My muscles were throbbing. Exhaustion was finally catching up with me.
“This way,” Peyton said, motioning for us to follow him as he walked over to the building to our right—the inn. It wasn’t big, but it held a dozen rooms, at least, from what I could tell at first sight.
We followed him inside. The place was open for business. The innkeeper and his daughter greeted us and started taking us to our rooms, in pairs.
“There’s also a dining room down here,” Peyton said, watching Jax and me as we went upstairs. “You can use it for your group meetings and whatnot. I’m sure you have a lot of planning to do for your next… adventure.” He chuckled, then took a seat at the bar, where another Iman served him a cup of fresh blood.
The innkeeper’s daughter took us to our room, a splendid and cozy little square with flames already crackling in the fireplace and a small bathroom attached. After we put our bags away and decompressed for a couple of minutes, we made sure that Alles was put in a locked room. Dion insisted on keeping watch over him, and we had no reason to tell him no.
The Imen labored in the kitchen to prepare our dinner, while we cleaned our gear and our weapons, then took advantage of the bathroom facilities. We agreed to sit down after dinner and hash out our extraction plan.
I sank into a tub of hot water, all my muscles slowly relaxing. I breathed out, and, for a few minutes, I felt at peace and carefree. It was a temporary feeling. I knew that. But I’d earned the right to enjoy it. We’d been through a series of physical and psychological ordeals. We needed this breather.
Harper
After dinner, we helped the inn’s Imen clear the large, rectangular table in the dining room so we could hold our planning meeting. I felt sated and refreshed on all counts. Fresh blood was flowing through me, I’d syphoned some energy from Blaze and Velnias, and I’d had a long, steaming hot bath. All was sort of well in the universe again. At least for the night.
Peyton joined the conversation, as he was best equipped to provide us with knowledge about access routes to the red garnet mine, which held the secret tunnel that would lead us straight into Azure Heights. The young Mara seemed confused when Jax brought up the mine.
“There’s a tunnel there?” he asked. “We thought it was just a collapsed red garnet mine.”
Jax, Hansa, Caspian, and I exchanged brief glances. “Have you ever been inside that mine?” Jax asked, frowning slightly.
“Only a few times, for temporary shelter, but I didn’t explore it. Some of its digging tunnels were torn down. I had no reason to go deeper,” Peyton replied with a shrug. “Nor did I know about the tunnel. You’re saying it goes right into Azure Heights?”
“Yes.” Arrah nodded. “The sixth level, to be precise. It hasn’t been used in ages, though. They used it to smuggle gems and leathers from Azure Heights, back in the old days.”
Peyton nodded slowly, looking at the map that Jax spread out on the table.
“I can take you to the mine, for sure,” he said. “It’s two miles from the lakes, and it’s somewhat secluded. The map doesn’t give you an exact location because it’s shielded by big rocks and shrubbery.”
“Thank you,” Jax replied with a nod.
We went over our options, from the least dangerous to the downright reckless and potentially deadly. Of everything each of us proposed, we picked out a hybrid path, of sorts. It required some dirty games and splitting up into several groups.
One thing was for sure: we needed to keep a low profile. For the time being, we had the advantage of being presumed dead, or at least missing, after Ragnar Peak. We all doubted the Maras would anticipate us pulling a hundred-and-eighty-degree turn here and going back to Azure Heights. To anyone else, that would’ve been suicide.
To us, it was just another day on the job.
We agreed that I’d be on the extraction team. We also agreed we’d keep a low number for ease of movement. Once we reached the sixth level, we needed to find one of the higher-ups in the city to get a location for Lumi.
“Be it torture, persuasion, or a combination of both, it’ll be your choice to make,” Jax said, looking at me. “The important thing is to find out where they’re keeping her.”
“I’ll do whatever it takes,” I replied with a brief nod. “She’ll be encased in some kind of charmed meranium room, for sure. The irony of which does not escape me, since she’s the author of said charms.”
“We’ll need another team to extract Cadmus from the prison,” Caspian said. “I can’t let him rot in there.”
“He’s right,” I agreed. “He helped us out when we needed it the most. The least we could do is get him out of harm’s way.”
Jax and Hansa both nodded slowly. An hour later, we had a rough plan laid out, with the intention to revisit and polish it in the morning. My stomach tightened a little too much as I thought about the challenge laid out ahead of me. I was putting myself on a tightrope above a lava lake, metaphorically speaking.
It had taken some solid arguments to convince Caspian that I could and would handle my part of the mission. However, even with the meeting over and agreements made as to who would do what, I could see the dark red aura sizzling out of him. It had streaks of dirty yellow. He was still worried.
“We have to think outside the box,” Hansa concluded, despite Fiona, Avril, and Scarlett’s grumbled protests. “We have to be atypical if we are to succeed. I love you all like you’re my children, but this is not just about us anymore. We either go all the way or we give up and surrender. There is no middle path for us.”
“We can’t afford to squirm or worry about what happens if,” Jax added firmly, glancing across the table at each of us. “We have to do things they won’t expect us to do. Say things they won’t expect us to say. They spent a lot of time putting together an elaborate performance to test and trap us. We have to take it a step further and do much worse, if we’re to beat them. So, take the rest of the night off. Relax, rest, and make your peace. Tomorrow, we either play them, or we die.”
We all nodded eventually, though it would take a while for everyone to get used to the fact that this time the usual tactics wouldn’t fly. We had to get creative.
There was a certain gloom hanging over our shoulders as we looked at each other. But we’d overcome so much already in situations that had been completely out of our control. Our mission to extract Lumi, however, was the one instance where we held all the cards, no matter how ugly or frightening they were.
I was ready to take my chances.
“We’ll set out tomorrow evening,” Jax said. “As soon as the first moon comes up. We have momentum now; it would be foolish not to use it.”
“What about our allies and the sleepers?” Scarlett asked, leaning over the table and staring at the map. “If what Tarsis said is true, they’re walking around with unknowing spies, like Alles.”
Hansa sighed, then looked at Avril. “Do you have any way of summoning Nevis?”
“I can try, but I have no idea how,” she replied with a shrug. “I don’t know how the pendant works, or if it works from my end, like the previous one.”
“And I cannot communicate with my mother,” Pheng-Pheng muttered. “Only the queen communicates to her subjects, and through her subjects. When she does, my eyes are hers, my ears are hers, my lips are hers.”
“Listen, maybe they’ll reach out to us first. They should, anyway!” I interjected, not willing to let myself get worried over some of the most powerful creatures I’d seen on this planet. “It’s been a while since Ragnar Peak came down. Surely they’ll be in touch soon, one way or another.”
“I agree,” Jax replied. “There’s nothing we can do from here, anyway.”
“Yeah, not with the shield up,” Patrik muttered. “Otherwise I would’ve already reached out to them, but the damn spell is blocking all magic communications, even on a local level, not just Telluris. Believe me, I’ve tried.”
With hearts still heavy, wondering about our odds of
success in getting Lumi out and whether our allies were okay, we gradually scattered throughout and around the inn. Some of us looked for some peace and quiet, while others gathered in pairs and little groups to talk some more, or to explore the small island town.
As soon as we walked out into the night, Caspian pulled me into his arms and held me tight, filling me with warmth. Love beamed out of him in hues of gold as he hid his face in my hair, his hot breath tickling my ear.
“No matter what happens, Harper, I am not letting you go. Do you understand me?” he whispered.
I nodded, my eyes tearing up. I put my arms around his neck and pressed my lips against his cheek. He felt rough and scratchy, given his days-old stubble. “I don’t want you to let go.”
I needed him to hold on and stay strong, to keep me strong, too. I fed on his valor and his strength when mine faltered. Most importantly, it was the thought of exploring this relationship and the prospect of a lifetime loving him that made me muddle through it all.
“Don’t you dare let go,” I added, trembling in his arms.
Avril
Heron and I decided to go for a walk around town. The second moon had come up, and the temperature had dropped. The nights seemed chilly here, which made sense, since the city was surrounded by sprawling lakes.
The Imen were few in numbers. I’d counted sixty or so, but they seemed calm and at peace here. Having Peyton and a handful of other Maras keeping watch over them must’ve helped with the morale, too. The town itself was quiet, the locals gathered at the only bar in the central square.
Small flames flickered in streetlamps—old-fashioned oil burners that gave off a mild but noticeable petroleum-like scent. The nocturnal flowers blooming in the many pots decorating the porches did a good job of countering that smell. The fruit trees were loaded and would soon be ripe. I could only imagine what harvest time looked like here, and how much more beautiful it would be once the people stopped living in fear of daemons and vicious Exiled Maras.
“I know we need to use a different strategy on Azure Heights and all,” Heron muttered, “but I still can’t help but feel uneasy about what we’re going to do.”
I let out a long, heavy sigh and slipped my hand into his. The corner of his mouth twitched a little. “It’s tough, I agree. But let’s face it, they’ve been two steps ahead of us from day one. This is the first time we’ve gotten the upper hand, and we can’t be gentle or noble with these bastards.”
“One more push.” Heron scoffed. “One more push till we get Lumi out.”
“It’s the biggest, most important push. Everything we’ve done so far has led us to this moment,” I replied. “We can hack it. I have all the faith in each of us. Harper was already a veritable soldier before we got here. With what she’s had to do and with Caspian by her side, I know… I just know she’ll pull through for all of us.”
We took one of the side streets leading west, gazing around like wandering tourists—admiring every façade, every window, and every leaf we came across. Heron put his arm around my shoulders, as we continued with our evening promenade.
“We’ve got our work cut out for us, too.” He chuckled softly.
“I wouldn’t have had it any other way,” I replied with a grin. “Besides, let’s face it, we both want to stick it to those snooty Maras. This isn’t the first time we’re breaking someone out of jail, anyway.”
“Right. I wish I had been there when they realized that Demios was missing.”
We both laughed. “Oh, man, I’ll bet the Rohos were livid!” I said.
Extracting Arrah’s brother from the Maras’ prison had been Fiona’s task and a great accomplishment for our team, since it had gotten us the cooperation and support of the only Iman who was immune to mind-bending and was a freaking treasure trove of information. On top of that, the thought of annoying the hell out of the Maras had been a welcome bonus.
“Imagine when they see Cadmus missing,” I added.
Heron grinned. “Woof, that’ll be painful. I mean, for them, Demios was just a measly Iman. Cadmus is a respected and experienced Correction Officer. Caspian’s right hand, after all. The Lords could torture him for information or use him as leverage against House Kifo. If we deprive them of their bargaining chip, they’ll flip out, for sure.”
“Yeah, they’re quite extreme, aren’t they?”
“You can say that again. I think this whole soul-eating thing has an impact on their sanity,” Heron muttered, frowning. “My species aren’t as twisted as these fiends. We’re quiet, for the most part. Dark and secretive, yes. Manipulative? You bet. I mean, mind-bending. Hello?” He chuckled. “But what the Exiled Maras have been doing… It’s messed up. It’s destructive and evil to such an extent that it’s basically irredeemable.”
We reached a round, open courtyard. There was a small, sculpted fountain in the middle, with fresh water trickling down into a stone basin. I liked the sound it made. We sat on the edge, looking out into the distance. The lakes spread out, and the stars flickered on their rippling surface.
It was a clear night, the moons glowing overhead. I rested my head on his shoulder, breathing in his natural scent. I filled my lungs with the idea of him, hoping that it would last me a lifetime—that I would never forget him.
“I honestly can’t wait to get Lumi out,” Heron murmured. “We’ll free her, she’ll bring down the stupid shield, GASP will come through and smite the daylights out of these people. And then…”
“We’ll get to go back to Calliope and do all that classic dating stuff?” I giggled.
He gripped my chin with his thumb and index finger, gently lifting my head so he could look me in the eyes. I found myself entranced by those jade pools once more, the memory of our night together still fresh and all kinds of wonderful in my mind.
“That and more,” he replied, his gaze softening. “So much more.”
“Like you said… One more push,” I whispered, snaking my hands around his waist. He smiled, then pressed his lips against mine.
I tightened my grip, and he cupped my face and deepened the kiss, making me see all sorts of white lights behind my closed eyelids. Every kiss felt like the first with Heron. There was always the wonder, the powerful impression, the bewilderment and incredible emotion surging through me—all at once.
We were so busy losing ourselves in one another, we didn’t even feel the air blow colder. We were already crackling like embers in our embrace. But, at some point, as I welcomed the strokes of his tongue and his gentle, guttural moan against my lips, something felt… off.
Something else was crackling—literally. I paused, my gaze fixed on his and our lips less than an inch apart, as we both listened and noticed the change in the atmosphere. Steam rolled out from our mouths and nostrils. Heron’s forehead smoothed, as he was the first to realize what was happening. He groaned with frustration.
I looked down and yelped, then jumped back. Dhaxanian frost had spread on the ground, and it had worked its way up Heron’s legs, all the way to his hips, pinning him to the fountain edge. A second later, I was lit up like a firework, angrily looking around for the culprit—whom I knew very well.
“Nevis, you snarky icicle, get your ass out here and face me like the Dhaxanian prince you claim to be!” I shouted.
Heron scoffed, shaking his head slowly. He was remarkably calm, as if he were trying to live through a high-school prank without breaking somebody’s neck.
Nevis emerged from the shadows of two neighboring houses, his chin high and his hands behind his back, in his usual “I’m better than you” posture. He smirked, though there was a certain playfulness about his expression that I hadn’t seen before.
“Stop trolling my boyfriend,” I muttered.
“I’m sorry, stop what?” he replied, his eyebrows raised innocently.
“You wouldn’t get it. And if I explained it to you, you’d just find a way to use it to further glorify your childish jabs,” I shot back, then pointed at Heron. “Unfre
eze him.”
Nevis looked at Heron, who gave him a brief, almost respectful nod. Now I’m confused.
“How are you not annoyed?” I gasped, glowering at Heron for not being as riled up as me.
He shrugged, while Nevis watched the exchange with mild amusement.
“I think this is what you call a ‘guy thing’ back in your world,” Heron said.
“You spent too much time with Jovi, that’s for sure,” I retorted, rolling my eyes, then shifted my focus back to Nevis, who tried hard to look serious but was starting to crack up. “Seriously, what are you? Five? Come on, unfreeze him.”
“Unfreeze him, what?” He pursed his lips and narrowed his icy blue eyes at me.
Ugh, he can be so infuriating.
“And to think that I was actually worried about you,” I muttered. “Unfreeze him, please.”
Nevis smirked, then raised his left hand and wiggled his index and middle fingers. The frost keeping Heron in place cracked and snapped, spreading across the ground in iridescent shards.
“Thanks. Your Grace,” I added dryly.
“You’re welcome,” Nevis replied, stifling another chuckle.
I caught a glimpse of Heron and noticed that he, too, was putting in the extra effort not to laugh.
“Oh, my days,” I breathed, suddenly enlightened. “You two are somehow besties all of a sudden. Wow. Just… wow.” And then I had another minor revelation and narrowed my eyes at Nevis. “Wait, what are you doing here? Where are the others?”
Nevis smiled. “Finally, we’re moving on to more important issues, besides you two slobbering all over each other.”
“Ew,” I shot back, mildly disgusted by his choice of words. He and Heron definitely had the potential to be best friends, though. Even partners in crime. Oh, no. Two Herons.
“Is this why you had us wait in the shadows?” Colton growled as he emerged from behind, accompanied by Neha. All of a sudden, I was thrilled to the point where I could easily squeal like a little girl, seeing them alive and well.