haven’t killed anyone. We’ve fought …”
Fuck. Otherworld beasts. I swallowed as realization hit. This wasn’t going to be a productive visit at all. From the sounds of an approaching horde echoing through the cavern and the look on Eryx’s face, he meant for it to end in violence.
“Continue,” Eryx said. “Fought what, exactly?”
“Any monster that my husband has slain either attacked us first or was rampaging through innocent towns and villages. None wore the face of a woman.”
“You and I both know not all monsters need horns nor fangs to be one, Ayla. Some manage perfectly without.”
My mouth set in a tight line as bone clacking against stone came from behind us. It really was a disturbingly gross sound.
“Dianna.”
“Wait,” I said in reply. “I want to see where this goes before you barrel in and we do more damage than good. I don’t believe Death would send us here willingly to die. He needs something from us, and I want to find out why.”
“I need you to understand how hard this is for me and what you are asking.”
“I know,” I said. “And for that, I am sorry, but please, just wait.”
“Five minutes.”
I sent him a small laugh, amused at all the times he had given me that same time frame.
“Four minutes,” he said again. “Or I reduce the Otherworld to waste.”
“Stubborn to the very end.” I snorted. “Yes, my love.”
Kaden’s head swung toward the doors as the twin slabs of intricately carved steel opened. I realized then that Eryx didn’t just have a few skeletons in his closet, but a whole damn army.
“I’d go with them willingly,” Eryx suggested, folding his hands behind his back, the lapels of his tunic flaring with the motion, proudly displaying the heavy muscle beneath. Arrogant ass. I was half tempted to incinerate him just to wipe the smug look off his face.
“We go, but we remain on our best behavior, got it?” This time, I sent the message to Kaden.
Kaden glanced at me, an odd look on his face. It seemed he had received my message, but I didn’t know what his expression meant. He said nothing back but gave me a brief nod, telling me he’d follow my lead.
His skeletal forces marched us out of the tomb and down a long, winding tunnel through the catacombs.
Torches hung high above us, lighting the way, and cobwebs filled the spaces in a lacey filigree between skulls and corners.
More skulls were pressed deep into the walls, and as we were herded deeper, I wondered who they’d once been.
How many beings had crossed Eryx’s path only to end up as wall art?
The spear at our backs pushed us forward.
I counted at least twenty-five of the skeletal warriors, some leading the way in front of us, the others at our backs.
We could probably annihilate the whole horde, but I really didn’t feel like fighting a Prince of the Otherworld.
Besides, Samkiel would undoubtedly show up and start another war if we did start something.
There was no need for any of that when this was something I could handle.
“Say the word, akrai, and I rip the ground apart to get to you.”
“Stop flirting with me,” I sent back. “I can’t be turned on when I’m heading into probable doom.”
He didn’t laugh down the bond, but I felt the flicker of humor that laced the raging storm building in him.
“Trust me,” I said
“More than anything.”
“This is going to be a piece of cake.”
The catacombs opened into a room. The only word that came to mind was massive, but that didn’t do it justice.
Neither did the word room. The cavern was so large that I could barely see the opposite walls.
High above, the ceiling curved to create a towering dome.
Heat rose from a gaping pit in the ground, distorting the air with its intensity.
I stepped closer to the edge and peeked in.
It was at least a three-hundred-foot drop, and I could see the orange glow of bubbling lava flowing far below.
I sighed. Of course, one of the main supervillains of the Otherworld would have a mini volcano in his catacombs lair. Typical.
“All roads lead to one.” Reggie had said, and his voice floated through my head at the memory. Was this a failed premonition trying to push through to warn me? Fuck.
I looked to my side. There were doors along the back wall.
Seven of them, and I assumed they were portals to each prince’s territory.
His skeletal army shoved Kaden and me forward, pushing us onto a stone platform that magically hovered above the sludgy molten rock below.
His dead soldiers forced us to the center before spreading out to encircle us.
Eryx walked to the only empty throne and sat, his gaze focused on the being seated on the massive throne across from him.
I didn’t need to be told it was the seat of Icnima.
“Kneel,” a deep, powerful voice boomed to our right. “Kneel to the King of the Otherworld.”
I stared at the creature who had dressed himself up as a man, but it couldn’t be further from the truth.
He wore a dark suit that made his shoulders seem impossibly wide.
His fingers tapped against the arm of his throne.
It was raised to hover over the others, but he was so big his feet were still planted firmly on the ground.
He had to be damn near as tall as Samkiel, but when he leaned forward, I knew he was not comparable.
From the deep black pits of his eyes, poreless pale skin, and sharply pointed crown atop his head, I knew exactly who this creature was.
Umemri.
“I actually take back everything I just said,” I whispered down our bond, and I felt him unleash the full fury of the storm.