Chapter 21
SORROW
I still maintain that redacting these verses from your Chronicles, denying your subjects the Histories of the lesser Gods can lead to a rise in suspicion and hostility. Imagine a whole nation, a whole continent of people unaware of the great psalms! One day it will all unravel, you mark my words!
— MOTHER VEERA, HOLDER OF ENJA’S SECRETS
My skin prickled as I peered into the amber glow of lights, the hazy outline of an imposing building blooming through the gloom as our horses approached. I sat straighter, my heart thundering. If this was The Void, then where were the rebels?
‘Just to remind you, sweetheart, the moment you step through that door, I’ve upheld my side of things. I just need a quick… look around, then we say goodbye and you—’ Fucks sake, the bottle was already back in hand. ‘You do your queenly stuff.’
No. My blood rang at the thought of him disappearing.
Gaining an alliance, begrudging as it would be, with the rebels had been my mission from the start.
I’d no option other than to enter, negotiate with a group of people who despised Elmswoods.
But I needed the God more. The rebels may be another weapon in our armoury, but Vyrus could be the empress’s ruin.
He’d help me balance. He was Matthias’s salvation, and damn if I wasn’t prepared to wage war with a God to give my husband a chance.
But if he was still determined to force me to do the impossible?
We dismounted and I left my horse, gripped Vyrus’s arm, clinging on. Taking another swig, he raised his brow. I opened my mouth, unsure of my argument, but refusing to let him go. Was that… steam? Steam coming from—
‘Ah,’ I screamed, clutching my burnt hand, tears prickling the back of my eyes. He gripped me, spread his healing through me as he leaned in so close the hairs on my nape rose up.
‘Do not try to make me stay, wolf queen. I despise mortals. I’m only here to get a look around and then move on to the next place.’ He moved back, waved his bottle. ‘Unless…’
I removed his hand, snorted and did my best to look down on a God who towered over me.
‘Some God,’ I said, a thrill of pleasure running through me to see the flash of anger in his dark eyes. ‘You need a mortal to find your own heart. Imagine what I could do once we’ve dealt with the empress?’ I placed the sweetest smile on my face as the God’s lip curled. ‘The all-powerful V—’
He gripped my wrist, twisting, and for once, Pab’s hackles rose, a deep growl thundering through him. Vyrus let go, raising a brow at the snarling wolf.
Boots crunched as figures approached. Rebels. I only had a few moments to plead my case.
I glared at him as he rolled out his broad shoulders, his shaggy hair billowing. God or not, there was no way I’d let him leave me. This time, I leaned in. A spark of satisfaction lit within at his sneer.
‘Perhaps.’ I closed the gap. ‘Perhaps if you helped a mortal? Actually did some good, it might just put you in your lost lady love’s good books.’
A normal human would have soiled themselves with the look he gave me. But I had a history of despising the word no.
‘Fine.’ My heart raced as the rebels approached. I was running out of time to keep the God close. ‘A compromise. Please. I can’t find your heart if I’m dead. Heal my husband. Destroy the empress and I’ll tear Eusis apart for you.’
‘You’ve got some nerve, sweetheart. But my deal won’t change,’ he said, his shoulders slumping. ‘Just need my…’
‘Then I’ll find it. I found a lost Vyrium mine, I can find your heart.’ The Insurgence was almost upon us when I saw the slightest twinge of his lips. ‘A deal with a God.’
I thrust my hand out, gasping as he grasped it, stars sparking from where our hands joined.
He barked out a low laugh as the rebels surrounded us. Vyrus’s breath misted as he exhaled heavily.
‘Have I told you, you’re the most frustrating mortal I’ve ever met?’
Pablo’s growls ceased as a wide grin split across my face.
‘But you cross me, defy me or trick me and that meteor will resemble the stroke of a feather compared to what I’ll do you, sweetheart.’
‘State your business.’ The faint scrape of unsheathing swords forced a snarl from the wolf as he clung to my side.
‘There’s a rogue fog rolling in,’ I cried, allowing the panic coursing through me to show in my voice. ‘We need sanctuary.’
They hesitated, looking into the distance. Then the rebel in charge swore before seeming to relent. He grumbled. ‘Follow us.’
He raised his arm, indicating the direction of the house. Glowering at the back of Vyrus’s head, I clutched my wolf and headed in.
‘And you are?’ the rebel asked.
Vyrus turned back, beaming. ‘I’m one Captain Hawk. And watch your language while you’re in the presence of my charge. Her Royal Highness, Queen Sorrow Villente of Asmar. We come in peace.’
The rebel groaned. ‘You’re kidding me?’
I bit back a laugh as the warmth and bustle of The Void hit me.
Vyrus vanished the moment we walked through double doors into a hive of obsidian bees.
I narrowed my gaze at the rebels as they dived about, grabbing sandbags and taping down windows in the dingy entrance hall.
For a moment, my chest tightened. I swallowed past the panic.
Vyrus remained close, for the time being.
I’d bound myself to a God. Promised him the impossible.
At least I had time to bend the deal, persuade him to kill the empress, heal Matthias.
If he went… It was still imperative I succeed at this.
If I could persuade the rebels to join with The Alliance, the Sisters and Brothers, then we had a united front. A futile mark on my ever-growing list.
I clutched the arm of the nearest rebel. ‘Where can I find—’
He grunted, sneering at my arm before disappearing into the gloom. A fog might be on its way, but surely Raine, their leader, wouldn’t be securing the building? There were more than enough rebels to have the place safe within a few minutes.
Raising my chin, I grabbed a passing rebel, her brown eyes widening as she took in the wolf.
‘I’m here as an emissary, seeking an alliance. I need to speak to your leader.’
She swallowed as her eyes flicked down to Pablo. ‘Raine?’
I nodded, my fingers curled within Pablo’s fur.
‘Sorry, Raine’s not here. They’re out on a mission.’
I rubbed against the ache in my temple, expelling a long breath.
‘So, I’ve come all this way for nothing?’
She shrugged. The rebels moved further into their base, content the windows and doors were safe against the creeping death promised by the fog to those who weren’t Anomalies. She glanced down at the wolf again.
‘Are you…’ Her eyes widened as she suddenly realised who stood before her. ‘Are you her? That wolf queen?’
‘What gave it away? My name’s Sorrow and I have to speak to Raine. It’s vital I speak to them as soon as possible.’
The rebel’s brows furrowed. ‘Jeremiah’s here. He’s second in command. He’s in a meeting at the moment, but I reckon he’d want to see you.’
My shoulders slumped. I truly needed to plead my case to Raine, but this Jeremiah would have to do. I nodded, following her as she headed through the gloom. The God had disappeared and I fought down the knot rising through my chest at the thought of the farcical deal I’d just sealed.
‘We’ve arrived,’ she said at a set of simple wooden doors.
Three rebels, features lost to the gloom, casually stood outside, cigarillos hanging limply from their mouths.
These were supposedly a highly organised, fierce, almost unstoppable unit.
This group didn’t appear so vicious, but then I suppose they had no one to fear within the belly of their own headquarters.
‘Can’t go in there, Ellie,’ one of them said. ‘Important meeting.’
‘They’ll want to see this one. The new queen of Asmar, Bill.’
He dropped his cigarillo, crushing it with his foot. The acrid smoke tickled my throat as tears struck my eyes. He approached, his handsome features coming into shaky focus, a sneer on his lips. I raised a brow as he glanced down, eyes widening a fraction when he found Pablo by my side.
‘Ah.’ He moved back, placed his hand on the well-worn handle. ‘That’s why they call you the wolf queen, then? Thought it was a funny name.’
‘Were you expecting me to be hairier? Howling at the full moon?’
He barked out a laugh as the door opened inwards and he indicated the gap.
‘You really expect us to allow you access to our archives? Two centuries’ worth of our history?
’ The man with a thick sandy moustache paused, his head turning in my direction as Vyrus crossed his arms, mumbling under his breath as I stood in the doorway.
I was past wondering how he’d found the second in command before me. He was Vyrus after all.
‘Ah, there you are, Queen Sorrow,’ Vyrus called, sketching a low bow, and I clenched the fabric of my hem as I attempted a smile.
‘Queen?’ the man blustered, his cheeks turning red. ‘If you think we’re going to call you Your Highness, you’re about to be very disappointed.’
‘Good,’ I said, delighting in his snort of derision. ‘I’ve never really known how to react to pompous titles. Sorrow is fine.’
I raised a brow as he came into focus. His arms loosened as he looked at the tall woman standing next to him. ‘I’m Jeremiah, Raine’s second. What the hell do you want?’
‘Help. Allies. We can—’
Jeremiah’s laugh drowned out my words and my nails dug into the table.
‘You expect us to work with Elmswoods? After last time?’ I clenched my jaw as he laughed again. ‘I suppose you would come crawling back now. We won’t allow you to put a single rebel at risk. Not without assurances.’
I steadied my breath. They truly despised Raul for turning his back on them, even after his punishments.
Gods, I had to hope my words were enough to convince them.
‘I might be an Elmswood, but I was a Villente first. What assurances would you like? That you’ll be rewarded with Vyrium? Land? Anomalies?’
Jeremiah took a moment, set his gaze on mine. ‘That’d be a start—’