“Really? Hell froze over?”
“Not yet. But one of its main gates is fractured. So long as there’s no similar rebellion of your troops, we will back you in this fight.”
“How magnanimous of you.”
“I believe the words you’re seeking are Thank you, Michael. We could use the help and appreciate it.”
“And you’ll hear those words from me the day Lucifer’s cock rots off from frostbite.”
Michael let out an annoyed sigh. “I so miss these conversations with you. Like having my head drilled and skull pried open.” Wrinkling his brow, he pressed his fingers to the bridge of his nose as if their exchange was giving him the same migraine currently thumping through Thorn’s head. “One last thing. The gate? It’s located in the Quella.”
Thorn winced at the mention of the chain of notorious islands. They should have known. “Of course it is. And which fun island holds the honor? Oh wait, let me guess. It wouldn’t be the one inhabited by pissed-off dragons. They’d only eat us, and there’s no fun in a quick death. Or the island of demons, because that would be too routine, and half of Bane’s crew would be delighted since they, including Bane himself, would consider it a buffet they could gorge on. Nor the land of the seven giants … because, again, death would be too quick and painless for them. Nay. This fun-filled adventure could only be found on Meropis. Am I warm?”
“Your deductive reasoning impresses me.”
Thorn scoffed. “How ’bout I do you one better, then? Out of all the places they could have planted that gate, they put it squarely on that one island—bet I can actually peg the correct lost and abandoned city where it’s housed … Anostos.” So named because it literally meant No Return.
“Again, you astound me.” His voice matched Thorn’s level of sarcasm.
“I hate you so much, Michael.”
The Seraph leaned forward to playfully slap at his cheeks. “Back at you, demon.” And with that, he vanished.
Thorn didn’t move as he considered this strange turnaround. It wasn’t like the Sarim to reconsider anything they did. And especially never their attitudes on a matter.
Or a person.
The Sarim were forever right in all things.
Everyone else was wrong. Always.
But in this, they’d reversed course and come around to his line of defense. More than that, they agreed with him and were willing to aid his cause.
That … that actually scared the flaming shit out of him.
The world really was coming to an end. He just hoped he’d chosen the right side to be on.
Maybe I ought to rethink a visit to good old Dad.…
12
Mara stretched as she resumed a human form. They were far out to sea now. Santiago still trailed after them, but, at Du’s insistence, at a safe distance.
She pulled up short at the sight of food someone had left for her in her room.
Nay, not someone. Only Du ever did that. She’d never been quite certain how he knew when she’d be resuming her human skin, yet he always did.
Because he’s Deruvian, too.
He must be able to sense her moods the same way she sensed them in others of her kind. And yet, she’d never once had an inkling that he was one of them.
Of course, she hadn’t looked for it either.
Still …
She scowled as her gaze dropped to a small box he’d left next to the tray of food. It was set upon a folded note. Scoffing at whatever he had to say, she opened the box, then sat down promptly in her chair as her legs gave way from the shock of what it contained.
Her missing harthfret that he’d taken so long ago.
With a gasp, she reached to finger the small gem and recalled the day Du had taken it from her.
“Where is it, you bastard!” she’d demanded as she rushed into his bedchambers to begin searching through his chests and belongings for it.
He’d arched that black brow in the same arrogant expression that always made her want to claw out his eyes. Dressed all in black, he’d been freshly bathed and groomed for once. Not that it mattered.
A clean beast was still a beast.
“Don’t you knock?” he’d challenged before he shut the door behind her.
She’d ignored him. “What did you do with my necklace?”
Smirking, he’d pulled it from the small leather pouch on his belt and handed it to her.
The moment it touched her fingers, she knew the harthfret was gone. “You took it without asking?”
Nonchalant, he’d shrugged at her indignant tone. “You bound my life to yours without my permission, so I can’t trust you with your freedom, as it is now intrinsically tied to my own. It seems only right to me that I hold both.”
She’d hated him for that. And for all the centuries he’d kept it hidden from her.
Now …
Unable to believe he’d finally returned it, she opened the letter that he’d left so that she could see why he’d finally changed his mind after all this time.
I should have given this back long ago. It was an unbelievably selfish thing to do and I won’t keep you bound any longer. When we make our next port, I’ll purchase a new ship for the crew. Santiago has agreed to take you to any port you wish. Not that you need it, as you are the ship, but I did ask because I know how much you hate to be alone.
D.
A strange weepiness possessed her as she stared at the strong, masculine script. Undeniably thoughtful, this was the kindest thing anyone had done for her.
What was more, he’d had her stone reset into a new necklace. A beautiful, delicate cage that formed the outline of an ancient oak. The glow of her harthfret silhouetted the gold to make it appear as if a moon or fairy light illuminated it. It was so beautiful and carefully constructed.
As if made by a loving hand. His own hand, no doubt, as he wouldn’t have entrusted it to anyone else, since a careless smith could have accidentally destroyed it and killed them both in the process. Aye, metalworking was another of Du’s gifts from his human life. Though the only thing he’d ever given such tender care to was the forging of his weapons or the carving and engraving of his ogham runes and casting sticks.
The things his life depended upon.
Cradling it in her palm, she went to find him.
Which didn’t take long. He was on deck, next to Sancha, while the tall, ethereally beautiful woman straightened the collar of his shirt and jacket that had gotten rumpled from some activity.
“Best be careful, Captain. You almost fell overboard.”
Du snorted. “Water’s the least of what concerns me. Besides, Kalder would have fished me out.”
Mara didn’t miss the way Sancha’s hand stayed a little longer on Duel’s chest than what was necessary to fix his collar. Or the hunger in the woman’s eyes as she smiled up at him and brushed her hand down his arm to smooth the jacket down more.