Chapter 33
Ilike him a lot, honestly.
Which I shouldn’t.
“My child.” I’m beyond elated that Vendra and I have fully reestablished our connection, but I can already tell where this conversation is headed based on the tone of her voice—and it makes me wish I could sever the link temporarily.
“You must change your decision. Do you not see the way he looks at you?”
“You felt the intention with the bargain. And the blood binding knows, too. I simply cannot go back on it.”
“I will warn him about your intent. He would hear me if I reached out. He would talk some sense into you.”
I lean forward in the truck, my brows pinching. “You wouldn’t dare. Vendra, that isn’t… fair. It makes no difference. He has to kill—”
“Someone. That was the deal. You have plenty of people you would like to see in the ground. What you want, that is not fair to me.”
A frustrated breath escapes through my nose. I’m genuinely taken aback that she’s scolding me like I’m some unruly child.
“It doesn’t matter. The deal was made and it cannot be undone. You understand the laws of the blood binding, and you promised.”
“I promised no such thing.”
“It will kill him! You promised to break the bond before he fulfills his part.”
I can physically feel the sigh as it vibrates through the connection between us. “I promised to protect him. That is not protecting him. I will not break it.”
“But it is. You MUST!”
“It is not. You tend to forget that I am a God, Amarah. You cannot trick me.”
I’ve not realized until now that when Kayn is far away, the bond feels tight.
It’s strangely uncomfortable, and I wonder if that is always how it would be if it were to last. It feels slightly possessive and strange that the bond wouldn’t like us being apart.
Seems sort of clingy to me. I don’t need to be physically attached to his hip, but it’s like this connection of ours makes it seem like I should feel that way.
“Amarah, reconsider. She is not a threat to you—”
“Vendra, then tell me. Who sent that Grimhorn after me?”
“You interrupt a God. I should be offended and smite you.”
“You can’t smite me. Now answer my question please. Who sent it?”
Silence fills our connection, and I shake my head.
“I’ve had to cover every mirror since it happened.
The springs… it’s why you brought Thornwyn to me, just in case she sent another through the water’s reflection.
You know better. I know better. I can’t let this attraction and my feelings cause more death.
I can’t let him die… and she is a threat to that. ”
I take a deep breath and pinch the bridge of my nose, feeling the uneven skin of my scar.
“I’ll enjoy the time I have. And if we find Luce, and he does come back to this world with Kayn, he won’t be alone. You can sprout flowers around him from time to time.”
“Do not condescend me.” The truck shakes, and honestly, I laugh. Did she just have a little outburst? “You will think logically! The burden of birth is not on the child, but on nature itself. I will not let you die.”
“Always the hero.”
“I am a God—”
“As you like to keep reminding me.”
“Amarah. My child. My forge. You did not survive the horrors you have to end your life. Do not forget that we, too, have made a bond. You are my conduit. I have chosen you, and will not choose another.”
I can sense Kayn coming back, the bond slacking and wrapping more comfortably around my chest.
“I love you, too, Vendra.”
“And I like him. The Vampire. I may make an appearance in his dreams. You cannot stop me.”
He would like that a little too much. His comment about Vendra favoring him was pretty accurate. She has a soft spot for him, and I’m honestly not sure why. I mean, I favor him, but… that makes sense.
As I’ve said, I like him a lot.
Kayn appears at the driver’s side where I’m sitting, and the moment I unlock the door, he has it open. He’s wearing this quirky smile that makes me give him a questioning look.
“Found an entrance,” he says, offering me his hand to help me out. Quite the gentleman with a filthy mouth. “You ready to party?”
“Party, huh? Sure. If we can call going into a toxic wasteland partying.”
He bends, places a hand behind my knees, and lifts me into his arms. I’d hated when he did this at first—at least, I told myself I did. But honestly? It’s pleasant. When he runs, he never jostles me; he makes sure I feel secure the entire time.
“You’ll see.” He glances down at me with a smirk. “Ready?”
My heart flutters.
“I do not need to worry… I can feel your intentions. You won’t go through with—”
“Get out of here.”
I finally nod, and he takes off with me in his arms. We leave our bags behind, hoping to reach the farthest point by tomorrow and simply manage with the clothes on our backs.
Typically, I keep my head tucked against his chest when we run. Same rules as riding a bike—bugs and whatever else is in the air go straight into your face. The first time he carried me through the woods, I’m positive a fly flew right into my mouth.
Still, I peek every few seconds, spotting the massive metal wall coming into view. The damn thing is gigantic, and as we get closer, it begins to tower over us.
I’ve never seen it in person, but I read enough about it when I was younger to understand why it exists and how it’s structured. Built directly into the border are several layers of hollowed-out space. Quarters where guards stay for short periods, and stairways leading to each of the six levels.
There aren’t any weapons mounted on the posts. Instead, authorities man the top and bottom levels. They say the wall is meant to keep people from coming in, but truthfully, it’s far more about keeping Necroth out and preventing more toxic waste from seeping into Everhaven.
The wall was also warded by a Yldarwright, keeping the waste from passing through, even all the way down to the Earth’s core. It was a powerful spell. And yes, I know who cast it.
There aren’t many of us old enough, or powerful enough, to maintain a ward like that, even after death.
His name was Xavian, and he was my father.
I wouldn’t be in this mess if he hadn’t been killed. He would have obliterated this world for me—just as my mother would have. If they were alive, they would’ve torn down Thornegate, then shredded everyone that ever put their hands on me.
I’m not going to tell Kayn. There’s no point in him knowing. He’d ask too many questions, the first being how someone like my father could be murdered. And then everything would unravel—including that night in Sylverton.
And I’m not ready for him to know exactly what happened, and what I did.
“There’s an opening. Someone must’ve spent months welding it,” Kayn slips through the bond. “We’re going to use that.”
He takes a sharp left and heads north for a few minutes before slowing.
It’s then that I start to smell something: fire and alkaline.
My father used to tell me the sky over Demour stayed under constant cloud cover, and from a distance I can already see that beginning to form, though it hasn’t reached the border yet.
He’d say the toxins smelled like styrene.
The stuff used in plastics. Sweet and floral at first, but underneath it, it’s like burning plastic.
That particular scent doesn’t hit me. Instead, it smells oddly familiar.
Kayn sets me down and takes my hand. His fingers thread through mine, and my heart skips. It’s the first time he’s held it like this, and I know I’m overthinking it, but it feels right there. Like it belongs.
“Let’s go—”
“Wait.”
He turns fully toward me, shoulders squaring, eyes fixed on mine.
“Stick your tongue out. I’m going to write a rune of protection on it.”
His smirk is devastating. “No complaints, but why the tongue?”
“This will be a permanent spell, and normally I’d carve it into your skin, but you’d just heal it.”
“Should’ve stopped at a tattoo shop,” he says with a wink.
“I’d have to inject the special ink you Vampires need to permanently mark your skin. Plus, I don’t know if that would change the chemical balance. This should work.”
He’s so carefree—shrugging his shoulders, bending forward a little, and sticking his tongue out.
I press my thumb to one of his sharp fangs and drag it across the tip. It splits my skin instantly. Then I bring my bleeding thumb to his tongue and draw the simple four-line protection spell. I can cast without chanting aloud now, but I still think the words as I write them.
Vendra, protect and maintain. Wounds, life, and mind in trade. His for mine. Mine for his.
This spell will basically protect him from the Ashspyte. I’ll absorb all of it for him, which I’ll expel over time. No offense to Atlas, but I wouldn’t do it for him. He’s fragile, and easily killable. If he died… we all would.
Suddenly, he jerks back. “What’s that mean?”
“What’s… what mean?”
“‘Mine for his’? My wounds? Life?” His voice sharpens. “Amar—”
I can’t help it—I giggle. “You’re getting waaay too comfortable in the bond, Kayn.”
“Amarah.”
Oh, he’s not joking. His tone drops, and the way his Adam’s apple bobs when he swallows makes me clear my throat.
“Magic isn’t free. There’s always a price.
If there weren’t something I had to offer in exchange, I could misuse it.
Imagine having unlimited power with no consequence.
” I smile softly and place my hand on his cheek, brushing my fingertips along his beard.
“Nothing’s going to happen to me. The Ashspyte can’t hurt me, and you’re pretty durable. ”
His nostrils flare, and he literally huffs. “I don’t like it. Take it off. I’ll survive.”
I shake my head. “It’s fine. Really.”
He releases my hand only to grab me by the cheeks, and I gasp—actually shocked at how rough he’s being.
“Remove it,” he growls. “I will not have you dying if something happens to me.”
Heat spreads from temple to temple. “Kayn…”
Before I can tell him I refuse to do it, he looks down at the hand holding my face. Tiny flecks of gold and violet shimmer across his skin like stardust. The glow crawls up his arm toward his shoulder.
How do I tell him I’d die regardless?
If our bond snapped unnaturally—without Vendra’s interference—my soul would follow him, wherever that end led.
And seeing his reaction now, I know he’d demand the connection be severed. For my safety. For me.
I know that’s the ultimate goal, to have my God separate it, but the idea of going wherever he goes… it sounds almost beautiful. If that were the fate waiting for us.
It does make me wonder if the hex would prevent me from that…
As the protection settles over his entire body, I move my hand to the side of his neck.
“Do you plan to die?”
I need to redirect him. Worrying about this won’t get us anywhere. I’m not removing the spell, and debating it will only waste time.
“No, but—”
“Then don’t worry.” I tug at him, not even sure if I’m pulling him in for a kiss or just wanting him closer. I just need him near. “Vendra has a thing for you. And for me. I don’t think we’ll be dying anytime soon.”
Both his hands cradle my neck, thumbs lifting my chin. “Little slayer, if we get into some shit, you will remove it.”
It’s not a question. Not a request.
“Okay.” I won’t actually agree, but that’s all he’s getting.
He releases a low, irritated grumble before crashing his mouth against mine. “Infuriating,” he mutters through the bond, turning his head to thrust his tongue into my mouth. “I will not lose you both. Do you hear me?”
“Loud and clear, brute.”
Suddenly—loud enough that I think I’m imagining it—a bass-heavy boom sounds from the other side of the border. I jerk back and look through the opening we’re about to walk through.
“Is… that…?”
“Music.”
I tilt my head up at him. “What the?”
“I did ask if you were ready to party.” He chuckles, then pulls me through the entrance—straight toward the Beyond on Earth.