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“When I get out of this, I will kill you,” I groaned, pulling against my restraints hard enough to tear the skin beneath the cuffs.
“No, because when you wake up, I will be all you have left in this wretched world.”
Kaden looked up at the blood-red moon above. With a flick of the dark bracelet on his wrist, horned armor, thick, spiked, and reminiscent of his wyvern form, took hold of his body. Red eyes glared at me from the depths of his helmet. The Irvikuva started to howl and yip, their screeches and hoots echoing through the cavern.
Realization clicked, and my stomach sank. I was wrong, so wrong about him.
“Azrael, keep your daughter here until we return for you both. She is forbidden to leave,” Kaden commanded.
Azrael merely nodded. He was a soldier obeying orders, not a father.
My head rolled weakly toward Kaden. “I know who you are,” I whispered.
His clawed, gloved hand swept the hair from my face. “It doesn’t matter now.”
He held his hand out, a curling flame portal bursting into existence. Xavier jumped in first, followed by Cameron. Kaden took a few steps and swung those crimson eyes back to me. “Let chaos reign,” he said and disappeared, the words breaking my heart.
I knew what was about to happen, and I couldn’t do anything about it. My body ached, and I didn’t even have the strength to cry. I tried to move, to break free, but only managed to push the spikes deeper into me, shredding me. Dry sobs shuddered through me. I couldn’t save Gabby. I couldn’t save Samkiel. I couldn’t save anyone. Kaden had left, but his words remained, sinking into my skull, bones, heart, and soul. Consciousness faded, and the world went dark.
Eighty-Seven
Samkiel
So many symbols, ancient damned symbols that made my heart race. No. I knew that language. It was the same language written on the cells of Yejedin. Chains bore into the walls, pulling my wrists so tight I couldn’t move. I ground my teeth, knowing how futile it was.
“What is this?” I bellowed.
Elianna cocked her head. “I suppose they could be considered wards. Your father made them for the terribly evil creatures that dared to defy the gods.” She laughed. “No, I’m joking. The language on the floor is a curse for the gods themselves. Unir made them to hold Primordials. They are unbreakable. Only the one who scribes them can break them, and I am not allowed to just yet.”
I pulled one more time, the muscles in my arms flexing to the point of pain before I stopped.
“You can try, but not even all that pretty muscle can break them.”
I cut a death glare at her before my eyes were drawn toward the far end of the council hall. The sight of them nearly ripped my heart out. I hadn’t noticed them because I hadn’t felt them.
Logan stood on one side, Imogen on the other, staring straight ahead with their arms folded over their chests. They wore battle gear, ready for war. It wasn’t the attire or their body language that alarmed me. It was the empty hollow ache I felt as I looked into their eyes and felt not a single spark of magic in or around them.
“What did you do?” The words left my lips, filled with a promise of death.
Elianna looked at them and shrugged. “The words of Ezalan, of course. I always wondered why more gods didn’t use it and turn those pesky feelings off.”
My shoulders bunched as a breath of despair left me. “How could you do that to them? You know what it does, how it makes them feel.”
“It makes them feel nothing. All they know is to serve as they should have from the beginning of time. You, Unir, and the others wanted them to have feelings, completely ignoring their nature. They were made for war, Samkiel, and to war they will go.”
“I will end you for this, all of you,” I spat. I must have put more venom in my voice than I thought because the council members behind her stepped back.
“No. By the time we are through here, you will no longer be a threat, Samkiel. I knew we couldn’t fight you. Armies have tried and failed. The most powerful ruler in existence. The flesh-born son of Unir.” Elianna stared at the symbols on the floor, slowly walking from one side to the other. “Do you like these? We didn’t get a chance to use these on your father. I have been dying to try them out.”
“You,” I struggled to form the words. “You all betrayed him. Why?” I glared at every member of the council. Some met my eyes, and others avoided me completely.
“We didn’t betray him. We were never for him or you. Your council died with Rashearim and was replaced by half of The Order.”
“The Order?” I shook my head. “I’ve heard of no such thing.”
“Of course not. The Order predates you, but we don’t have time for a history lesson.” She waved her hand, and Jiraiya stepped forward.
Jiraiya untied a small shimmering bag, and I smelled the graysands before he even began to pour.
