Thirty-Six Logan. An Hour Earlier

The door swung open. My body didn’t move, but within the prison of my mind, I looked up. I preferred the harrowing darkness over the bloodletting they forced on me, but I had to admit I got bored. That damned commander was back, and I was expecting him to unload a tirade once more, but he just stood there. He didn’t move toward his desk or the room behind me. He just stood and stared.

I couldn’t decipher his expression and had no idea what was happening. Perhaps he had no use for me any longer. Perhaps I’d be shipped off, and they would take me even further away from Nev. Either way, this was Iassulyn, and I had truly suffered.

Taotl took one step closer, then another, as if he had forgotten how to breathe. As he neared, a familiar swirling mass of dark mist engulfed his form, and I lost my breath, too. Her piercing red eyes stared as if she could see into my soul.

Dianna.

I know that name! I know her! My friend. Our friend. Our queen.

“Are you in there, buddy?” Her words filled the dark, empty expanse of my mind, echoing through my memories.

“Yes!” I screamed. I yelled. I fought, but my mouth did not move. My legs, arms, and body remained still and motionless.

“Logan, if you can hear me, know that Samkiel is alive. We will not stop fighting for you and the rest of our family. We will bring you home, okay?”

My heart thudded. I felt it, even if it was only for a second, and I wanted to hold on to it. I wanted to latch myself to it and force my body to move, make anything move.

Her eyes searched my face, and I wanted to yell that I was there but nothing came.

Dianna sighed and placed a hand on my shoulder. I couldn’t feel a damn thing. Her form grew and thickened, returning to that of the ugly commander. I watched as she took one last look at me, and then she was gone.

I curled inward again, wishing I could be free of this damned mind prison and lay upon the cold empty floor of my mind. Dianna had said that Samkiel was alive and that gave me hope, especially if she was with him. I would cling to that because I had seen what they were capable of when they worked together. I closed my eyes tightly and tried to think of something, anything, but the empty void I was existing in.

More of the celestials filled the hall as that chime rang out loud and clear. I knew most studied after hours, wanting to impress the gods and goddesses to stay their yeyras. I was looking for just one.

A group of female celestials piled out of the building, giggling about something. They held their books close, their long, flowy garbs dancing around their feet. They stopped and stared in my direction, their eyes widening in shock. I should have changed out of my armor before coming to see her, but I knew she would dart away the second she could.

“Is this why you snuck away the second we landed?”

Now it made sense why the females had stopped and why they were headed in our direction. Samkiel placed his arm on my shoulder, but I shrugged it off.

He took a step forward, taking up my peripheral. His damned silver armor was a beacon, and it was currently grabbing the attention of anything with a pulse in a mile radius.

“You followed me?” I glared at him.

He shrugged. “I was curious why you wanted to leave the briefing so soon, and now I see it’s to gawk at the junior celestials. Or maybe just a certain one in particular?”

I didn’t get a chance to answer because the female I was looking for finally exited the large study room. Her long, dark hair was tied back in a mass of twisted braids held together by a small ribbon at the bottom. She wore the same flowy white gowns as the others, but on her, she put every goddess I’d ever met to shame.

She smiled at the instructor walking beside her, speaking animatedly about runes. When she looked up and saw me, her smile turned into a sneer.

“Oh, I don’t think she likes you,” Samkiel said right as the group of celestials stopped before us.

It was all the distraction I needed. They swarmed, talking and flirting with Samkiel long enough to let me slide away. I darted past a few huddled groups, following Neverra as she practically sprinted away. She was fast. I was faster.

I stopped in front of her, cutting her off from the massive stone stairs that lead out of the auditorium and to the garden terrace floor below.

“Why are you avoiding me?” The words spilled from my lips.

She huffed and gripped her books tighter. “Why are you following me?”

“Why aren’t you talking to me anymore?”

“Are we going to play a questions game, or can I leave?”

She moved to step around me, and I blocked her again. “Logan.”

“Oh, so youdo remember my name.”

That got another frustrated huff out of her. “What do you want me to say?”

“Anything, really. I thought we had fun at the gathering. Then you acted weird, and now you are avoiding me.”

“Because I know who you are.”

My head jerked back in shock as someone asked to step around us. I moved a fraction of an inch, letting them pass, but not her. “Who I am?”

“Yes, you’re Samkiel’s kingsguard, and we have heard all about you and him.” She tried to step around me again but stopped and let out a deep sigh when I countered.

“That seems almost insulting,” Samkiel said from behind her. “Do you always speak of your future king in such a tone?”

Oh gods, Cameron was right about the ego. We’d never survive.

She half turned, keeping her gaze lowered. “My apologies, my future liege. If you’d be so kind as to have your kingsguard move, I really do need to be on my way.”

“No.” He shook his head, and I nearly lost mine. Neverra’s gaze widened slightly, realizing she may have just insulted the Prince of Rashearim.

“I truly did not mean any ill intention, my future liege. It’s just that—”

“If you wish to make up for your grievances, there will be a ball in three moons. Accompany my kingsguard, and all will be forgiven.”

Her jaw went tight, but she merely forced a smile. “Yes, my prince. If that’s what you wish.”

Samkiel’s smile was downright venomous. “It is.”

“Then so it shall be.” She turned back to me with rage and hate in her eyes. “I shall see you then.”

I didn’t stop her this time, letting her walk past me. She didn’t look back, but I felt the slight shove against my shoulder as she passed, and Samkiel caught it, too.

“What was that?” I sneered at him.

“You were taking too long to ask her. I was merely helping.”

“With all due respect, prince,” I said, dragging the last word out. “I don’t need your help.”

“She’s fun,” Samkiel said, ignoring me. “I need fun.” My skin practically vibrated as I glared at him.

He barked out a laugh. “Calm down,” he said, slapping my shoulder. “I wasn’t talking about her.”

“Good,” I said as we turned back toward the exit. “And don’t you have enough fun as it is? How much more fun do you need?”

Samkiel was quiet for a second. “Having fun and having a distraction or three are very different things. I have distractions, Logan. Never forget that. I do not have fun.”

As we walked out of the auditorium, I wondered just how much of himself he buried that none of us were aware of.