Chapter 32 #2
I was about to lie my ass off. Again. In part.
“The magus have placed curses on the returned soldiers, Raes included. I need to inspect him to figure out the nature of the curse. Until then, you need to stay away from him and anyone who’s returned.
That’s why I couldn’t let you touch him in the hangar. I’m not sure how the curse works yet.”
“We need to tell my brother.” Gratia gasped, then covered her mouth. “Raes. I need to warn him!”
I grabbed her wrist. “Carmine is powerful enough that no curse will take him out. If the nature of the attack won’t cost demon lives, then we’re going to let it unfold.”
“Why would we do that?” she demanded.
Time to bring Gratia more into the fold.
“Because the three of us, and now you, have been working with the supernatural alliance. They are protecting Adeuto, and they are aware of my plans to remove Carmine from the throne. They know that peace awaits our peoples when that happens. I didn’t abduct Andie.
Carmine did, even though he’s laying the glory at my door. ”
Gratia staggered back, then sat on a narrow stone step. “You’re working with the enemy? This is treason, Syera.”
“Usurping the king isn’t treason?”
“This is treason against the realm. We are betraying the demon race.”
I pursed my lips. “I see it more as saving countless lives by ending a war that will only kill the demons in this realm.” When she glanced up, I added, “The curse on the army needs to go ahead. I need the anarchy to do something.”
“What?” she whispered. “Will Raes be okay? I can’t do this if he’ll get hurt.”
I didn’t think the alliance would kill one thousand beings in cold blood. “I’ll make sure he’s safe. Stay away from Raes for now though. Promise me, Gratia. I can’t be worried about protecting both of you.”
“I promise,” the princess said as if in pain.
I really hoped that she kept that promise. Because as soon as the curse hit the fan, I had a Luther to bust out of jail.
“Hey, Mama.”
I froze, inside and out, then turned to face the ghost who’d spoken. A past king. The ghost smiled, and the voice of my son floated from him again.
“Adeuto?” I whispered.
Gratia surged to her feet, gripping my arm, and reminding me that to most people, seeing a ghost speak in a child’s voice was a terrifying event.
“Mama, the gates are open, and one of the ghosts came to the exit with a message for Great Grandmother. They said your cover is blown. I don’t know what that means, but is it to do with handling Father?
Great Grandma wouldn’t speak to anyone else, so she’s taking this message to pass to the ghost king. ”
I swallowed as a lump rose in my throat.
“That’s your son?” Gratia whispered. “Is he in the ghost?”
I shook my head but couldn’t answer. I closed my eyes to better soak in my son’s voice. Hearing him was a harsh reminder of everything I stood to lose—and I’d pushed that feeling down with some success since returning here from Earth. Now I saw that I’d been fooling myself.
In a blink, everything could be torn away, and that made every single reactive plan of mine feel too weak and not nearly good enough. I had to do better, but how? How the fuck did I do better? Tyran was everywhere I moved. He was working against me at the same time.
“Mama, Aunty Tempy says to stay away from the returned squadron. They’re cursed.”
Gratia stared at me in shock, and I realized that she’d just learned that Tempest was alive. Oops.
Adeuto’s message continued to spill from the lips of the ghost king. “She said Andie has a pup. Sascha is trying to work with the alliance, but she fears the urges of his mating will take him over if she is not returned.”
I’d called this a while ago. Andie was the glue of the alliance. Tyran had kidnapped her on a whim, believing her the easiest target. He hadn’t realized the power of holding her, and I didn’t want him to.
“The alliance will attack at dawn,” he said. “I’ll see you soon, Mama. Did you find the gems under my bed? I think you were meant to by now. I miss you. I like the food here.”
His sweet voice faded to silence, and the pain in my heart ached in the absence. I missed him so badly. I didn’t know if I’d see him again. What if I’d heard his voice for the last time?
These were the moments when I trembled.
These were the moments when I wanted to turn tail and run.
Doubt. Guilt. Fear. Shame. And mostly, the urge to protect my son and also myself—my sanity and heart. Because who could I possibly be without my son?
How could I keep moving through all the emotions freezing me?
“Thank you,” I whispered to the past king. “Thank you for helping me.” I’d never thought to use ghosts in this way. The answer had been staring us all in the face.
The king bowed and returned to his spot in the circle.
“Our enemy will attack the fortress tonight,” Gratia blurted, then faced me. “We must tell Carmine.”
“Gratia, wake up. This is an opportunity. No one you love is unsafe. This is a distraction so that we can get Andie back to Earth.”
She glared. “That’s what they’ve told you. Through your son so that you’re more inclined to accept their honesty.”
“From my sister,” I said. “Who I have worked with for months now.”
“You didn’t kill her. “