Elysian Cage

1. Tethered

CHAPTER ONE

Tethered

Darkness pulsed along the edges of my vision, but no matter how hard I tried, I could not surface.

“Where is the text?” Vaner hissed through his teeth.

He carried on about the Lore of Old, referencing it as the ‘text.’ I shook my head again, which only served to upset my stomach.

I flopped over, gagging and retching liquid across the polished obsidian floor.

Tremors wracked my frame as I pried my eyes open.

“Disgusting,” Vaner spat. He retreated, a streak of crimson vomit clinging to the hem of his robe.

Piper’s limp body lay so still beside the stairs leading to the platform of the throne.

A whimper broke free from my throat. As much as it hurt to breathe, much less move, I could not let her be alone.

Gritting my teeth, I pressed my blood-dampened palms against the cold surface, curling my fingertips into the divots in the tile to pull myself. Every muscle protested.

“What is wrong with my son?!” Drusilla’s screech split through the Grand Hall. She sounded muffled, as if a great distance stretched between us, yet she was only paces from me, crouched beside Cassiel as he shivered on his side.

“I already told you, Drusilla,” Al offered. “The Warlord will be as good as new by dusklight, I am sure.”

I reached the edge of the rug with fleurlets embroidered into the fabric. The textured edges gave me better purchase to drag myself forward. The taste of copper coated my throat, and I swallowed it with effort.

My hand stretched out before me, fingers curled, but I could not feel a thing. With another yank forward, I finally closed the space with Piper. Carefully, I huddled over her, my hand hovering over her body, fear keeping me still for a harsh breath.

I touched her soft fur. No movement.

“Piper?” I whispered.

Nothing. No wry quips filled my head. My numb lips trembled. No! This was impossible. Drusilla snapping her neck had not been fatal because . . . because I was alive.

“Piper?” I whispered, scooping her up into my hands. Her head flopped to the side. The thrum of her heartbeat against my palm did not come. A wail crawled up from deep in my gut.

This couldn’t be permanent. I shook my head rapidly, blinking through the sheen of tears. No! There had to be a way to bring her back.

Bring her back.

“Cassiel!” I tried to push to my feet, but I stumbled and slammed on my knees, sending scarlet blood splattering. Numb stabs pinched my legs, but I couldn’t let the agony take me under. I kept Piper tucked against my chest.

“Cassiel, please,” I sobbed. He groaned, the sound deep and guttural.

“Thank Saints!” Drusilla exclaimed, bunching the fabric of Cassiel’s tunic.

Grinding my teeth, I got my feet under me and stumbled. I could only move a few paces forward before my foot slid out from under me, the thin layer of my slipper catching on blood leaking from my wounds. I landed on my thigh, protecting Piper within the curl of my arms.

Cassiel rolled onto his front, the movement jostling Drusilla into a sprawl across the ground. He lurched forward, large hands skidding across the polished floors as he struggled to find traction. None of his onyx blood left a visible mark against the dark stone.

Numbness spread over my hands, but I poured every single drop of effort into keeping my focus on Cassiel.

His lip curled up in a sneer, and blood dripped from his fangs.

“Stop him!” Vaner shouted. Every one of Cassiel’s movements cost him blood, but he persisted toward me with slow, pained movements. I helplessly waited for him to reach me.

“He’s trying to save the animal.” Al sniffed. “Innocent creatures they are.”

Their voices faded as Cassiel neared, coated with the heavy scent of iron. I stretched Piper out toward him.

His hand trembled as he rested a palm over Piper. Cassiel shook so hard I could hear the clatter of his teeth.

“I cannot . . .” His cough cut him off. Blood leaked down his chin to form a macabre mask.

“Please,” I cried, curling forward.

His mouth parted with an exhale, then his teeth clicked audibly together. He closed his eyes, hand pressing into the pelt harder.

A tug in my breastbone bloomed, and my vision wavered. Heat drained even more from my body, leaving behind sharp tingling. My heartbeat stuttered. The Grand Hall tilted.

Cassiel’s sneer widened into a grimace, and blood escaped from the corner of his lips.

“Cassiel, stop. You will kill yourself!” Drusilla shrieked. Onyx liquid gathered at the corner of his eyes, collecting until the volume forced it to overflow. Streaks of black trailed down his face. “Get that whore away from him!” Drusilla’s scream remained muffled.

Cassiel shuddered, more blood dripping from his mouth and eyes. Veins stood out starkly against his temples.

Piper moved, her body twitching.

“She’s moving,” I gasped, my arms in agony from keeping them outstretched.

I had no strength to move any longer.

Piper lunged out of my hands, squeaking with frantic yelps. She was alive. She was okay. A dry sob pushed out between my lips.

Cassiel collapsed.

I stared at my empty hands, then at the ferret racing away. If she was alive, why did my chest remain an icy hole? A searing chill that pulsated right where I used to feel Piper.

“Catch that thing.” Lady Drusilla delivered the edict through her teeth. It was the last I heard as oblivion dragged me down.