Chapter 15
Zephyr
What the fuck is the demon king doing here?
Oziel is infamous for lurking within the shadows of his own kingdom, almost never venturing beyond its borders.
The few times he has left were marked by disaster, never anything good.
My chest tightens with frustration as I watch him now, striding toward the castle with a disturbing sense of joy, a Nephilim bound in chains at his side.
“The hell is he doing?” Niko growls beside me.
“What the demon king does best. Stir shit up.” Oziel in our kingdom means nothing good.
The demons aren’t our enemies, but they aren’t exactly anyone’s allies.
Oziel aligns himself with those he can benefit from at the moment.
He’s a fearsome king, but each calculated move brings a sense of unease with him.
“He can’t breach the castle doors.” I push past Niko. Evangeline catches my gaze, her body trembling. “You stay here. Lady Thalia, can you—”
“I would rather go with you,” Evangeline cuts me off, looking terrified at the prospect of being left behind. It’s not smart to put her in harm’s way, but clearly I’m the only one who thinks this because Niko takes her hand.
“Stay by me,” he tells her gently, tucking her into his side.
She melts into him, and I hate the way my body betrays me at seeing them together.
Evangeline’s so fucking tiny compared to Niko.
He towers over her, and she wraps her small hand around his wrist. Hunger consumes me so fiercely, it’s hard to tamp down.
I tear my gaze away from them and head for the front gates.
Outside, guards keep Oziel and the Nephilim back with earth magic.
Large, jagged rocks separate them from us.
The earth appears ripped in half, deep trenches that can swallow a person whole if they get too close.
Despite that, Oziel doesn’t seem fazed. Instead, he seems downright giddy, with a sinister smirk, which is arguably more concerning.
The Nephilim makes soft grunts, his lethargic body dragging behind Oziel as he steps to the edge of the gates.
He instantly locks on to something behind me.
“So, she’s arrived already. Splendid,” Oziel hums, amusement lacing his tone.
Shadows slither around him, caressing his body and hovering close, as if waiting for their orders to attack.
From the corner of my eye, I see Niko step in front of Evangeline, eyes narrow. I don’t like the way Oziel is looking at Evangeline. Like she’s a pretty pet he wishes to capture for himself. “Eyes on me, demon,” I growl.
Oziel’s deranged smile only widens more. He closes his eyes and makes a big scene of inhaling deeply. “Ah, this kingdom smells of death and decay. It’s…intoxicating.”
The death of our fae isn’t intoxicating.
White-hot anger pulses through my body, tasting vile on my tongue.
“What the fuck are you doing here, Oziel? Why did you bring a Nephilim? Are you working with them?” The questions roll out, all demanding answers.
Oziel is many things, but foolish isn’t one of them.
I doubt he’d align himself with the enemy, but my question still stands.
Oziel rolls his eyes. “You’ve never been fun to talk to, Zephyr. Always so serious. How dreadfully boring.”
The guards restraining Oziel falter, their magical barriers flickering as their strength wanes. Pale and visibly weakened, most haven’t eaten properly in days, their energy reserves nearly depleted. Recognizing their imminent collapse, I make a swift decision. “Withdraw your magic,” I command.
“Zephyr, what are you doing?” Niko grabs my arm, his iron-clad grip locking me in place. His expression twists—anger flaring in his eyes, confusion creasing his brow, and something else beneath it all… fear. His voice drops, tight with urgency. “This isn’t wise.”
“Their magic is failing, Niko. Just look around.” I gesture to the gaunt guards, unsteady on their own feet.
“We will have more problems if we ask them to keep it up. Besides, it wouldn’t be wise for Oziel to trick us.
Not during these trying times. He needs his magic too much, something the Nephilim are trying to rid us all of. ”
“The angry one is correct,” Oziel speaks, clearly catching every word of our conversation. “We’re all friends here.”
Niko’s jaw clenches. His hold on me loosens, only slightly.
He reaches back for Evangeline and pulls her behind us.
She squeaks, but is otherwise silent. I still think she would have fared better inside, but Niko doesn’t seem keen on letting the woman out of his sight.
It’s only been a couple days, and already he can’t resist being the protector.
“State your business, Oziel. We have much to attend to,” Niko demands.
Oziel looks around. I know what he sees. Dying trees and grass the color of straw. Flowers no longer in bloom and people weakened by hunger. “Clearly,” he mutters. “Then I’ll be quick. I brought you a gift. Think of it as a wedding gift for your new little human wife.”
“You bring us a Nephilim?” Niko frowns. “Why would we accept such a gift?”
“Why indeed, fae king. I captured something for you. You see, Ender failed to mention some vital information about our pretty little human wives.”
“I feel sorry for the woman who is tied to you,” I say before I can stop myself.
Oziel only laughs. “Oh, my Kitten is something else. She’s a vicious little thing too. But I digress.” He then points to Evangeline. “You see, we believe our wives have a very special gift. One that will aid us well in the war to come.”
“Out with it, Oziel. Enough of the theatrics.” Niko glares. “Tell us what you mean.”
“It’ll be easier to show you,” Oziel says, his voice low and steady.
Before I can react, he moves with blinding speed.
In one seamless motion, he draws a dagger from the sheath at his hip.
I nearly call for the guards to use their magic just as Oziel drives the dagger deep into the Nephilim’s leg.
The creature lets out a shriek—shrill and bone-rattling, like metal tearing through glass.
The sound slices through the air, and both Niko and I instinctively clutch our ears, staggering from the force of it.
Even Oziel flinches, his jaw tightening as he braces himself against the sound, managing to stay upright while the rest of us falter.
The screaming goes on until the sound abruptly stops.
My ears ring, the pounding in my head slowly diminishing into nothingness.
The Nephilim is slumped over, nearly unconscious, with Oziel standing above it, holding the bloody dagger he ripped from the Nephilim.
A dagger alone wouldn’t have caused that much damage.
Oziel must have subdued the creature beforehand.
“Was that necessary?” I hiss.
But Oziel doesn’t acknowledge me. Instead, he shifts his attention, leaning slightly to peer past us toward Evangeline. His eyes narrow with interest.
“Did you hear something, little human?” he asks, his voice unnervingly calm, his eyes twinkling with unbridled interest.
I want to snap at him, to point out the obvious. That she heard the same gut-wrenching scream the rest of us did. That whatever twisted theory he’s forming in that sharp mind of his is dead wrong.
But when I turn to look at Evangeline, the words catch in my throat.
She’s gone pale, her complexion ashen. Her eyes are wide, glassy with shock, as if she’s just seen something long dead. Like a ghost from a nightmare that’s suddenly stepped into reality.
Niko reaches for her. “Evangeline, what is it?” The concern in his eyes chokes me. Not because it’s not warranted, but because I feel the same. I hate how much Evangeline has affected me the short time she’s been here. Staying away from her will be hard but necessary.
“Why was it screaming about war and blood?” she murmurs, voice barely audible. “It’s angry. So angry…” Her voice chokes off in a strangled sob.
I stiffen just as Niko pulls her to his chest. “It’s okay.” He gently strokes her hair. “You’re safe with me,” he murmurs, though I’m not sure she’s listening with her face buried deep into his chest.
I whirl around in time to see Oziel’s eyes gleam. “What did you do?” I hiss.
“Me? Nothing. But your little wife-to-be heard something we could not, proving my theory.” He pauses, and the breakfast Evangeline made us churns in my stomach, threatening to come up as I wait for his next words. “Didn’t you, little human?”
Evangeline rubs her hands together in a nervous habit, looking between Niko and me. “You really didn’t hear it?”
Niko shakes his head. “No. We only heard screams. You heard words?”
Evangeline bites her bottom lip in a way that shouldn’t be as tempting as it is. She nods once.
“So, you see, our wives are extremely valuable.” Oziel chuckles.
“You’re welcome, by the way. All I ask is that you share anything you find out.
Our pretty wives are able to slip into the minds of these creatures.
This can help us in the war against them.
” He snarls at the mention of the Nephilim and holds out the chain keeping it imprisoned.
“I don’t like this,” Niko says, loud enough for me to hear. “We should refuse.”
That would be the safe thing, but if there’s a small chance we could get something out of the Nephilim, keeping it around could prove fruitful. As long as Evangeline is willing to try to speak to it.
“I know that face.” Niko sighs. “You think we should keep it.”
It’s not a question. He knows me too well. Still, I nod. “I think if this could provide aid, we shouldn’t be so quick to cast it aside.”
“And what of the liability of having a Nephilim in the castle? What if it gets out?”
“Then we deal with it. Just as we deal with all the others that have come through our lands.” There will be more to come.
We’re only seeing the start of it. I take a step closer to Niko, hearing his intake of breath at my close proximity.
“We don’t have to like it. But I think we would be foolish to cast it aside. ”
Niko turns from me, body going rigid. “Why don’t you keep it, Demon King? Clearly your wife can hear it too. There’s no need for mine to talk to these creatures.”
“Ah, but there is. My wife is…preoccupied with something different at the moment. It must be your human to communicate with it.”
Niko purses his lips. He’s not pleased, but I know my mate is seeing reason. He wants to refuse, but he also knows how vital information is.
Before either of us can say more, Evangeline speaks up. “If it will help…I can try talking to him again.”
She doesn’t sound confident, or a fan of the idea, but she still offers. I both hate and love that she does. The woman is stronger than she gives herself credit for, but I still don’t want to put her in any more danger than she already is in.
After a moment of tense silence, Niko runs a hand through his hair, groaning. “Fine. But you won’t talk to him now. We keep the Nephilim subdued. The moment it becomes a problem, we kill it. I need your word, Zephyr.”
“You have it,” I say automatically.
That seems to satisfy him, and he gives a single nod.
“Good. Then we accept your gift, Oziel—” Niko cuts off abruptly, eyes narrowing as he spins back toward where the demon king was standing just moments ago, except he’s no longer there.
“Where the fuck did he go?” he snarls, his voice sharp with confusion and suspicion.
The space is now empty, save for the chained Nephilim and a dazed-looking guard clutching the ends of the restraints, as if waking from a trance.
For better or worse, the Nephilim is our problem. I simply hope my urging to keep the creature hasn’t damned us all.