50. Chapter 50 #2
“Stand there. He’ll be with you in a moment.” Cadis snapped his fingers, ordering the guards to line us along the left side of the dais where the black and gold throne chair sat. I imagined an old, decrepit excuse of a man sitting there, ordering his people to die as he sat here in lavishness.
A door on the side opened and slammed shut as a petite woman sauntered into the throne room.
The light bounced off her silky-straight dark hair that reached her jawline.
Her black dress looked like second skin and hugged her pale curves in a way that would make any man’s head swivel.
Even the straps of her dress seemed to be tiring from holding back her breasts, showing ample cleavage.
There was a twinkle in her uptilted bright blue eyes, Wielder’s eyes, as she smiled coyly in my direction.
It was only then I realized Peiro was standing behind me, inches away.
I couldn’t take my eyes off the woman as she swished her hips slowly and stopped right in front of Peiro, licking her lips.
“Aren’t you a sight for sore eyes.” I bit my lip.
My stomach rolled upon hearing her soothing voice directed at him, regardless of whether I wanted to claim his blood.
“Darla,” Peiro said nonchalantly. So he knows who she is?
“Oh, baby. Is that all I get after all this time?” Baby? I felt Ora tense beside me, causing me to look in her direction through my peripheral. What the fuck? she seemed to say.
But I paid it no mind as I caught Darla standing on the tips of her toes in her heels, wrapping a hand around the back of Peiro’s neck. His body stiffened tightly as she pulled him down enough for her to kiss him. I began to move but was pulled to a stop from Ora before I did anything reckless.
I felt like I was intruding on a moment through what felt like years of their embrace. Thank the giants I had nothing in my system or I would have vomited on these pristine floors.
“Mother fucker.” I heard Sury say it loud enough to make Darla pull back from Peiro. She finally looked at us like we weren’t worth the time.
“How rude of me. Love, who are our guests?” Darla called out and sauntered back over to Cadis, but not before looking over her shoulder and winking at Peiro slowly and seductively.
“Can we play with her? She looks like she would be fun.” The woman looked directly at me and smiled in a way that made my skin crawl.
“We’ll see.” Cadis’s eyes sparkled as his gaze looked me up and down, lingering on my breasts, before landing back on mine. Darla then looped her arms around Cadis and kissed him intimately in a way that was disturbing to witness. All they needed was the floor to finish their deed.
“Wow. So we’re getting a show, it seems,” Ora said sarcastically under her breath.
“This confirms I’m not into voyeurism,” Sury mumbled beside her, earning him a sharp elbow.
I couldn’t resist as I turned my head toward Peiro. “I was special, huh?” Instead of answering me, Peiro continued to stare straight ahead with nothing written on his face. Not that it mattered—we were here because of him. I swallowed against the hurt and focused on the situation at hand.
Suddenly his body turned toward mine, overpowering the space before me.
From the side I sensed Sury trying to shift into defense, but he was stopped by a guard.
Peiro’s eyes glowed brighter than I had ever witnessed.
The silver was so intense it practically glowed as the bits of white swirled to illuminate them further.
Tiny black veins bulged at the edges of the strap that encircled his neck, reminding me of Sury when he’d gotten shot by a Death Arrow.
“We warned you of this. We told you that if we had it our way, we wouldn’t be here,” Peiro hissed in my face. “Welcome to Dokvalon, princess. You’re going to wish for a swift death.” The hair on my skin rose as I realized this wasn’t Peiro I was looking at.
“You.” Outrage churned in my gut.
“Me.” His voice cracked and his smile turned sickly, but I refused to show fear. I no longer looked into the eyes of the man I loved, but into those of the Ancient One.
Before Cadis could add his reply, another door at the far end of the throne room opened and shut as a tall figure stepped forward. Every step was precise and demanded respect. A black cape billowed behind the male that imitated shadows that followed closely.
“Finally. It is wonderful to see you.”
That voice. I knew that voice. But how could that be possible?
“I hope Cadis was a hospitable host on your journey.”
How did that voice sound so real? Ora tensed against me, seeming to be as confused as I was.
“Are you seeing what I’m seeing?” Ora leaned into me.
Life slowed as the man came closer, his features so recognizable.
I grabbed Ora’s hand in mine, the shackles slicing the skin of my wrists, but that pain wasn’t what broke my heart in irreparable splinters.
The man continued to speak but I heard nothing as my heart dropped into the deep crevice that was my chest. The ground beneath my feet gave way, threatening to knock me to my knees. Giants, how was this possible?
No. No. No. This couldn’t be real.
The man stood before me, a couple of heads taller than me, like I remembered. Amber eyes shone bright against his alabaster skin and black hair. His strong hands clasped my shoulders, steadying me as he smiled the smile I remembered.
“It’s good to see you.” His voice was just as smooth as I remembered.
Tears escaped my eyes, ready to drown me. I knew this face. I knew the arch of his brow and the bridge of his nose. I knew those eyes as they shone brightly.
I knew this face because it was the man whose face had haunted me every night since he died and I turned his body to ash.
My father.