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Samkiel looked at Neverra, and his tone gentled. “I am going to ask you questions, but if it is too much for you at any time, we can stop. Understood?”
Nev nodded, but I felt her hand on my thigh. I placed mine over hers, giving it a reassuring squeeze. I knew she needed the connection to remind her she was real, this was real and we were all here.
“What can you tell me about where you were? What happened?”
Neverra sighed and gripped my thigh tighter but said, “It was just a normal day. Gabriella was growing restless, stuck in the penthouse. Logan had left with you, so we decided to have some fun. We would have breakfast, get those fruity little drinks that fizz, and see Rick. I know I shouldn’t have, but I had snuck him over a few times so they could hang out, and this time was no different. With Dianna gone and busy, I think she was just lonely. Anyway, we were getting ready and singing this song she was obsessed with. Then, there was a knock at the door, and I went to answer it. I didn’t even know who he was, but I knew from his energy that he was a vampire. He said his name was Drake and that you’d sent him.”
I watched a vein throb in Samkiel’s temple, and he folded his hands across his lips. I had seen him make that face before, and I remembered how the creature who had caused it lost its head. Rage, pure rage, and I could feel it coming off him in waves.
“I barely had the door opened before Gabriella rushed forward and hugged him. They were old friends, or so I thought. He told us where you and Dianna were and what had happened. We told him where we were going, but something felt off. I tried to ignore it. I thought you had sent him. Gabby knew him and seemed to care for him. I trusted it….”
Neverra stopped and closed her eyes, swallowing hard. Her hand clenched on my thigh, and her entire body shook as she tried to control her emotions.
“Neverra, do you need a break?” Samkiel asked, and I had never respected or loved him so much.
Neverra shook her head and took a couple of deep breaths. Then, she opened her eyes and cleared her throat before continuing. “We left together and met Rick at the coffee shop. We were in line, chatting as we waited to order. I didn’t sense or hear him, but suddenly, Kaden was there. It happened so fast, too fast. I woke up in chains in Yejedin. Gabriella was chained next to me, and she was crying. Rick lay on the floor a few feet from us. He was dead, marks and scratches covering his body as if he’d fought.”
I squeezed Neverra’s hand, our bond rousing with her distress.
“We were down there for a while, just us two. I tried comforting her, but she was lost in grief about Rick and only cared about Dianna and me. She was sweet. I tried everything I could think of to keep her distracted and calm while we sat and waited. The truth is, she helped me as much as I did her, but that was just Gabby. She was good to her core. We were down there for hours, maybe a day? I couldn’t tell.”
Neverra stopped and sniffled, reaching up to wipe at her face.
“That’s enough for today, Neverra.” Samkiel had stopped writing and started to close the book, clearly not wanting to upset her more.
Neverra reached out and stopped him. “No, you need to know. I need to say it, and you need to write it down.”
She inhaled deeply and let it out slowly. I poured strength through our bond, letting her feel my love surrounding her.
“Kaden came. I thought he would take me too, but he only took her. She never came back, and I knew the worst had happened. Yejedin shook, Samkiel. It shook, and it wasn’t Kaden. I know that with my whole heart. I know it sounds crazy, but I swear I heard Dianna scream, and then something shifted in Yejedin. The creatures watching me felt it, too. They seemed nervous and scared. I sat down there for I don’t know how long. They brought me food, but I refused it until I couldn’t any longer. I remember hearing what sounded like machines. It sounded like a metal factory, and I could smell iron and blood in the air. Some days it was so hot I expected lava to fill the cell. I don’t know what he is making. I never got a look, but from what I heard and felt, it sounded like there was a lot of it.”
“She’s right,” I cut in. “There were so many weapons, and if Kaden is creating them for an army, they outnumber us, even with all the people on Onuna.”
Samkiel shifted in his seat, and the chair groaned beneath him. “Okay.”
Neverra squeezed my hand. “He’s heartless, Samkiel. I mean that with my whole being. He feels no remorse for what he has planned and doesn’t care about who is in his way. Kaden only cares about her. He will come for Dianna. I heard them talking about how they need her for something. I can’t remember what they called it, but I think it started with an E? I don’t know. It was so loud with all the machines and the creatures there.”
I rubbed my hand over the small of her back in a small act of comfort.
“Thank you, Neverra,” Samkiel said, closing the book and standing.
Neverra nodded and took a shuddering breath. The rest of us got to our feet to stand with him.
“We will return to the Council of Hadrameil, where we will remain. Anything spoken here is not to be repeated. I will be the spearhead when speaking to the council and relaying all that has taken place. Understood?”
Everyone nodded.
“Good. I need you all to pack. Vincent will have his team take over Silver City while we are away. I have already lifted the curfew and ban, given that the threats, for the most part, have been eliminated—”
“Where is she? Dianna?” Neverra asked. “How is she?”
Samkiel stopped mid-speech and lowered his head slightly.
“She is, umm, in modern terms, healing. She’s still asleep.”
“Still?”
“Yes.” He glanced at us, his lips twitching just a bit. “It has been over a week since you all returned.”
