54. Kami

54

Kami

W hen I wake, it's to find myself lying on a bed of soft down. The walls are a light cream color, and there's warmth despite the dungeon I know we should be in. I'm on my side, my back to the rest of the room.

There is a blanket over me that smells clean, as if aired out under the bright sun smiling down on happy pines and green grasses.

It takes a moment to recall what happened before I got here…wherever here is.

At that, I tense. I'm still fuzzy on what exactly happened with the goddess of Death, but unlike my other dreams of the Ever, I know these memories will return.

However, my recollection of the monarch and his freaky demon is fresh.

They intend to sacrifice us so that Beyrthnel can return and destroy everything, allowing warring elves and their cousin fae to rule the entire world.

Stop the war god .

I'm starting to panic, so I intentionally take in more air, ease my mind, and focus on something happy.

The feeling of Crash's arms around me, holding me close and keeping me safe, immediately springs to mind.

I don't know if I'm alone or not, so I don't make any sudden moves and work to keep my breathing even.

"You touch her and you die," Crash snarls.

I'm so relieved to hear his familiar voice that it takes a moment before the threat settles in.

Malkar's laugh is harsh, ugly.

Scary.

"You think you can prevent me from doing anything I want to do?" He laughs again. "Pet, I own you."

"Fuck you."

"Crash, stop. Hold on," Oz snaps, and I hear him groan.

"I knew I should have stayed with those idiots from Asrai." Ries gives a loud sigh. "Malkar, Crash, quit trying to go through our injured guy. Oz, sit down. You're still bleeding."

A pause, then Crash says, "Shouldn't that have started clotting by now?"

"I don't know."

There's the sound of movement, and I realize they're coming closer to me.

The bed sags, and I roll toward the large body sitting near me.

A large hand pats my thigh. It's Oz. My eyes burn. I don't know why I missed him so much but having him back is beyond comforting.

He squeezes my leg before letting go.

"Well?" Malkar asks with an arrogance that makes me want to grind my teeth.

"Well what?" Oz doesn't sound too pleased with him either. "Why don't you tell us why you're so hot to kill Kami? "

"She's a necromancer. That does without saying."

"Does it?"

Ries cuts in, "Don't try to change the subject, Oz. You ditched us to suck up to the monarch of these insane games. For what? For a few days of playing the big man while the rest of us suffered in the dungeons?"

"It wasn't like that."

"Sure seemed like that," Crash says, pouring it on. "For that matter, how did you get past all those mages and sylphs and nearly crush Algraas? You've been holding out, orc."

"You mean ogre," Malkar corrects him, no longer arguing with the fire fae since he's got a new target.

"Fuck you guys," Oz growls. "Fine, yeah. I'm holding back. Or I was. You don't think I know you'll stab me in the back the first chance you get? Tell me you won't."

At the silence, he gives a harsh laugh. "I thought so. Hell, the only one I can trust is Kami."

"Seriously?" Malkar huffs. "The female is a nec-ro-man-cer." He says it slowly, as if Oz is too dimwitted to understand.

"I heard you the first time, demon." Oz adds in a low rumble, "if that's even what you are."

"That!" Crash shouts. "You're more than a demon, Malkar. We all know it. I saw…I saw a tail. And wings?"

"You don't sound so sure," Malkar drawls. "What do you really remember?"

A loud pause followed by a scuffle.

"No, Crash." Ries sounds firm. "We're using our words right now. Save the fists for later."

Crash swears and says, "Well, what about you, merman? You were fast as shit to give us up to side with the enemy. Why should we trust anything you say?"

"You shouldn't. But you should trust I'm not stupid enough to get rid of you now when we're going up against a horde of elves and who knows what else on our last trial."

Oz sighs. "This is getting us nowhere. None of us trusts the other. Malkar wants to kill Kami because she may or may not be a necromancer."

"She's definitely a necromancer," Crash says.

"Yeah, Oz. You didn't see what we did," Ries agrees. "And it makes sense."

Malkar adds, "She grows apples that heal. That connect souls."

"Horse shit."

"Crash, I'm right."

"They don't connect souls."

Oz asks, "How do you know, Crash? Are you a necromancer too?"

The others chuckle.

I smile at the wall. Crash is too ragey to be one of Death's children.

"No, but I have a friend who is."

We're all quiet, and I realize I'm holding my breath, so I quietly let it out and focus on steady, even breaths again.

"Okay, that's it." Ries growls at the others, "We're not getting anywhere, and who knows how much time we have left. I can't believe I'm saying this, but we need to work as a team."

There's silence.

Malkar growls, "What are you doing?"

"Blood pact," Ries answers. "It's time for some truth, or we're all going to die when we're up against the others. I need to be able to trust you fuckers. Put up or get lost." Then he adds, "You too, Kami. We all know you're awake."

Shit. Busted.

I turn over and blink at the four of them .

They're looming over me, and Ries's hand is bleeding a greenish blue down his forearm, the cut from his palm welling.

Crash rolls his eyes but uses the small shard Ries hands him and cuts his hand as well. Then Oz slashes across his thumb.

"Well, Kami? You in or out?" Oz asks.

"Blood pact?" I leave the bed to join them, aware they're all so much bigger than me.

Malkar explains, "A primitive magic, old but effective. With it, we'll be tied together for some time." He scowls at me then smiles, showing a fang.

He deliberately takes the shard from Oz and slashes his hand, holding it out to me. "Come, Death's Daughter. Give over your power. I'll feast on you for years to come."

I'm not sure what he means, but Crash shakes his head. "Ignore the creeper. Just do it so we can find out what everyone's hiding. Time is running out."

I'm always running out. The thought feels like someone else's words. And I swear I hear laughter in the depths of my mind.

Sebastian?

No one answers.

I figure I might as well bind myself to these monsters. I mean, aside from my life, what do I really have to lose?