Fifty-Two Dianna

I ran my hands down the sides of my dark blue dress. The corsetstyle top with the plunging neckline made my tits look bigger. I turned slightly, checking the back. The hem of the skirt sat high on my thighs, but everything would stay covered as long as I was careful. I blew out a slow breath and ran my hand along the long, sheer, puffy sleeves. It was so nice not to be covered in dirt or grime for once.

“Spin one more time,” Samkiel said from the corner of our small room. He was watching me in the mirror, fixing his collar and looking closer to a street merchant than a god. I tossed a mischievous grin over my shoulder and did as he commanded.

We had made it to Veeq in the early morning and had spent our time learning the layout of the building, including every exit and entrance, before heading to the docks. We had spent hours watching the ships come in, but we hadn’t seen anything unusual being unloaded. Samkiel worried Nismera would raid the Otherworld, stripping it of everything of use to her. I was just worried she would show up. Regardless of how arrogant I was, I wouldn’t risk him.

“Do you like it?” I asked, twisting side to side.

“I do,” Samkiel said, his eyes never leaving mine as he finished lacing his boots and strode toward me. His fingers cupped my chin and tipped my head back. He kissed my lips softly, careful not to mess up my dark lipstick. He traced the neckline of the dress with his free hand, teasing the sensitive inner curves of my breasts. “Even if it shows too much.”

I snorted. “Please, it makes me look like I have boobs.” I used my hands to push them together and even higher.

His eyes dropped to my cleavage, and he playfully swatted at my hands. “Stop that! You do have breasts.”

“Yeah, but not big ones.” I dropped my hands.

“Dianna, everything about you is perfect.” He flicked my nose.

I smiled up at him. “It’s been so long since I’ve dressed up and done my makeup. It’s nice.”

Samkiel studied me for a moment, but he only nodded and pressed a soft kiss to my forehead without saying anything. Stepping back, he grabbed one of the small bags he and Orym had filled with the weapons they’d bought earlier in the day. Samkiel started pulling out daggers and placing them in the hidden sheaths on the sides of his boots. I turned back toward the mirror and smoothed my hair. I’d left it loose, the natural waves flowing down my back. Even with the slight frizz, given the humidity here, it still looked nice.

Samkiel appeared behind me, and I smiled brightly at his reflection. He lifted his hands, watching me in the small, cracked mirror. His fingers brushed through my hair, and I fought a shiver as pleasure coursed through me. The corners of his lips turned upwards, and I knew he’d caught it. He separated my hair and twisted it in an elegant knot at the back of my head before sliding a long, slim, sheathed dagger into it to hold it in place.

“That’s clever,” I said.

He nodded and leaned over me, brushing his lips over my neck just below my ear. “You need weapons. There is no telling what she will have at that gallery, and since I can not be directly by your side, this will have to do.”

I tipped my head, nuzzling the soft curve of my cheek against the rough stubble of his jaw. “You know I am made of fire, right?”

Samkiel smiled, kissing my cheek. “Indulge me. Please.”

I nodded, then jumped slightly when his fingers teased my thighs just below the hem of my dress. “We don’t have time for that.”

I looked up at the mirror to find his eyes already on me, and my breath caught. His eyes had gone molten silver. Cool leather grazed my upper thigh, and a soft moan left my lips as he pulled it to the edge of my panties, his fingers scraping against my most sensitive area. His nostrils flared, and his smile was downright devilish as he caught my reaction. I widened my stance and leaned my head back against his shoulder. I held his gaze in the mirror, watching him through my lashes. My lips parted on small gasps, and I rocked my hips as he clasped the belt, making sure to roll his knuckles over my clit. He smirked and cupped my pussy, sliding a dagger into the sheath with his free hand before lowering my dress.

“Safety precaution,” Samkiel said, and winked. It took every ounce of willpower I had not to toss him against the wall and make us extremely late to this stupid gallery, but Orym was across the hall, and I could only take so much attitude.

Samkiel steadied me on my feet and took a step back, his hand lightly grazing my ass. He lifted the bag, and I heard the crinkle inside.

I cleared my throat and smoothed my hair again. “What else do you have in there?”

Samkiel zipped it up. “A few extra things in case company shows up. I hope that won’t happen, but it’s better to always have a backup plan.”

“Ah,” I smirked, “I feel as though someone awful smart taught you that.”

“Perhaps,” he said, giving me a quick sideways glance.

Orym appeared at the door, wearing the same many layers of dark green fabric as Samkiel.

“How did you find even worse clothes than what they gave us at the prison?” Samkiel asked.

Orym walked in, carrying a small, smooth device, his lips twitching. “I monitored the area when we arrived to determine what we needed to blend in as much as possible. The building where you’ll be is far closer to the rowdy part of town. Samkiel and I will be outside, pretending to be loitering. That way, you can tell us what’s happening inside.”

I placed my hands on my hips. “And how am I going to do that? Scream really loud?”

Orym rolled his eyes. “No, with this.”

He opened the smooth device and showed us what looked like beige marbles.

“What’s that?”

“A way to communicate with each other without the screaming. It attaches to the ear canal, and we can communicate from miles away.”

“So, like an earpiece?”

Orym looked confused, but Samkiel nodded in agreement.

“It’s from her world.”

“Ah,” was all Orym said.

“Okay.” I clapped my hands. “I get to wear the cool earpiece thing so you guys can talk to me.”

Orym lifted the plug toward his ear, placing it and turning it on. Samkiel and I watched and then fitted ours. A scratchy tickle started deep in my ear, and my eyes widened as I looked at Orym.

“Orym,” I said slowly. “Did my earpiece just move?”

He cast a glance at Samkiel, who tried to feign innocence. “It’s just settling. It’s not alive or anything.”

I knew he was lying, knew Samkiel probably told him not to tell me because my safety was more important than my irrational fear of bugs, but I swore to every dead god if it moved again, they were shit out of luck.

“Okay, I am going to ignore that so I don’t ruin this mission.” I tapped my ear. “How does it work?” I asked and then heard my voice echo. I smiled. “Oh, that’s fucking cool.”

“Now that worry line across your forehead can rest,” Orym said, patting Samkiel’s shoulder.

Samkiel rubbed at his head. “I do not have a worry line.”

I snickered. “I told him of that wrinkle, too.”

Samkiel glared at both of us.

“SAMI, YOU WERE WORRIED ABOUT NOTHING. I FEEL SO OVERDRESSED here,” I said from behind my drink. “I’m glad you are outside. I’ve seen eight areolas, but on the plus side, no one is really looking at me.”

“You can come outside, and I can show you what the dress does for me.”

I nearly spit out the mouthful of my drink. I covered my mouth with my hand, turning from the crowd.

Orym groaned through the earpiece. “Can you two please not subject me to this today? I’m still burning my eyes out from the other day.”

I snorted and pretended to look at the assortment of small, sweet cakes. It was true. He had caught us. Samkiel and I had decided to wander off for a training session that turned into me pressed against a tree again. “I’m sorry, but were you locked in a prison for weeks?”

“I was, but you don’t see me with my pants down every five seconds.”

I leaned down, looking closer at some of the sweet cakes as I spoke. “Honestly, maybe you should. I heard at the tavern that there is a small brothel nearby.”

“Enough,” Samkiel said, cutting us off. “Both of you.”

I smiled and turned away from the cakes, weaving through the crowd. “Besides Orym’s lack of fun, there has been nothing here out of the ordinary.”

I passed an orange, fuzzy creature, my face scrunching in disgust as it spat at its glass cage. The crowd flowed through the gallery, laughing and drinking. Some moved in small groups, some clung to their dates, and others, like me, wandered alone.

“Unless she wants these small creatures, I don’t see what Nismera could be after.”

“That small creature you just described spits acid,” Orym said. “I think that’s right up her alley.”

“Aw,” I cooed and leaned closer. “But it’s so cute.”

I wiggled my finger at the glass, and a nictitating membrane flicked over the creature’s wide, dark eyes. The hair on its body lay down as it watched me, and when I turned away, heading for another side of the gallery, I swore its eyes followed me.

I sighed as I passed couples laughing together or looking at enchanted weapons and paintings. If you ignored the fact this was an auction for one of the realm’s worst living beings, they seemed to be having a great time. I missed that.

“I want to go on a date.”

I heard Orym sigh.

“What do you mean, akrai?” Samkiel asked.

“I mean, minus the life-or-death situation, everyone here seems to be having fun. We haven’t done that in forever. It’s been one extreme mission after the other.” I lifted the glass to my lips, spotting another creature in a glass container. This one was scaly. “Take me on a date.”

“Let’s get this done, and then you can have whatever you wish.”

My lips curved against my glass. “Okay.”

The hall I was following curved, and I found myself in a room empty except for a sword encased in glass. It stood in the middle of the room in a puddle of light. I tipped my head, able to feel the power like a soft hum in the air. I drew closer and leaned in a bit. The blade curved like a saber with a sharp tip, but its marbled, almost green color made it truly gorgeous. Tassels dripping with small jewels hung from the hilt.

“What a strange thing,” a feminine voice said.

My back straightened. Completely mesmerized by the blade, I hadn’t noticed anyone sneaking up on me. Either that or the woman before me had softer steps than she should.

“Excuse me?” I asked.

The woman smiled at the blade between us, tapping her short, dark nails on the case. “Something so rare and beautiful completely by itself.”

My head reared back as Samkiel spoke in my ear. “Oh, please.”

I raised my hand, turning the volume down a fraction, and smiled at the strange woman. She was a foot or so shorter than I. Her curly brown hair was clipped close to her head, with finger waves framing her face. A dark wing swooped from the edges of her smokey painted eyes, giving them a sensual curve, her full lips stained a matching black. Her dress fit her like a glove, the cutouts along the sides revealing a line of lean bronze muscle. Voices chattered in my ear, but I ignored them.

“Does that line usually work?” I asked with a flick of a brow as I sipped my drink.

Her smile was wide and vibrant as she stalked around the glass. Even her steps seemed premeditated. “You tell me.”

I offered her a soft smile in return. “I’m sorry, but I’m taken.”

“Damn right you are,” Samkiel grunted in my earpiece. I raised my hand, turning the volume down even more, disguising the movement by tucking the short hairs behind my ear.

Her eyes glanced at my hand. “I don’t see a mark or even a ring to signify that you are taken.”

More chatter erupted in my ear, and I smiled. “Do I need a mark?”

She looked me over, her perusal slow and heated. “In this world, yes. It would make you less desirable to others. Right now, you are nothing but a rare gem, begging to be claimed.”

Another grumble in my ear, and I cautiously rubbed at it.

“Have you been watching me?” I asked.

She leaned forward, her perfectly manicured nail pointing. “I have, and so has he.” I looked, and a man near the door quickly turned away. “And her.” A tall, aristocratic female wearing a dress with a high collar chatted with a group of men dressed in black, each of them hanging on her every word. She saw me looking her way and tipped her glass toward me in a silent salute. “And them.” This time, she pointed to a couple who smiled at me and waved. “So, really, I’m doing you a favor.”

She looped her arm through mine and pulled me along with her. I let her, and the eyes that watched me soon turned away as if being on her arm meant I was no longer an option.

“I thought this gallery was to sell deadly weapons, not people.”

Her laugh was smooth as she patted my hand. “You’ll learn everything can be bought, even flesh.”

My gaze darted toward her, and I unwound my arm from hers. Saving me or not, I wasn’t about to overstep a line, even as harmless as that. I wouldn’t hurt Samkiel. Besides, I’d burn anyone alive who attempted the same with him.

Her smile brightened, but she did not attempt to grab my arm again. “Don’t worry. I will not overstep since you’re a taken woman, but I refuse to do this event alone.”

“Why are you here alone?” I asked as she led me toward the long bar in the corner of the room.

She turned toward me. “Why are you?”

“I’m from Tiv,” I said, using the cover Samkiel, Orym, and I had come up with. “I brought an old battle ax for her highest. Given how low my city is on wheat this year, I hope it will suffice.”

She nodded and leaned against the bar. She raised her hand, and two glasses filled with the same alcohol I’d been drinking earlier slid toward us. I wondered how long she had been watching me. “I’m sorry about that, and I can relate. My home has not had rain in ages. All of our reservoirs are drying up. Our people are dying of thirst, and help is few and far between, so I also brought a few things, hoping for the goddess’s favor.”

“I haven’t met a nice goddess yet, so good luck.”

She only smiled before taking a sip. “My name is Faye, by the way. What’s yours?”

“Xio.” I smiled, using the name I’d claimed in Jade City.

“Ah, a beautiful name for a beautiful woman.”

“No flirting.” I raised my brow.

“It was simply an observation.”

The lights in the room dimmed, and I looked around. A bright light formed toward the back of the gallery, and Faye tilted her head toward it in question. I nodded, and we started working our way through the crowd, leaving my drink behind.

“Gather around and witness a creature from your worst fears,” a deep voice boomed over the speakers. “A legendary being from the deepest, darkest parts of the Otherworld.”

Faye and I drew near as the crowd gathered. They whispered and beamed, excited as they watched the man on the bright rectangular stage. The hairs along my neck prickled, and I turned. There, through the crowd, I caught the shine of those damn golden soldiers.

Faye followed my gaze. “Seems she sent a legion to pick up her supplies.”

I swallowed and watched the commander of her legion step through the crowd. His pointed helmet was tipped with reddish fur, and he proudly wore her banner across his shoulder. He had the same overdone armor that they all wore.

Well, at least we knew they were here, and it wasn’t anyone Samkiel and I couldn’t handle. That calmed my nerves a little.

“Now,” the voice echoed once more over the speaker. “For your once-in-a-lifetime viewing pleasure . . . the murrak!” he called, raising his hand.

My earpiece buzzed as if Samkiel and Orym were both speaking at once, but I ignored it. The curtains behind him parted, and a massive glass cage was pushed onto the stage. People gasped, and I had to shift to see around a tall being in front of me. I took one look and wished I hadn’t.

A hundred or more crystallized, opaque legs tapped on the glass, dancing around the giant shell like an exoskeleton. Its entire body was a shimmering mass of white so pure it was almost transparent. My stomach curled as it writhed. Bugs. I hated bugs, especially giant ones.

Antennae, the same white color, flicked as the murrak raised its giant head and hissed toward the crowd. They gasped and stepped back. Runes appeared on the glass, and nervous laughter rippled through the room when everyone realized the creature was securely contained. I wondered if everything here was contained the same way, even all these weapons. It hissed, pressing against the glass as it tried to push itself out. The runes flared, and it blinked, the cover of its eyes the same opaque color.

“The bidding will start at—”

The murrak raised its thick-plated head, its antennae moving as it sniffed the air. It looked right at me, locking on to my presence. Its body uncoiled, rising in its large clear cage, rows and rows of legs twitching. The pincers along its mouth opened, and an ear-splitting scream emerged, shattering every bit of glass in the room. Lights burst overhead, and everyone screamed because not only had it broken the sound barrier, it broke free of the only thing keeping us separate from it.