26. Twenty-Six

Twenty-Six

Dull purple eyes stared back at me from the shadows. I turned on the light and closed the door to the bedroom behind me. Ari stood at the foot of the bed, his wrists chained to the bedposts with bloodforged iron.

His hood was back, revealing soft brown hair that grazed the bottom of his black mask. His unfocused gaze followed me as I stepped closer.

“I don’t know if you’re in there.” I pushed the sleeves of my duster up. “But this is all I’ve got.”

Ari, predictably, said nothing.

“So, I guess I should probably start with this—you were right.”

I bit my lip. His clothing was torn, covered in black blood that oozed from many wounds. He’d been the closest to me when I exploded with corruption.

“Maybe I should wait until it’s really you in there to tell you this, but I won’t get the chance.” I paced in the small space, keeping a few feet between us. “I couldn’t handle it. You tried to warn me, but I didn’t listen. I’d like to blame that on the corruption, but it only heightened what I was already feeling.”

I stopped in front of him. I closed my eyes and imagined the Ari I knew. The one that took off his shirt and cloak for me at the Colosseum, revealing his secrets and shame to protect mine. The one that left me with cryptic warnings on the balcony of the Qaanir palace. The Ari that found me on the rooftop, following me into my darkest place to show me his own.

The Ari that tried to protect me from myself. The Ari that took the blow from Sebastian’s staff even after I pushed him away.

I retreated further into my mind. I could almost feel his raised scars under my fingertips. His sweet and spicy aura that smelled of gingerbread. A smile rose to my lips. He always hated that.

“I’ll bring you back.” Emotion choked my voice, but I needed to get this out. “I promise. Whatever it takes.”

Enoch needed his gift to restore Ari’s soul.

I was ready to die for this. But it wasn’t about the worlds. It was about him.

“No.” Cyrus crossed his arms.

I didn’t know what I expected him to say, but I at least hoped he’d let me get a word in. “I haven’t even said anything.”

“I can see it in your face.” Cyrus stood beside Enoch and Shael at the fire. No one had moved since I’d visited Ari. Even Genny was still here, clinging hesitantly to the edge of the group. “You’re going to do something stupid.”

I rolled my eyes. “What would you do to get Ari’s soul back?”

“Ari is a soldier of the Aegis. He understood the risks when he signed up, and he certainly wouldn’t want you putting your life on the line to save him.”

“Perhaps our Enchanter asked the wrong question.” Quillon smiled like a predator that had cornered his prey. “What would you do if it was Arsyn’s soul stuck in that staff?”

Cyrus looked away.

“Exactly.” Quillon lifted his chin triumphantly. “And I have a foolproof plan.”

“I should have known you were plotting.” Cyrus sighed and pulled a cylindrical object from his pocket. He flicked it between his fingers and hands. Its runes flashed with light as it shifted between a narrow dagger and its inert state. I hadn’t seen Cyrus play with his dagger in a while. He must have been really stressed. “What outrageous idea did you come up with this time?”

Quillon steepled his fingers. “We bring the fight to them. We know where they’re hiding out, and we know Sebastian possesses the staff that holds Ari’s soul. We also know there’s one of us Sebastian won’t kill.”

My men looked at me.

Quillon had a point. Even in my deranged corruption dreams, Sebastian still tried to recruit me. And even during the battle at the Morgan compound, he’d been careful not to injure me.

Skye closed the book he’d been reading with a snap. “You’re not serious.”

“He won’t hurt her?” Cyrus scoffed. “He just tried to steal her soul .”

I stepped into the center of the room. “Quillon’s right. Sebastian only tried to steal my soul because I wouldn’t go with him willingly. If I show up on his doorstep claiming I had a change of heart, there’d be no reason for him to hurt me.”

Cyrus shook his head. “I’m not putting you at risk like that. Returning a soul is not a simple thing. Nor is it without side effects.”

“I know.”

“You sure you’re thinking clearly? The corruption seems to really cloud your judgment.”

“The iron keeps it under control.”

“We just want to make sure your more … impulsive, murderous tendencies are under control,” Skye piped up.

“I’m fine. Jeez.” I rolled my eyes again. “You kill a man in cold blood one time, and no one ever lets you forget about it.”

“Why does Arsyn need to go in by herself, anyway? Can’t we just attack?” Shael pulled a flame from the fire and let it burn in his palm. Fire was a security blanket for him.

Skye tapped the leather cover of the book in his lap. “A direct assault would be catastrophic. We barely survived the attack here with the defenses to our advantage. Not to mention the strong wards Valeria likely has in place. If we attacked their compound, we’d fail.”

“What I have in mind is much more underhanded.” Quillon stood and clasped his hands behind his back. There was a twinkle in his eye I’d come to associate with his schemes. “If Valeria is at the compound, and I assume she is, the place will be heavily warded indeed. Hunters will be able to cross the wards, but we have no way of entering. I may be able to dismantle them, but it will take time and alert Valeria. Much more time than if we had, say, a hunter absorb the magic.”

“It still won’t be enough.” Skye shook his head. “What are we? Fifty? Sixty?”

“Against hundreds of dark hunters wielding corrupt magic,” Felix chimed in helpfully.

“Some of those children are pretty good with a crossbow,” I muttered.

Skye gave me a severe look.

“Fine.” I paced in front of the fireplace. There had to be an answer. An untapped source.

“Are there any other hunter families we could convince to join?” Shael offered.

“It’s unlikely we’ll be able to convince more families, especially with such short notice.” Max scratched her bandaged neck. “What about you, bennu? I thought the bennu proclaimed themselves to be protectors of the world?”

Cyrus ground his teeth together. “Reinforcements from Eranor are impossible.”

“How about good, old-fashioned gunpowder?” Quillon pulled a pouch from his belt and held it up. “With enough bombs and cannons, we could level the whole compound.”

Max’s nose scrunched up. “Cannons?”

“Does Sabrina know any more mercenary groups?” Felix slung his legs onto the couch.

“Wait.” My pulse ticked up. I smacked my palm to my forehead. “That’s it.”

The guys shared a look.

“We’re fighting hunters, right?”

They nodded.

“And who hates hunters more than anyone?”

Felix perked up. “The ones they hunt. The ones they call otherworlders.”

“And we have a whole city of them in Haven.” I smiled. Maybe we’d get through this after all.

“We must send word to Haven.” Quillon jumped to his feet. “Do we have any carrier birds?”

“This is Earth, Quillon.” I walked to the landline on the far wall. “We have phones.”

The guys were quiet as I dialed Sabrina’s cell.

“Who is this?” Sabrina asked directly. Thumping music carried through the phone. She was at the Dungeon.

“Your favorite disenchantment specialist.”

“Arsyn?” There was rustling on the other end, then the music grew muted. “Everything all right?”

“Peachy. Listen—I have a big favor to ask.”

“Another one? We just had another group of demons trash the bar.”

“How would you like to put some of that chaotic energy to use?”

There was a pause. Quillon raised an eyebrow.

“I’m listening,” Sabrina finally said.

“Sebastian and his hunters have holed up at the old Castelle compound. We’re planning an attack, but we’re a bit shorthanded.”

“I have questions, but your timing is impeccable. There was a brawl between Poradans and followers of the Heretic and everyone’s been looking for fights as more otherworlders disappear. I’ll put the word out. When do you need them?”

“Tuesday.”

Sabrina’s smooth laugh filtered through the phone. “You ask a lot.”

“Only because I know you can do it.”

“Hmm. Your daeva king has been rubbing off on you. I’ll gather who I can. There’s a new leader of the Copper District gang. He’s particularly unstable. He’ll love this.”

“Send them to the campground in the forest by the Castelle compound.”

“The Castelle compound, huh? What have you been up to?”

“Long story.”

“We’ll talk when this is all over,” Sabrina said. There was an indecipherable, growly voice in the background. “Oh yes, and Donald has been demanding a rematch. He says you cheated in poker, but now he knows your tell.”

“Of course.” Emotion choked my voice. “Tell him he’ll be selling his scales by the time I’m done with him.” I hung up and turned back to the others. “One order of unpredictably unhinged otherworlders on its way.”

“Lovely.” Quillon nodded. “Arsyn will also need to locate Benoi’s staff before the battle. Sebastian is already powerful enough without the ability to tear one’s soul from their body.”

“It’s too dangerous.” Cyrus crossed his arms. He looked at me, but his normally icy gaze was warm. Worried. “You’ll still be alone before the wards drop. I won’t let you do that.”

“It’s not your decision to make,” I snapped. “You think I’m just being reckless. Like I haven’t thought this through. But this is all I can think about. The iron prevents my corruption from taking control for the moment, but even now, I feel it festering inside me, growing stronger.”

I brought my hand to my heart. My fingers pressed into my skin; I wished I could claw the corruption out of me.

“One day, the iron will no longer be able to keep it at bay.”

Cyrus stepped closer until I had to crane my neck to look at him. His movements were jerky as he gripped my shoulders. “We’ll find a way—”

“Don’t lie to me. Not you.” My chest heaved. “You said it yourself. The only way to be freed from the corruption is death. At least let me go out on my own terms.”

“You’re right,” Cyrus said, surprising me. He never conceded so easily. “I can’t stop you. But promise me you’ll do your best to make it back to us.”

“I ...” I wasn’t sure I could promise that. Even if I made it back, my days were numbered.

Cyrus’s grip tightened on my upper arms until it was bruising. A madness I’d never seen before took hold of his chiseled features. “Promise me, Arsyn.”

That broke me. I desperately wanted to come back to them. In a perfect world, we’d restore Ari, and we’d all be together again.

I brushed his tousled blond hair out of his face. “I promise.”

And I meant it. I didn’t want to die. Over the last year, I’d begun to allow myself to think of the future. To imagine a future with them. I would do my best to get back.

I nodded and took a step back from Cyrus. Even without his aura assaulting my senses, being this close to him was intense.

“You will all have to stay far enough away from the compound to avoid tripping the wards or being seen by the guards,” I said. “Quillon will monitor the wards. I’ll find Benoi’s staff and bring the wards down as soon as I can. Then everyone attacks.”

“I will give you until sunrise of the next day.” Cyrus’s glacial gaze drilled into me. “Then Quillon is tearing through the wards and we’re getting you out of there whether you’re ready or not.”

“Just make sure Enoch gets Benoi’s staff.”

“I will join you as well,” Enoch said, startling us. I’d forgotten he was here. He held out his hand and his scythe materialized in his grip. “I may not be at full power, but I’m still a reaper.”

Quillon’s eyebrows rose. “I thought reapers were supposed to be neutral forces in the worlds.”

“I stopped being neutral centuries ago.”