29. Zaiah

29

ZAIAH

"Have you got this?" Corvus asks me intently.

I nod slowly. "I think so. The texts describe a ritual that will allow me to open a pathway between realms. It requires all of us to channel our energies through Adelaide as the focal point."

"And what about Crimson?" Ignatius asks.

"That's the tricky part," I admit. "We need to separate her essence from Addy's without destroying either of them. It's going to take incredibly precise control."

Adelaide takes a shaky breath and clutches my hand. "And if we can't separate us?"

I meet her gaze, wishing I had better news. "Then there's a risk you could both be pulled into the NetherRealm. Or worse, torn apart in the process."

The room falls silent as we all absorb the gravity of the situation.

"We won't let that happen," Zephyr says firmly, placing a hand on Addy's shoulder.

You'd better not, Pinocchio.

"Oh, shut the fuck up," I groan as Adelaide says the same. We laugh, lightening the grim mood that has dropped around us.

"She is a pest, I tell you."

"I dread to think what she's like out and about in the world."

"Let's hope we don't have to find out and she just goes on her merry way back to hell, or wherever. Right, Crimson? No funny business. We are doing you a favour."

I blink as there is no response. "I don't like that silence."

"Me either," Addy says and removes her hand from mine. Her face goes blank, as if she is trying desperately not to show us what she is thinking. Or rather, what Crimson is telling her right now. She catches me watching her, and she forces a smile.

Deciding I have to trust her and hope she isn't keeping secrets that could make all of this go on a sideways skid straight to Hades and back, I turn back to the ancient texts, scanning for any additional details that might help. "The ritual needs to be performed at the stone circle, as we said. We'll need to draw specific runes and channel our energies in a precise sequence."

"Okay, who can do that?" Addy asks. "Runes are not my thing. Mind you, none of this is."

"I can," I say. "It's a piece of piss."

"That doesn't even make sense," Zephyr mutters. "Piss is liquid, How can you have a piece of it?"

"It's a fucking saying, you prick."

He snorts and gives me the finger.

"Do we think your dad is holding back anything?" I venture.

"Always," he replies immediately. "And speaking of Dad's, where exactly is yours, Corvus?"

"Another good question. He was here for the board meeting, but I haven't seen him around."

"Do you think he and Malachar are in cahoots?" Addy asks.

I snort. "Cahoots?"

She giggles. "Hey, it fits."

"If they are, I'm afraid of what that means. They imprisoned Crimson before. Are they planning on doing it again?"

She sobers instantly. "But don't they need your dad, my dad and Ig's dad as well?"

"Who is to say they aren't already here?"

"Well, mine isn't. He is in the NetherRealm."

"Not necessarily. You saw him go in, but who knows? Maybe he came back out."

She gulps. "Do you think?"

I shrug. "I don't know. We need to be prepared for everything."

"Do you think they might stop us?" Zephyr asks slowly.

"Maybe. Maybe not."

"We don't know what their end game is," Ignatius says. "And asking will likely be as fruitful as asking Crimson."

"Yeah, I'm not even trying that," Addy states. "We focus on what we're doing and then improvise if they show up. Crimson will be on our side if they want to imprison her again. That gives us the advantage."

"Six against five."

"Six, including one pissed-off Queen," Ignatius says.

"Randall wanted to kill her, though, so we have to assume that the end game is not to imprison but to kill." Zephyr's words are the sound of doom.

"Then we will show them that trying that is not in their best interests," I state.

"You're talking about treason," Zephyr says. "For me. It's treason."

"I know."

We hold a steady stare, and I know without even asking him that he would lay down his own life for Adelaide. We all would. Our bond, our fate, is stronger than anything else out there, and that is what is going to see us through this to the other side.

"We make a pact, right here, right now," Corvus says. "It's us against them. Always. We don't fall, we don't fail, and we protect Adelaide and each other above all else."

"Agreed," I say without even thinking about it. If it comes down to Adelaide's life or disloyalty to my family, I'm down with that. I just hope it doesn't because I will be exiled, and I don't think that will do much good in the power department to be cut off from all those resources. I have to have faith that the elders will let us do our thing and get Crimson back into her realm, and then we can find a way to shut it off, for good, so she can never return.

"Are you good on what you need to do?" Ignatius asks.

"Yeah. It's not that hard to access the other realm but holding it steady and not creating a volatile timebomb is where it gets more challenging."

"And that's where we come in? Yeah?" Corvus asks.

"Pretty much."

"Then we all have our roles to play. Be as powerful as you can be, or Zaiah's head goes boom," Zephyr says with a smile to me that makes me laugh.

"Gee, thanks. But yeah. I'd appreciate the best versions of yourselves."

I look over at Addy as she has been quiet during this exchange. "You okay?"

"I'm the weakest link," she whispers.

"No, you are the strongest. Our bond to you makes you the pin in the butterfly, babes. You've got this. I trust you with my life."

"Literally."

"Isn't that what it always comes down to?"

"I don't know. Is it?"

"Every damn time."