Chapter 56 Get Dragged Out of Bed #2
“But Auremar himself?” I pressed. “We can’t kill him. Not until we understand his connection to the Shadow King’s prison.”
“Capture, not kill,” Kazimir agreed, though he looked pained by the concession.
Griffin held up a hand. “I’ll need at least six hours to prepare extraction portals. They’ll need to be keyed to specific locations to avoid the ward interference, and stable enough to transport seventy-plus panicked nobles.”
Kazimir nodded. “Vex, I need you coordinating from here. Someone needs to keep our current guests from rioting while we’re gone.”
“Oh good,” Vex said drily. “Babysitting duty. My favorite.”
“About that,” Sebastian said hesitantly. “How exactly do we convince so many nobles to participate in a blood ritual? My father always said appealing to their sense of honor and duty to the kingdom—”
“Won’t work,” I interrupted. “These people have been kidnapped, held against their will, and now we’re asking them to bleed for us? Honor and duty are abstract concepts when you’re terrified for your life.”
“Then what do you suggest?” Kazimir asked, though his attention seemed split, his gaze occasionally going distant.
“We make it personal.” I stood, pacing around the table. “We show them exactly what happens if the Shadow King rises. Not to their kingdom or their honor—to them. Their families. Their children. Make them understand that this isn’t about saving Solandris. It’s about saving themselves.”
“Fear as motivation.” Kazimir smiled approvingly.
“Self-preservation,” I corrected.
His shadows curled possessively around my ankles. “Fear, self-preservation, survival—they’re all just different words for the same instinct.”
I studied him again. The intensity in his gaze, the way his shadows moved with unusual agitation—whatever was happening inside his head was getting worse.
“We’ll need the Alchemist’s help with the actual ritual,” Thorne said, bringing us back to practical matters. “Have they provided the specifics?”
“I’ll meet with them after this,” Kazimir said. “Finalize the requirements. Griffin, I want you there as well. I’ll bring the Alchemist to the North Tower for the meeting.”
“You’re letting them out of the dungeon?” Griffin’s eyes widened.
“The apocalypse really is upon us,” Vex murmured.
“What about Nyx?” I asked. “She could be useful for reconnaissance.”
“Or she could eat their scouts and alert them to our presence.” Kazimir shook his head. “She stays here. We’ll need her for the actual assault if things go wrong.”
“When,” Vex corrected. “When things go wrong. They always do.”
“Your optimism is noted,” Kazimir deadpanned.
As if summoned by her name, Nyx’s massive head appeared in the window, silver eyes gleaming with interest. She’d been perched on the scaffolding clinging to the outside wall, apparently eavesdropping.
“Don’t look at me like that,” I told her. “You ate Ferdinand. You’re grounded.”
She snorted, sending a puff of smoke into the room before disappearing again.
Kazimir straightened, shadows pulling tight around him. “Everyone knows their tasks. We reconvene in four hours to finalize the rescue plan.”
As the others filed out, Kazimir caught my arm. “A word?”
I waited until we were alone, then turned to face him. “What aren’t you telling me?”
His mask slipped for just a moment, and I saw exhaustion beneath. “What makes you think—”
“Kazimir.” I stepped closer, placing my hand over his heart. His pulse was too fast, his skin too warm. “I know you. Something’s wrong.”
He covered my hand with his, and I felt the tremor he was trying to hide. “The magical expenditure for moving the army will be significant.”
“You’ve done massive magic before.”
“Not like this.” He pulled me closer. “Not with the ley lines still partially corrupted. Not with—” He cut himself off.
“Not with what?” I pressed.
For a moment, I thought he’d tell me. His shadows swirled around us, forming into wolves and other beasts that I wasn’t certain were entirely under his control. Then he kissed me, fierce and possessive.
“Not with you in danger,” he finished when we broke apart. “I need you to promise me something.”
“What?”
“If the extraction goes bad, you run. You take the portal and you run.”
“Kazimir—”
“Promise me.” His hands cupped my face. “I can’t lead the distraction if I’m worried about you.”
I saw the fear beneath the command. Whatever was happening to him, his terror of losing me was overriding everything else.
“I promise to make smart choices,” I said carefully. “But I won’t abandon the prisoners. Or Sebastian. Or Thorne.”
His jaw clenched. “Arabella—”
“That’s the best you’re getting.” I kissed him again, softer this time. “Trust me to handle my part. I’ll trust you to handle yours.”
He exhaled slowly. “You’re infuriating.”
“You love it.”
“I do.” The admission seemed to surprise him. “Be careful with the heroic bloodlines. Some of them might have opinions about helping the Dark Lord save the world.”
“I’ll emphasize the ‘save the world’ part and downplay the ‘Dark Lord’ part.”
“Lying by omission. I’m so proud.” He pulled me in for another quick, fierce kiss. “Don’t let Torok challenge you to a duel.”
“Please. I’d destroy him.”