30. Thirty

Thirty

The rest of the compound was dilapidated. But not here. The place had been decorated to look like a Draqaari palace. Oil paintings in gilded frames lined the walls alongside sculptures and fountains. A thick rug covered the cold stone floor, and the beaten-up table that had served Sebastian’s family had been replaced by a polished behemoth.

Mahogany maybe? That’s what all the rich people had, right?

“Lady Valeria, this is Arsyn Morgan.” Sebastian picked an apple from a bowl of fruit on the table. “She’s finally come to join us. As I told you she would.”

Sebastian spoke so casually to her. He seemed comfortable in her presence. I, however, felt like a bug that had wandered into a spider’s web. If I struggled now, she’d just wrap me up in her web and end it. Sebastian was one thing. He was still blinded by his feelings for me. I could handle him. But Valeria? She was Daevasi. Like Quillon.

“So, this is the girl everyone’s gotten so worked up over?” Valeria studied me. “I don’t see what the fuss is all about. She’s dirty and far too thin.”

I crossed my arms over my stomach.

Sebastian turned to me. The corners of his mouth lifted. “She’s perfect.”

I gave Sebastian a small smile. How could he build me up again so quickly? I shouldn’t care what he thought of my body. After everything he’d done to me, to the worlds ... to Ari.

Valeria looked to the others at the table, and I finally felt like I could breathe. I hadn’t noticed the two men with her before. Valeria seemed to suck up all the air in the room. I had a feeling even if she wore jeans and a T-shirt, she would be just as captivating. There was something about her. She commanded attention.

The two men were water elemental twins, and I didn’t need my ability to see auras to know that. Their aquamarine hair and eyes gave them away.

“Arsyn Morgan?” The one to Valeria’s left stiffened. “The Enchanter?”

I didn’t like his tone. It raised the hairs on the back of my neck. “Who’s asking?”

“Followers of the Herald.” He pulled down the collar of his shirt to reveal the Heretic’s brand. “You’re the one who killed Brother Derath.”

A spirit stirred inside me. A scaled body wrapped around my heart. I ran my finger over the stolen mark on my shoulder blade. “The snake.”

“Not after you were done with him.” The other elemental balled his hands into fists on the table. “Blood must be repaid.”

“Would you like to die, too?” Darkness clouded my vision as corruption rose. It was savoring the memory. Excited by it. “Killing him was fun. Too bad you don’t have a spirit for me to take.”

He stood and faced me. “Be quiet.”

“You sure? I’d be happy to give you a demonstration.” I stepped toward them, but Sebastian placed a hand on my shoulder. But now that all my bloodforged iron had been removed, he couldn’t stop me from draining them. I reached for their mana. It felt like sea mist on my skin. I pulled it into me.

They gasped and choked. “What are you doing to me?” the one cried.

I sighed as their power filled my veins. But their mana was a drop of water in a desert. It wouldn’t be enough to sate my hunger. Even if I drained them dry. I forced my channels to close. That wasn’t why I was here.

The standing elemental slumped over, bracing himself on the table.

The other grasped at his chest and sent a bewildered look to Valeria. “She could have killed us.”

“I didn’t.” I smiled. “You’re welcome.”

“My,” Valeria purred. Her purple eyes narrowed on me. “Maybe there’s more to you than I thought.” She clapped her hands and daeva servants appeared from the kitchen carrying gilded platters of food. “Come and sit, Arsyn Morgan. Put some meat on your bones.”

Sebastian placed his hand on the small of my back, gently guiding me to a chair. He took the seat closest to the elementals and Valeria, glaring at both elementals.

One of the servants placed a bowl of daeva pasta in front of me. My stomach growled at the sight. I’d only had coffee for breakfast.

“This isn’t poisoned, right?” My mouth watered. Maybe it would be worth it.

Sebastian chuckled and handed me a fork. “Eat.”

He didn’t have to tell me twice. I dug into the delicious food, eating two bowls in the time it took Sebastian to eat his apple. The tension in the room simmered as we ate. The elementals picked at their food, but Valeria just watched us. I supposed she wouldn’t be able to eat wearing that mask, anyway.

“How goes the mission, then?” Valeria sat back in her chair.

“Many druids and elementals on Earth are reluctant to hear the truth the Herald brings,” the elemental who had threatened me answered. His words came slowly. My draining him must have left him fatigued. I smirked. He cast a suspicious glance my way. “But we’ve had some luck in the smaller villages.”

The Herald? Was that what they called the Heretic? I set my empty bowl aside and reached for a pastry.

“So, no luck in Haven, then?” Valeria studied her red fingernails. “A shame. Perhaps Sabrina has more power there than I thought.”

I paused, the pastry halfway to my mouth. Valeria knew Sabrina? I supposed they were both Daevasi, but it hadn’t crossed my mind before now.

“Unfortunately,” the other elemental said. “But the stranglehold the Ancients have held over Porada is loosening. No child has been born with magic or a spirit in months. The Poradans will be searching for answers. A new path forward. A new leader to solve their problems in the absence of the Ancients.”

My fork paused, halfway to my mouth. No child had been born with magic or a spirit? Months … that fit with when Sebastian drained the Aether.

The other elemental nodded. “Hopefully, they will be smarter than our brethren on Earth and see the future we offer. Free from the tyranny of the Ancients.”

“Daev abandoned my people centuries ago,” Valeria said. “The altars of our Ancient are at the bottom of the ocean. It was only a matter of time before the other worlds felt their reliance on their precious Ancients wane. We will show them the way forward.” She gestured at Sebastian. “Sebastian has done well spreading truth and freedom to the hunters. Giving them the gift of ultimate power that the Ancients and bennu sought to selfishly hoard.”

I squinted at the auras of the elementals and Valeria. Their auras were pure mana. The only corruption in the room came from Sebastian and me.

“If corruption is so great, why haven’t you accepted this ‘gift?’” I blurted.

Water magic filled the air as twin scowls met my gaze. The elemental closest to me snarled. “She speaks out of turn, m’lady. Allow me to correct her for you.”

Sebastian shot to his feet. His chair scraped on the stone as it fell back. “I’d like to see you try.”

“Settle down,” Valeria said cooly, though her aura vibrated, betraying her agitation. “To answer your question, hunters are better equipped to deal in mana. Corruption would be wasted on others.”

“Are you sure it isn’t because you know what happened to the Wraith when he accepted this ‘gift?’” My own corruption rose to the surface, emboldening me and loosening my tongue. “Such power always comes with a price. I wonder what yours would be?”

“Sebastian.” Valeria’s voice was low and quiet. Strained. It seemed I’d struck a nerve. “Keep your pet leashed.”

Sebastian stood his ground. “We promised hunters freedom when they joined. She’s free to speak her mind.”

Valeria stared at Sebastian. “Freedom is not without limitation. You must control your hunters better. They must learn to feed without killing.”

Sebastian shrugged. “Hunters have always fed until the heart stops beating. It’s not something that’s easy to control.”

“Then teach them.” Valeria’s tone brokered no argument. “The captured hunters have been bled to within an inch of their lives. If they still survive.”

“You said you’d get the prisoners otherworld blood to keep them alive, but we haven’t seen a drop in a week.”

Valeria stood and pressed her palms into the table, leaning forward. “The only otherworlders remaining in the area are followers of the Herald. Do you suggest we sacrifice our allies to your army because they can’t control themselves?”

Sebastian lowered his head, shrinking under Valeria’s wrath. “No.”

“Then shut up and let me handle it.” Valeria stormed out of the room.

Her form disappeared into the darkness, her extravagant dress fanning out behind her. She was Daevasi, but she wasn’t anything special. What gave her this power over Sebastian? He was immune to her magic. He could kill her easily if he wanted to.

Sebastian caught my hand and pulled me up the stairs. Without the bloodforged iron, his mana hit me like a thunderbolt to the chest. It drilled through my barriers and tore up my channels.

It was twisted.

Dark.

Delicious .

I tripped on the top stair, but Sebastian caught me against him.

“Sorry,” I said, trying to push myself away, but he pulled me closer.

His silver eyes sparkled as they gazed down at me. “You know, when I first met you that day at your family’s compound, you perplexed me. I’d seen you train before the meeting. You were so graceful. Your movements were fluid and precise. I couldn’t believe that was the same girl that tripped on her own feet as she walked to greet us.”

He finally released me as heat crept into my cheeks.

“My father was furious.” I shrugged. “The dark mana may regrow fingers, but apparently even it can’t touch my clumsiness.”

“I like your clumsiness.” Sebastian led me farther down the dark hallway. “I’ve always found it cute.”

I jogged a few steps to catch up with him when he stopped outside a door. I crashed into his back. He laughed this time, full and deep, surprising me. I hadn’t heard him laugh like that since we were teenagers.

He collected himself enough to open the door. “Here’s a bathroom if you’d like to shower.”

I glanced down at myself. My clothes were splattered with black blood and dusted with dirt.

“That’s probably a good idea.”

Sebastian nodded. “Take your time. Valeria’s had the bathrooms remodeled to reflect her bathroom at her estate on Draqaar.”

He was right. Marble and gold covered every surface. A large soaking tub sat under a window. It was a bit gaudier than the Qaanir palace, but it was certainly a level of luxury that only a Daevasi could achieve.

“When the hell did she have time to do this?”

“Remodeling the great hall was Valeria’s first task she assigned her servants when we arrived.”

I ran my hand along the countertop and picked up a bottle from a selection of perfumes on a mirrored tray. “The lady’s got her priorities, I guess.”

“I’ll be back by the time you’re done.” Sebastian closed the door, and I locked it behind him. Then, I was finally alone for the first time since I arrived at the Castelle compound.

I slumped to the cold marble floor. My veins were black beneath my skin. The corruption vibrated in my belly, shaking with hunger. The small amount of mana I’d taken from the elementals had done little to sate my appetite.

I undressed with shaking hands, leaving my clothes and hunter regalia in a pile on the floor. I expected to see bruises around my neck in my reflection, but my skin was unmarred. The hoarseness in my voice was also gone. My hunter blood healed me quicker than a human, but this was different. The cuts that had covered my body from the corruption bomb had healed completely, leaving nothing but fine white lines behind.

I ignored the urge to soak in the tub and took a quick shower. The water turned black before circling the drain. Sebastian had killed that hunter without a second of hesitation. He’d killed one of his own to protect me. And made an example of him.

I squeezed my eyes shut. Sebastian had become so brutal in the years since I left. I should have been horrified by his actions. I should have been repulsed and disgusted. It should have pushed me away.

I hung my head, letting the water run down my face.

It was the corruption. It had to be. Now that it was awake, it was taking over my emotions again. As long as I was here, I was away from those I cared about. If I lost control again, I just had to hope Genny could take care of herself. But I couldn’t forget the reason I was here, and the strict deadline Cyrus had given me.

You have until daybreak.

A soft knock on the door echoed through the tiled room. I turned off the water and wrapped a soft towel around my body.

“Who is it?” I called.

“It’s me.” Sebastian’s voice was muffled by the door. I slowly opened it.

Sebastian had changed into sweats and a black T-shirt. His hunter marks covered his arms and crawled up his neck. Droplets of water hung from his silver hair. He’d showered, too.

He held up a folded T-shirt. “I brought you a new shirt. I figured you wouldn’t want to put your bloody clothes back on, and I noticed you were traveling especially light.”

“I knew I was forgetting something.” I took the shirt from him.

I hadn’t planned on needing a change of clothes, but I should have expected I’d get covered in blood within moments of arriving.

I pulled the shirt over my head. It came to the middle of my thighs, so I let the towel fall to the floor. Sebastian’s eyes drank me in as I found my panties and slid them on.

He grabbed my hand as I let the hem of the shirt fall back down to my thighs. “Your veins.”

“Oh.” I tried to pull my hand back. “It’s nothing.”

“Your strength may be delayed because you were wearing so much bloodforged iron.” He lifted his other hand, running a finger along my neck. It dipped to my collarbone where the necklaces had sat like a weight against my chest. “Take some of my mana.”

Doing that would mean taking in more corruption.

“Sebastian …”

He frowned. “When did you start calling me Sebastian?”

“I …”

When you betrayed me.

But wasn’t that what I was here to do? Betray him ?

I brushed the strands of silver hair from his beautiful face. A face that had gazed at me this way for years. A face that had starred in my most precious memories and haunted my darkest nightmares.

My thoughts were getting too jumbled. My emotions were all over the place. And when I looked at him, I couldn’t help but remember all those moments he was the Sebastian I used to know.

The day we met. When he gazed at me with those unguarded eyes. When I felt truly seen for the first time. The moments we’d stolen, sneaking out of our compounds to gaze at the stars.

When he took one look at me and knew exactly what I needed. When he pulled me out of the water in the Sea of Manandi and watched me sail away.

My heart thudded. I couldn’t let myself feel this. This was the corruption. I wouldn’t feel this for him. Never again.

“What happened to us?” The words left my lips before I could stop them.

“Many forces have tried to keep our strings of fate apart.” Sebastian’s expression turned serious. He entwined his fingers with mine and lowered his head until our noses touched. “But I won’t let them keep us apart. I will hunt down the remaining hunter families and members of the Aegis. I will even kill the Ancients themselves if they try to keep us apart.”

I believed him.

Which was why I had to kill him.