“A treaty that will not include the Exiled Maras,” I added.
Velnias nodded with keen interest, then smiled at Caspian, who stood by my side, his hand discreetly resting on the small of my back. “And is that something you’re amenable to, Lord Kifo?”
“Absolutely,” Caspian said firmly.
“The Exiled Maras were given the chance of a new, better life on Neraka, and they chose to do worse than the carnage they were nearly wiped out for back on Calliope,” Hansa replied. “They’ve willfully renounced any chance that they had at redemption.”
Zane raised an eyebrow, wearing an incredulous half smile. “So, what, you’ll just wipe them all off the face of Neraka?”
“Obviously not all of them. Judgment will be made on each individual, and those who tried to live a peaceful, non-murderous life will be granted amnesty and allowed to try again, under careful monitoring, this time around,” Hansa said.
“The same will happen to the daemons,” Jax replied. “Those who continue to resist and assault the innocent will be jailed, or executed, in extreme cases. Neraka needs to be a tolerant society in order for it to rebuild itself and find its balance.”
“You sound quite intolerant for a bunch of people advocating tolerance.” Velnias grinned.
“Unfortunately, it’s a paradox we have to enforce. We must be intolerant of those who are intolerant, in order to create a tolerant society,” Jax said. “Otherwise, this will continue, like a vicious and bloody circle. It all needs to stop. Too many innocent creatures have died. Too many lives have been ruined. We do not like having to resort to such extreme measures, but we have no other choice.”
“I get it,” Velnias replied, stretching his arms out. “And, as much as it pains me, it’s true. It’s time for a good old-fashioned cleansing in this place. I just need a guarantee that the pacifists, and the daemons who align with us, will be spared. Then I’ll help you.”
“I think everyone will be subject to a review, but those who want peace will have nothing to fear,” Hansa declared. “However, I recommend resuming this part of the conversation once we bring the shield over Neraka down. Until then, our promises are useless, with daemons and Exiled Maras hunting us down.”
Velnias stood, scratching the back of his head. Zane continued to watch us with slight amusement—and a hefty amount of interest, particularly in Fiona. That daemon had the hots for her, and, judging by the way Fiona was trying not to steal glances at him, the feeling was mutual. I smiled inwardly, then gently nudged her toward him.
She gave me a brief frown, and pursed her lips when she noticed my mischievous half smile. We didn’t need words between us. We’d basically grown up together, and Fiona was perfectly capable of reading my expressions. She exhaled, shaking her head as if to express some kind of faux disappointment in me, then moved slowly, almost unnoticeably, toward Zane, while the rest of our group focused on Velnias. I figured she needed a few minutes closer to the guy, given our current circumstances. Who knew when she’d see him again—or if she’d see him again. Maybe we should get Zane out, to join us.
“Fair enough,” Velnias replied. “However, I don’t know where they’re keeping the swamp witch.”
Disappointment kicked me hard in the stomach, but I’d yet to lose hope. “I thought you were well connected in these parts,” I said.
“Oh, I am. Just not well connected enough to know where they’re keeping the still-living-and-breathing grand prize,” Velnias sighed. “She is, by far, our kingdom’s most prized possession, and that’s shared with the Exiled Maras, who are particularly protective about her. Only the higher-ups know where she’s being held, but the rest of the Druid delegation might have a clue, too. I can take you to them.”
“So the delegation members are still alive,” Vesta breathed. I could see the hope blossoming in her heart. The longing to find out what happened to her parents burned deep red around her.
“Most of them, yes. It’s been a long time for them in these private cells, though,” Velnias replied. “They’re not what they used to be. Heck, I wasn’t even born when they crash-landed on Neraka. All I know are the tales. They were fearsome. They fought back hard against the Exiled Maras and their devious plans. But, once the daemons figured out how much they stood to benefit from an alliance, and from the swamp witch magic, they were done for.”
“If we manage to at least free some of them, we’ll get more of an upper hand until we do find the witch,” Hansa mused, pressing a finger against her lips, then smiled at Velnias. “Yes. Take us to them. I’m sure that, regardless of the state they’re in, they’ll be pleased to see us. They’ll have some hope, at least. I can only imagine what it must have been like for them. What’s it been, ten thousand years?”
Velnias nodded slowly.
“Sheesh,” I murmured. “Long freaking time to spend stuck in a meranium box. Speaking of which, we should take Zane with us. Assuming he’s not interested in hiding behind his daddy’s skirt.”
I gave him a sideways smirk, which he playfully returned. Yeah, I can see why Fiona likes you.
“I’d love to, but I can’t let him loose until Cayn goes back to Infernis,” Velnias muttered, gritting his teeth, visibly displeased.
“Once we get him out of here, no one will be able to track him down,” Fiona insisted, then looked down at Zane in his bed. “Surely you’re capable of keeping a low profile.”
“Oh, I absolutely am, as you already know,” Zane replied with a soft smile. The daemon was smitten with Fiona, and I found that oddly refreshing. “But Velnias is right. If I get out now, Cayn will get word of my escape. Velnias won’t be able to keep it under wraps for more than a few hours without getting himself in hot water. And that’ll just open another can of worms, given his side gig with the pacifists.”
“It’s best if Cayn gets out of Draconis first. It’ll be easier to orchestrate an escape then,” Velnias added. “If we do it now, Cayn won’t leave the city until he finds Zane, and you’ve all seen and heard the moron. He’s a persistent, frustrated oversized worm.”
“You really dislike him.” I couldn’t help but chuckle.
“You have no idea,” Velnias breathed. “Now, do you people have a safe meeting spot outside Draconis?”
“We do,” Vesta said, and I remembered the library in the Imen city above.
“Don’t tell me. Tell Zane,” Velnias replied. “That way, once he gets out, he’ll know where to find you or track you. I can’t know. I’m afraid that if I am captured, they might force it out of me. I’m not susceptible to Maras’ mind-bending, but there are some excruciating swamp witch spells that the likes of Cayn wouldn’t hesitate to use on me to get to you all, and Zane.”
“Fair enough,” Fiona agreed, then whispered into Zane’s ear. His gaze darkened as she got close to him, and he took a deep breath, as if to memorize her natural scent. Judging by the clouds gathering in his red eyes, Fiona had quite the physical impact on him, and he didn’t bother to hide it at all. I wasn’t sure if Fiona was aware of it, but I made a mental note to ask her later—preferably when we were no longer infiltrating the enemy’s lair.
“Good. Everyone ready?” Velnias asked, looking at us.
We all took out our batches of invisibility paste and swallowed enough to last us for about six hours. “We should definitely stock up along the way,” Jax said, checking his pouch with a slight frown. “Just in case. I think we have enough for another six-hour session.”
Velnias then glanced at Zane. “Your Grace, I’ll be back for you once that pest of a brother of yours is out of Draconis. I hope that will be sooner rather than later. In the meantime, however, you’ll be locked here, and guards will be at your door. I’ve arranged for a shift to come in soon enough.”
“That’s fine, Velnias, thank you,” Zane replied, then gave Fiona a most mischievous smile. “I’ll kill some time thinking about the little vampire while I wait.”
Oh, wow, he does not beat around the bush.
&n
bsp; Fiona lit up like a stoplight, her cheeks unnaturally crimson. She gave him a weak nod, gradually vanishing due to the invisibility spell. Once we were all under the radar, Velnias fumbled through his tunic pocket and took out his red lens. “I don’t like wearing this often—it hurts my eye—but I’d hate to lose track of you crazy kids,” he said, fitting it over his right eye.
He then walked over to the door and opened it wide for us. Carefully checking both ways for other red lens daemons, we got out into the main street, while Velnias locked the door behind him.
“I’ll take you to Cells 5 and 6, where some Druid delegation members are being kept, as they’re part of my daily route as the High Warden for this block,” he said, then walked up the road. We quietly followed. “Provided the conditions are convenient, you may be able to get at least one of them out of here without anyone noticing until the morning. Either way, I’ll give you all the cell numbers for the entire delegation, just in case. Assuming your safe spot is actually safe, you could very well do multiple extractions and get them all out.”
“Can you help us get some more invisibility paste, while we’re here?” I whispered.
“Sure. I’ll write down the recipe for you, too. You can fetch the ingredients yourselves,” he replied, giving me a sideways smile.
Whatever came next, we were fortunate to have someone like Velnias on our side. Mose, bless his heart, was old and retired, forced to the outskirts of Infernis because he’d outlived his usefulness in the daemon society. But Velnias was strong, and very much engaged. His position as a High Warden was an unexpected surprise, and a tremendous advantage.
For the first time, as I walked with Caspian by my side and the rest of our team behind us, Velnias leading the way, I had more than just a flicker of hope. I had the conviction that we were definitely going to achieve our objectives in this place, and that the daemons were significantly closer to the end of their era as the dominant species of Neraka.
Most importantly, I knew for sure that we were certainly closer to kicking some serious Exiled Mara ass—they more than had it coming, at this point.
Avril
Once more, I slept incredibly well in Heron’s arms. I lost track of time, his embrace keeping me warm, and his breath further heating me up as it spread over the back of my neck.
My dreams were all connected to him—vivid and filled with color, as if we’d somehow met, deep in our subconscious, to continue what we’d started back in the real world. My own moans of dreamy pleasure woke me up, and I held my breath for a few seconds, wondering if he’d heard me. I listened to the heavy silence around us. We were still submerged in the darkness of our hole in the ground.
The furs beneath us were soft, and had done an excellent job of keeping the cold at bay—though I had Heron to thank, too, for refusing to leave my side. His arms were still tightly wrapped around my waist, his frame spooning mine, and his face was buried in my hair.
I could’ve stayed there forever. For a brief moment in time, all my worries and fears had evaporated, and all I could focus on was the sound of his heartbeat. It was soft and steady, as he was still dreaming. I wondered if I’d left him alone in there, looking for me.
No matter what lay ahead, Heron and I were certainly no longer the same. The version of us that had first landed on Neraka was gone, swiftly replaced by a pair still trying to figure each other out. After our first kiss, however, the dynamic between us was undeniable. After everything he’d said to me, and after what I’d first said to him, there was simply no point in hiding anything anymore. I’d fallen for Heron Dorchadas—deep enough for me to choke up at the thought of losing him in any way.
It scared the hell out of me, but, at the same time, it filled me with unexpected energy and courage, the latter to do things I’d never done before. Frankly, I was used to asking all the questions and keeping most of myself neatly wrapped beneath snappy comebacks and dry jokes. Yet, with Heron, I had this uncontrollable urge to reveal myself to him—my dreams, my thoughts, and, most importantly, my feelings toward him.
He stirred, then exhaled slowly. His heartbeat picked up the pace a little. He was waking up and readjusting to our new reality. His natural scent filled my lungs, and I couldn’t help but smile as I recognized the strong, masculine hints of musk and ocean breeze. Heron was naturally a pleasure to be around for someone like me—and that was before he stood in defiance of all the odds, and before he opened his mouth to make me laugh.
“Avril.”
His voice was low and raspy, gently pouring into my ear. I could get used to this, for sure.
“Yes?” I replied softly.
With one, sudden move, he rolled me around so I could face him, and I found myself locked under the hypnotic intensity of his jade eyes—his gaze clouded, prompting my heart to perform a very athletic series of backflips in my chest.
“I dreamed about you,” he whispered.
“Was I chasing you down a sketchy corridor with a bloody axe?” I giggled, eager to see him smile.
The hint of one flickered across his face. “No, you were doing… other things. Less murderous things.”
“Care to elaborate?”
“I can show you.” He smirked, then pulled me closer, nearly crushing me against his chest.
He kissed me deeply, and with the hunger of a lover long lost who’d only now just found me again. The longing filled me to the brim, and I relaxed in his embrace. The taste of him was exquisite, better than blood and infinitely better than the morning coffee I used to look forward to, during my human days.
I rested my palms on his chest, relishing the feel of his toned muscles against my fingertips, even through the layer of his leather suit. Heron paused, then pulled his head back for a moment—enough to look me in the eyes.
“You are downright addictive, you thorny vampire,” he murmured, the corner of his mouth twitching. His eyes glimmered with raw desire.
“And you’re an excellent kisser, you loudmouthed Mara,” I shot back with a giggle.
He chuckled softly, then descended once more upon me, capturing my mouth. He gently bit my lower lip, and my breath hitched in response. To my surprise, he then brought his wrist up and sank his fangs into the tender inner part, drawing a few drops of blood. Pyrope. He raised his wrist over my mouth, his gaze so intense that I felt close to catching fire. I parted my lips and welcomed the taste of his blood on the tip of my tongue. He watched me quietly as I slowly closed my eyes, my senses overwhelmed by him.
“I’ll never get tired of this vision of you,” Heron whispered in my ear, then nibbled at the lobe. His lips then trailed warm kisses down the side of my neck, before his sharp fangs grazed the skin, and he suckled gently. He tasted my blood and grunted, shifting his weight on top of me.
“Heron…” I breathed, my back arching as he continued kissing my neck. The sound of a zipper coming down made me smile. Heron peeled the leather back and gently kissed the meeting point of my collarbones, his simmering breath spreading softly over my chest.
His hand slipped down to my hip as he lifted his head and claimed my mouth in another kiss. I didn’t want this to end. If anything, with how quickly this fire was spreading through me, it felt as though we were just getting started and reality was still very far away.
“So, in my dream, we were like this,” he said, then rolled us over until I was straddling him.
“You know, you look devastatingly handsome down there,” I replied, basking in his undivided attention as he lay on his back, looking up at me with a boyish grin.
“I’m certainly enjoying my view from down here,” he said, then used his index finger to trail a lazy line up my partially bare torso, the leather still covering my upper chest.
He then caught my hands and pulled me back down, wrapping his arms around me and pressing me against his chest. He dropped kisses all over my face, and I felt soft and mellow, cherished and worshipped in his hold.
Despite the whirlwind of passion that was brewing betwee
n us, Heron found the strength to stop himself from taking our relationship to another, much more intense stage. Part of me wanted to pout because I wanted every atom of him to bond with mine. But, deep down, I knew he’d made the right choice.
It didn’t stop that long sigh from rolling out of my chest, though, as he smothered me with fluttering kisses. “Avril, as much as I would love to simply peel you out of that suit and turn my every dream about you into reality, I have every intention of doing this the old-fashioned way,” he said, his voice low, making me purr softly in his arms.
“Every inch of me is screaming no,” I whispered in his ear, “but you’re right. This isn’t the time or the place.”
I lifted my head so I could look him in the eyes. His lips were as tender and reddish as mine felt. We didn’t do half measures when it came to kissing, so I could only imagine what everything else felt like with Heron. He tucked a lock of hair behind my ear and gently cupped my cheek.
“I’ve never been in a serious bond before,” he said. “I only have tales from books and some half-assed advice from my equally dysfunctional brother.” I couldn’t help but chuckle. “But I would like to court you, with the entire ritual. Dates, dinner, long walks on the beach. And a thousand Pyropes, if that’s what it takes to make you understand how important you’ve become to me.”
I didn’t know when or how he’d managed to burrow into my heart and settle there with such determination, but I was finding myself even more enamored with Heron. Just lying there, in his arms, listening to him telling me about his plans for proper dates with me—it was enough to flip a switch inside me. He could do whatever he wanted at this point. I was already his. Body and soul.
“Boy, you sure know how to woo a girl.” I smiled, then dropped a single, loving kiss at the corner of his mouth.
“You’re different from everyone I’ve ever met, Avril. I’m serious. I can’t treat you like my other… lady friends, as you so elegantly described them. You’re… you. And, once we get out of here, I would like to formally ask you out, so we can get to know each other better, in every possible way. We can try the sandy shores, north of White City, or I could come to The Shade. Whatever you want, I’ll do it.”