Alex awoke in a cell.
It was dark, and not from the limited lighting or because it was still night-time, though she had no way of knowing if that was true. It was dark because the cell itself was made out of traesos, pure darkness pulled from the abrassa.
Seeing her black crystalline surroundings, Alex broke out in a nervous sweat, because she knew exactly where she was—Taevarg, the Meyarin prison. And by the looks of things, in Niyx’s old cell, with its door still melted from when she’d freed him nearly three weeks ago.
Bound by Moxyreel, Alex was chained and hanging in the middle of the room. Her arms were stretched out above her head and her legs spread wide, her limbs secured by the thin wire as if she had frozen mid-star-jump. Even her fingers were wrapped tightly together, keeping her from summoning A’enara.
Trying not to think about why she was in Taevarg or what she would face if she didn’t escape, Alex strained against her bindings, struggling for some wriggle room. All she needed was to free one hand enough to grip her weapon and cut herself loose. But it was useless, the Moxyreel unyielding. She needed help—and she needed it now.
Niyx! Alex cried. Niyx, I’m in trouble!
Kitten, whatever it is, I’m sorry, but it’ll have to wait, Niyx returned quickly. I’m with Aven—he says there’s something important he has to do and he’s hand-picked a few of us to be with him. He’s… deliriously happy.
Niyx—
We’re at Taevarg. Arrived a few moments ago, Niyx cut in. There’s a prisoner here he wants to see. I’m sorry, kitten, but I have to concentrate or I’ll blow my cover.
The blood drained from Alex’s face. No, no, no, Niyx! The prisoner, it’s—
Before she could say ‘me’, Aven stepped through the melted door, and on his heels were Calista Maine, the tattooed Gerald Togen, Marcus Sparker, another human Alex hadn’t met and three armed guards—Claimed Zeltora, Alex presumed, seeing the weapons they bore. Niyx brought up the rear of the group, and upon stepping into the cell, stilled at the sight of Alex strung up in the centre.
His dread was palpable, but he managed to unfreeze before anyone else noticed, moving woodenly forward while screaming a wide variety of curse words through their bond. But Alex barely heard him, because her attention was on Meya’s new king standing before her, a wide smirk on his face.
“Alexandra,” Aven said, “as always, a unique… pleasure.”
Alex closed her eyes as his honeyed voice washed over her. If she didn’t look at him, it was easy to imagine his younger self, the Meyarin he’d been before he’d turned into a raging murderer. The Aven who had been her friend.
But when she opened her eyes again, the memory was replaced with fear so acute she could almost taste it. She was completely at his mercy. Even if Niyx chose to reveal his true loyalties, it would be eight against one as he fought to free her. Impossible odds, given the Zeltora warriors, the gifted humans and Aven himself.
“You mustn’t blame Gaiel,” Aven said. “He only did what he thought he must, and he has been rewarded for bringing you to me.” He cocked his head. “Of course, it wasn’t quite the reward he believed he would receive. But he shall be content here with us, especially now that he has been reunited with his daughter.”
Alex’s bound hands flexed as they tried and failed to ball into fists, the Moxyreel tightening painfully against her wrists. In a shaking voice she hoped sounded more angry than terrified, she said, “You Claimed him, didn’t you?”
“Not until after he delivered you to me,” Aven said, brushing some invisible speck from the shoulder of his leathery, collared vest. “He made that choice all on his own.”
Alex had been right to be suspicious of the Meyarin councillor’s strange behaviour up in Draekora. And yet, having heard Gaiel’s story about Vaera, she couldn’t begrudge him for trying to get the jump on her. She should have listened to her instincts and never dropped her guard. But then again, she’d never heard of a powder that could knock someone out with a single breath. If she ever made it out of Taevarg—a very unlikely ‘if’—she’d have to find out what that stuff was.
“As you can see,” Aven continued, “I’ve brought along a few friends to witness our auspicious reunion. Calista, Gerald and Marcus you already know. My personal guards need not concern you, but there are two others here who I would like to introduce.”
At what must have been a mental command, the unknown male stepped forward. Dark-skinned and as thin as a beanpole, he looked to be only a few years older than Alex, though she knew that if he had been Claimed a while, his age was relative.
“This is Grimm Helkin,” Aven said, and Alex jerked against her chains in recognition of the name. “We have him to thank for my dear brother’s current state of existence.”
Aven’s expression soured, enough for Alex to know he would have killed Roka without hesitation if Lady Mystique hadn’t swept the comatose prince away to Draekora.
“Grimm is a relatively new addition to my cause,” Aven went on, “but there’s someone else here who has been loyal to me for millennia. My true brother.”
Aven motioned for Niyx to step forward, using a hand gesture since he had no mental link to him.
“Alexandra, meet Niyx Raedon,” Aven said, as Niyx’s eyes bore into her own. “He has suffered for the cause of the Garseth for thousands of years, but he has not been without reward, since he had the honour of murdering my own father. Niyx Kingslayer, as he is now known. A worthy title, for a worthy Meyarin.”
Aven clapped a proud hand on his friend’s shoulder, and since he was looking at Alex, he didn’t see Niyx grimace with disgust.
Swallowing her trepidation, Alex said to Aven, “As nice as it is to meet your buddies, how about you let me go and we continue this discussion elsewhere?” Preferably when I’m not chained and can at least try and fight my way out of the city, Alex added to herself.
“I’m afraid I can’t do that,” Aven said with feigned apology. “I can’t risk that hound of yours stealing you to safety before I’m satisfied. The traesos surrounding us wards against your mutt’s travelling abilities and she is much too intelligent to attempt a rescue without being able to spirit you away immediately.”
Alex shot a glare at Marcus, realising he must have asked about Soraya after seeing her in Graevale and shared what he’d learned.