“Oh. Damn. I didn’t realize,” Heron breathed, his eyes wide with shock.
In all fairness, until we got to Neraka, all we had was a “maybe” on Hansa and Jax, since they’d been blocking each other out like brokenhearted teenagers. The odds were now in Heron’s favor, as Jax’s younger brother. The Lord of Maras was going to one day retire, and he needed a bloodline successor. Heron was the only one. So, my boyfriend will one day be Lord of Maras.
“That’s normal. Jax and Hansa were not an item when we first got here,” Scarlett replied. “Anyway, back to my previous point. I wasn’t suggesting that Avril ask Nevis to marry her or anything. That’s absurd.”
“No, I get what you’re saying, and I agree,” I interjected. “I need to cozy up to the guy.”
Scarlett nodded, while Heron frowned and exhaled.
“Just be careful what you promise him,” he muttered, prompting me to chuckle. “I’m serious.”
“I know you are, but let me tell you something else you need to set your mind on, rather than uselessly worrying about the prince of Dhaxanians and me,” I replied. “If we get out of this mountain alive, you can forget about that old-school dating plan you’ve been making. Clearly, our lives are too unpredictable at this point to leave… certain matters for later. First chance I get, I’m taking it.”
For the first time, I could see Heron blushing. His cheeks flared red, and his clouded gaze found mine. Scarlett, and even Patrik, despite his frosted mouth, chuckled, while I gave Heron a satisfied grin. “I’m serious,” I added.
Heron was speechless—for good reason, too. I’d even surprised myself with that statement, but I’d meant every word. We’d started the day yesterday riling each other up and talking about going slow with our relationship, taking it nice and easy, with dates, dinners, and walks on the beach. We were now trapped in Dhaxanian frost, waiting for daemons to come get us.
As sweet as those plans sounded, our tumultuous lifestyles on Neraka were never going to allow us such simple joys. We had to live through every day like it was our last and resume our more normal lives once we got back to Calliope. So, yes. As soon as Heron and I had a chance to be alone, I was determined not to let a single minute go to waste, and to be with the Mara I’d fallen in love with.
Scarlett
Dion and Alles must still be out there at the base of the mountain,” I said, unable to stop myself from worrying about them. “What if the Dhaxanians spotted them?”
Avril sighed. “I don’t know. I hope they’re safe. Provided I get through to Nevis, we’ll be able to get back to them. And, if the Dhaxanians captured them… Well, worst-case scenario is we’ll have to bargain for their release. With the Imen population dwindling, the daemons wouldn’t let anyone just kill Dion and Alles off. After all, they’re ‘soul food’.”
The concept still sent shivers down my spine. Eating a creature’s soul was, by far, the most abominable of deeds that anyone could commit. It went against not only the laws of nature, but against the universe itself. The single most precious possession of any living being was their soul, and the daemons and Exiled Maras were gobbling them up like rare delicacies, to cheat time and to enjoy a temporary high.
“No matter how much time passes, that is still unbelievably disgusting,” I muttered, then changed the topic back to Nevis, since the daemons’ culinary habits were not something I wanted to linger over for too long. My stomach was already churning. “So, yeah, Avril, we basically need you to take one for the team.”
“I suppose you don’t mean that literally,” Avril replied with a smirk, and I shook my head in response. She exhaled. “Good. But what if Nevis is hardheaded and says no to everything I may propose? What if, even after I’ve made a compelling case against the daemons, and make it clear that it’s in the Dhaxanians’ best interest to stand with us, Nevis still hands us over to the daemons?”
Avril was right. There was still a chance that Nevis would refuse to help us—provided we managed to reach out to him, first. A day had passed, and we hadn’t heard or seen any Dhaxanians. I gasped, suddenly realizing we’d overlooked the single most important ace up our sleeve. To Patrik’s defense, he’d been avoiding the serpentine side of himself since the war against Azazel had ended. But he could still shift. And the best part was that, unlike most other Druids, Patrik wasn’t compelled to one single snake form. He could turn into any size and species of serpent on Calliope.
“Of course,” I breathed. “Patrik. We still have Patrik.”
Judging by the look in his electric-blue eyes, I knew he, too, realized what I was thinking about. I gave him a soft smile and a wink, and he blinked once in return.
“Oh, crap, you’re right,” Avril replied. “Are we dim or what?”
“No, we’re just in a tight spot with too much going on. I should’ve thought about this sooner,” I said. “Listen, better late than never, right? Besides, ever since the war against Azazel ended, Patrik hasn’t been in touch with that side of himself.”
“After all those years spent as a Destroyer, who could possibly blame him?” Avril muttered.
“What are you two talking about?” Heron frowned. Once more, I was surprised by how brilliant he was on most issues, yet, at the same time, how slow he was on the obvious stuff. Heron could organize the perfect military operation and bring down an entire citadel in less than six hours, but he could easily get his head stuck in a staircase banister if left unattended for more than ten minutes. Then again, it was that precise dualism that made him so unique, and probably part of the reason why Avril was so into him. Well, that and the fact that he was gorgeous and funny. What more could a girl want?
“Seriously, though,” I replied sarcastically. “You’ll lead the Maras on Calliope someday. You really need to up your game.”
“It’s this damn frost,” Heron shot back, slightly frustrated. “It’s slowing me down, in more than one way. Now out with it. What’s up with Patrik?”
Avril and I chuckled softly. Even Hundurr groaned, his red eyes fixed on the Mara. “Okay, I’m not going to give you the answer. That’ll be too easy. I’ll give you a hint, though. What are the main characteristics of a Druid?”
“Long lifespan, the ability to channel magic from the surrounding nature, and…” Heron said, then paused, his eyes wide. “The ability to turn into a snake. Good grief, you were right. I am dim!”
“No, you’re not.” Avril frowned. “You’re right, though, this Dhaxanian frost is doing something to us. I’ve been feeling a little groggy, too, for the past couple of hours.”
Upon further consideration, I came to the same conclusion. Dhaxanian frost wasn’t just ice. Not only did it not melt or break, it also had an effect on our metabolisms. Looking back at the entire time we’d spent down here, it seemed to have a stronger effect on warm-blooded creatures, which could explain why Patrik, Hundurr, and especially Heron were, in fact, a little slow. Avril and I functioned differently, given our cold nature. However, it seemed as though lengthy exposure was beginning to affect us, too.
“I think you need to start calling out to Nevis now, before this frost turns you into a useless, drooling mess,” I said.
Avril nodded, then, from the bottom of her lungs, she started shouting Nevis’s name. “Nevis! Prince of Dhaxanians! I need to talk to you! I’ve got something that might be of interest! Come down here! Nevis! Nevis, you white-haired snow queen, get your ass down here and talk to me! You’re going to want to hear what I have to say!”
“He’s not going to get the snow queen joke,” I muttered.
“It’s still funny to me.” She grinned.
I stifled a giggle as she called out to him again. “Nevis! Get down here! I need to see you!”
My breath was shaky as we waited for the prince of Dhaxanians to respond, or, even better, show his face. It was only a matter of time before we were going to find ourselves surrounded by daemons. The last thing I wanted was to end up in some other meranium cage with one of those horned b
astards draining the literal life out of me.
Avril
I shouted until my throat burned. A couple more hours passed, and it got to the point where I no longer had the strength to try again. The determination I’d mustered earlier was starting to fizzle out. I could feel my resolve slipping through my fingers, and, based on the looks on Heron, Scarlett, and Patrik’s faces, they were going through the same.
Anger blossomed in my chest, filling me with heat as fire coursed through my veins. Dammit, I am not giving up! I can’t give up.
“Maybe he’s out,” Scarlett mumbled, staring at the dirty stone floor.
“Doing what, running errands?” I scoffed, then gathered the last sliver of energy I had left and shouted once more, this time with sheer rage. “Nevis, you coward! Come down here and talk to me, or I swear on everything I hold dear that I will let the whole world know how soft your spine is! And you know the daemons won’t kill me straightaway! By the time they’re done with me, the whole of Neraka will know what a candy-ass you are!”
“You’ve got quite a pair of lungs on you, you know that?” Nevis’s voice startled me. It echoed around us, but I couldn’t tell where it was coming from until I caught movement above us.
Nevis lowered himself through the large hole connecting our level to his city at the top of the mountain. He used his frost to gently slide down on an icy spiral. He landed softly on his feet, then dusted off his white silken robe, his diamond chest piece crinkling gently, like crystal windchimes. Upon a second glance, I had to admit he was gorgeous. His pale skin gave off a slight shimmer, reminding me of Hansa’s succubus glow—that was what he looked like in the dark.
His cold blue eyes settled on me, while the corner of his mouth twitched as he stifled a smirk.
“Took you forever,” I muttered, rolling my eyes.
Nevis breathed out and put his hands behind his back in a dignified pose. “Well, I’m here now. In all fairness, I had to come down and put an end to this. You’ve literally scared all the wildlife off the mountain.”
“We need to talk, Nevis,” I replied, gritting my teeth and having a hard time controlling my anger. A quick glance to my left made me aware of the fact that Heron was seething, glaring at the Dhaxanian prince. Thankfully, he kept his mouth shut.
“You will address me as ‘Your Grace’, Avril,” Nevis said. “We don’t know each other well enough yet for you to call me by my first name.”
“Yet? You’re carting us off to the daemons. I doubt we’ll get to know each other.” I sighed, then decided to comply. I needed to keep my head clear and not ruin what could very well be our only chance to get out of here, not via daemon cages. “Your Grace, please, listen to what I have to say.”
He narrowed his eyes at me, as if I were a fascinating creature he’d never seen before. Technically speaking, I am a creature he’s never seen before. “What will you tell me that I haven’t heard before, Avril?”
“I think you glossed over the implications yesterday and rushed to dump us down here,” I replied. He smiled, and not in a contemptuous manner. Scarlett was right. The Dhaxanian prince definitely had a bit of a soft spot for me.
“Avril, I like you,” he said. Hello, Captain Obvious. “I do apologize for not coming down here sooner, but I’ve had to go over your situation in full detail and consider every facet before making a proposal.”
My heart skipped a beat. Had he changed his mind? Was he going to let us go? Hope was a treacherous thing to feel. I knew it, but I couldn’t help it, either. Not after an entire day spent encased in weird Dhaxanian frost. “And?” I breathed.
“I would like to invite you to stay here with me. The entire mountain will be at your disposal, and my people will make sure that you are every bit as comfortable as you would be in your own home. With time, you might even consider this place home.”
I blinked several times, my mind somewhat sluggish. “You want us to stay here?” I replied, confused.
He laughed lightly. “Not all of you! Just you, Avril. You strike me as… different. Special. I don’t have the heart to hand you over to the daemons.”
“You’re a piece of work, you know that?” Heron blurted, no longer able to control himself.
Nevis gave him a brief sideways glance, then shifted his focus back to me. “You will be protected up here. Unfortunately, you’ll need to make your decision now. Daemon grunts will be here soon, and—”
“You’re not taking her away!” Heron barked, struggling against his frosty restraints.
“Shall I go ahead and assume that you two are together?” Nevis replied, pointing a thumb at Heron.
“Yes. Also, no, I’m not going to stay here while you send Heron and my friends to die. That’s insane,” I said, my brow furrowed.
“I’d call it survival, actually,” Nevis offered. “I would be nothing but courteous and respectful, should you decide to join me here. You’ll get over the Mara eventually, anyway. Nothing lasts forever.”
“Seriously, I’m still in the room. At least show some respect,” Heron mumbled, and I instantly shushed him, trying to regain control of the conversation.
“Your Grace, I will not stay here on my own. I didn’t come here to stay. I came here to help free Neraka, but I can’t do it alone, and I certainly can’t do it from inside a daemon cage,” I said. “You know, deep in your heart, that what I told you yesterday is true. No matter what you do to appease the daemons, as soon as Shaytan gets his claws on our dragon, you will all be screwed.”
It was Nevis’s turn to frown, but he didn’t say anything. Instead, he crossed his arms.
“Blaze, our dragon, is susceptible to the Maras’ mind-bending,” I continued, thrilled to have his full attention. “Once he’s under their control, nothing will stop Shaytan from sending him over here. Blaze will burn the mountains down. I doubt your Dhaxanian frost will withstand the flaming inferno that a dragon is capable of. Shaytan will never allow the Dhaxanians to leave peacefully. The only reason you still have this mountain is because the daemons don’t have the literal firepower to take you down.”
“Where’s your dragon now?” Nevis asked.
“He’s probably in Draconis now, with the rest of our team, looking for the swamp witch. Your Grace, Shaytan isn’t interested in peace with the Dhaxanians. As soon as he has the tools he needs, he’ll bring the Athelathan Mountains down and put you all in cages. Your souls are high-end delicacies for those bastards, and you know it. Help us, and I promise we will help you. Once we get the swamp witch out of the daemons’ and the Exiled Maras’ reach, she’ll destroy the shield that’s stopping us from reaching out to our people. As soon as we can communicate with our world, we will bring down armies of incredibly powerful creatures to restore peace on Neraka. The daemons, the Exiled Maras, they won’t stand a chance. You’ll want to be on the winning side, believe me.”
“And if I let them take you all? What then?” Nevis replied, raising an eyebrow.
“We’ll be done for, obviously. But our friends, our dragon, they’ll still be out there. They’ll move ahead with the plan. One way or another, they’ll find the swamp witch. With or without your help, they’ll get her out. Granted, it would be easier if we had your support on this, but my people are relentless. They will stop at nothing. The shield will come down. And GASP will bring down the fire and fury of all the elements, all the supernaturals and all the magic in this universe and the next, until Neraka is cleansed of its evildoers and peace is restored. If you decide to be a villain in this story, Your Grace, you, too, will burn.”
Nevis thought about it for a minute, then let out an audible sigh. “I cannot burn. Literally. It’s in my royal blood. My people, however… Well, that’s a different story.”
“They’ll light up like straws, huh?” Heron smirked, but Nevis refused to even acknowledge him.
“Your Grace, please think about it. No matter what you decide, I know my people will see this through. But, once they identify you as a hostile, they wi
ll seek revenge for our deaths. GASP is not merciful with those who choose evil,” I said.
Nevis took some time to look at each of us, his gaze dropping several degrees in temperature once it settled on Heron, then warming back up when it shifted to me. He was a devastatingly beautiful creature, not overly muscular, but not too slender either. His height and long, white hair made him seem almost ethereal, an impression accentuated by his silken robe and diamond chest piece. The blade of his nose cast a shadow on his pale, iridescent face, while his sharp cheeks emphasized the icy blue in his eyes.
His character pretty much matched his looks, too. He was cold, but capable of softening up if the right buttons were pushed. He was intelligent, and he knew it. He didn’t favor modesty, either. Most importantly, he seemed to enjoy his role as a leader to his people, and that was the button I’d been striving to push.
In some ways, he had more in common with Heron than he thought. They were both strong, determined, disturbingly sarcastic, fiendishly intelligent, and drop-dead gorgeous. I pressed my lips together, struggling not to let Nevis see my amusement. The last thing I needed him to think was that I wasn’t taking this situation seriously.
A vague scent tickled my nostrils. Something burning, somewhere in the distance. It came from one of the tunnels. Most likely a torch. Beneath that layer was the daemonic fragrance I’d dreaded. It was subtle, mixed with sweat and hunger, but it was there. I’d been around plenty of those creatures to instantly recognize them, even from far away. Judging by the intensity, they were at least ten miles away. Daemons were fast, though, so that didn’t leave us with much time. Half an hour, at most.
“Your Grace—” I wanted to get him to say something, but Nevis ignored me and stretched his arms out. Frost burst out from beneath his feet and acted as a propulsion force. He stood atop the ice column as it grew in height and carried him back to the top of the mountain. “Nevis!” I shouted, watching him go.