Thirty-Nine Cameron

I pulled at the collar of the dragonbane armor, trying to stretch it away from my neck. The way I had poked my damn chin on these fucking spikes just added to my already massive headache. I pushed the door open to my room, yanking at the clasps on the side of the chest plate. Finally getting it loose, I ripped it off and threw it to the floor. I let out a sigh of relief, the soft leather underarmor so much more comfortable than those damn spikes. Impatiently, I stripped off the leather and pulled my shirt up, freezing with it halfway over my head. “Are all celestials built like you?” a soft feminine voice purred.

I pulled my shirt the rest of the way off and tossed it over the chair. “I swear, what’s the point of having a room if everyone enters whenever the fuck they want?” I asked, looking at the beautiful elf woman draped across my bed.

Her tail swished, the mauve skin glistening against the setting sun. She wore the same relaxed silk dresses that Nismera gave everyone here. I swore that woman did not know what cheap was. Even the ones she hated here wore garments that made me take a second glance. I blamed it on her prestigious upbringing. Maybe she was afraid for anyone to see her and the ones who lived in her palace as less than perfect.

“I’ve seen you a few times before,” I said. “Usually, that cute nose is right up Isaiah’s ass.”

She scooted off the bed, her pointed ears twitching. “Yeah, well, he seems to have moved on to your sister.” She smiled, the tips of her canines gleaming. “Isn’t that what you called each other? Family?”

“Get out,” I said, my tone cold.

“Don’t you want to find them, though?”

My shoulders dropped. “Like I’d trust one of Nismera’s right-hand commanders.”

She shrugged and stepped around me, her tail sliding over the bare skin of my chest. She headed toward the small corner table and poured herself a drink. “You have to trust someone in this wretched world, or you won’t survive.”

I folded my arms across my chest. “And you expect me to trust someone who rolls around with Isaiah?”

She sipped her drink, grinning at me over the rim. “I don’t sleep with him because of the power or to gain favors. I do it because I like sex, and I need information. Trust me, my loyalties are not to this place, just like yours aren’t.”

The elf winked at me and downed the last of her drink. She strolled across the room, trailing her fingers over the bed. Stopping in front of the window, she tossed the curtains back and reached up to release the lock on the frame. She pushed it open and sat on the ledge.

“Do you miss the sunlight? Freedom?” She closed her eyes, tilting her head out the window, the wind cutting a breeze through the room. “I do. We had cliffs as high as the sky itself where I lived. The forests were not green but a shade of blue.”

I nodded, curling my lower lip in my mouth. “This is great bonding, but I don’t really feel like it.”

And I didn’t. I was hungry again, and now that Kaden was up my ass about the let’s-feed-less-on-people-so-we-don’t-murder-them tirade. I had a stash of blood bags he had taken from the kitchen. It helped quench my thirst, but not by much.

“I know you’re a liar, Cameron.”

She turned to me, and her eyes looked eternal as if she was a part of the world and not.

“I don’t know what you’re talking about.”

She smiled again. “I know you found something at River Bend. I know you’ve been lying to Kaden, and I know you lied to Nismera.”

My breath caught, but I said nothing.

“You got that promotion by telling her of the toruk going north, only it didn’t. It went west with a man and child on its back.”

“What do you want?”

She turned, fully facing me and crossing one leg over the other. “Don’t be afraid. I won’t tell. I’m on your side.”

“My trust in others is a little on the lacking side.”

The elf lifted her hand, and a small wisp flew through the open window. It landed on her palm, and she held it close to her ear, then smiled at me. “I have connections everywhere, and even though you were trying to help her, you set Nismera on a course that will lead her right to Dianna.”

“No,” I said, taking a step forward.

“Don’t worry. I fixed it for now, but we need to work together because you snooping around in realms that are loyal to her will have you dead before you ever find Dianna.”

She stood, the wisp fluttering away as she walked past me toward the door.

“Wait. What’s your name?” I asked.

She looked at me over her shoulder. “Veruka.”

“Do you know how to find Dianna?”

Her hand froze on the door. “I think the real question you should be asking is why is Nismera so concerned about making such strong weapons?”

My lips turned downward. “That’s easy. She fears Dianna.”

Her eyes went dark, but she held my gaze. “Nismera fears The Eye. So ask yourself, what makes a goddess afraid?”

Veruka opened the door and walked out. I stared after her, wondering just exactly what would scare Nismera.