Slowly she straightened against the wall and returned his gaze. “You tried to defend my son,” Finn said quietly. “I didn’t understand,” Zoelyn whispered hoarsely.
“Seth terrifies you and yet you still tried to defend Legacy,” Finn mused as he carefully picked his son up and sat down in the throne. He balanced the child in the crook of his arm and watched him sleep for a long moment before his eyes found hers once more. “Legacy is the only thing I have left of my former life. I have severed all other ties. He means more to me than anything and any who defend him I consider friend. You have no reason to be scared of me…” His words trailed off and he raised an eyebrow at her. “Zoey or Zoelyn? Jala used both when she was ranting and I’m not sure which you prefer. I think I favor Zoey myself. It’s less formal.”
“Zoey is fine,” she agreed as she moved cautiously away from the wall. “Why is he still asleep through all of this? Is he OK?” she asked hesitantly.
Finn grinned widely and nodded. “That was one of the reasons that we specified that Legacy be awake when Seth arrives. This child could sleep through the end of the world. It’s amazing really,” he chuckled.
“I don’t want Seth’s help. I want to go home. Please? I just wanted to help Legacy and I see now that he doesn’t need my help.” Zoelyn wasn’t sure if he would listen, but he seemed kind enough. He was certainly not what she had expected from the Lord of Death. It was obvious now that Legacy was in good care. She wasn’t sure about herself, though, and she knew she only had moments before Seth returned.
“If I thought Seth intended to harm you, I wouldn’t have agreed to his request, and while he may have made you sound like bait for your creator you won’t be. I won’t allow that. I will make a deal with you, however. Considering that we are friends, now.” Finn paused as he waited for a response.
“What kind of deal?” Zoelyn asked cautiously.
“Humor Seth for the duration of Legacy’s visit. If you still despise him by the end, I won’t let him bring you back again, and you can continue with Jala’s attempts to help you. Seth knows what you are, though, and Jala doesn’t. It’s very possible that Seth knows how to help you and it may take Jala months to figure it out,” Finn answered calmly.
“Will you ask him to stop calling me Undrae?” Zoelyn asked.
“Call him demon in return if he does. He hates to be reminded of what he is as much as you do, apparently. I suppose none of us achieved what we wanted from life. I never once wanted to be called Death and yet everyone but Seth uses that title for me now,” Finn sighed.
“He is a demon?” Zoelyn choked her eyes widening. None of the stories had ever described the Crow King as a demon. He had seemed like nothing more than Elder Blood to her. The demons in the stories were hideous and covered in scales with fangs and claws, yet Seth was beautiful. Even his golden bird like eyes had seemed normal to her after living for years on the Glis border. Most Shifters had animal traits in their human forms.
“The prettiest one I have,” Finn agreed with a grin.
“Ahh. You flatter me so, Finn.” Seth’s voice broke through the shadows with sarcasm lacing each word. “Did Jala notice?” Finn asked, his head snapping upward in the direction of Seth’s voice.
“No, and I doubt Vaze will tell her. That was likely an experience he will go a very long way never to mention again. I humiliated him,”
Seth answered as he dropped down from the rafters landing gracefully on the stone floor a few feet from her.
“You heard our deal?” Finn asked.
“I did. Apparently, if I want to abuse her and devour what’s left of her soul, I need to do it quickly,” Seth replied with a grin.
“Way to reassure a frightened girl, Seth. You are truly a lady’s man,” Finn said dryly.
“I try,” Seth murmured, his gaze moving to Zoelyn once more. “Follow me or be dragged, you choose,” he said as he turned to walk from the room.
“I’d follow,” Finn urged with a quick nod. “He meant that part about dragging.”
“I never accepted your deal,” Zoelyn pointed out, her eyes flashing between Finn and Seth as the Assassin paused in the doorway, looking back at her with mild annoyance.
Finn chuckled and shook his head at her. “You didn’t have to. It’s all you are getting from me. Sorry, hun. Friend or not, I told Seth he could help you. I can’t send you back without breaking my word to him, and he is the only friend I have in this wretched place. I’m not about to break my word to him.”
Zoelyn stared at him for a long moment and nodded. She could understand Finn’s logic and couldn’t fault him for it despite how much she wanted to wail like a child. Turning, she headed for the door with resignation written clearly on her face. Finn had been her last savior from Seth’s attention and he had offered her limited hope. She had no choice but to face whatever Seth had in store for her and could only hope she survived it.
*
Firelight danced on the dark stone walls as she followed Seth toward another flight of stairs. The lamps were set at each landing, leaving the areas between thick with shadows. Zoelyn paused, reluctant to continue. The path behind her was just as foreboding, however. Seth continued ahead for a few moments in silence, then slowly stopped and turned to look back at her. His expression was equal parts question and annoyance.
“This is the third flight of stairs we have climbed. How much farther are we going?” Zoelyn’s voice was barely above a whisper, yet it still seemed to echo like a scream down the hall.
“Two more flights,” Seth answered calmly as he watched her. The questioning part of his expression had faded, leaving only the annoyance.