Chapter 37

CHAPTER THIRTY-SEVEN

ATLAS

I held my hand up and stepped from the shadows, letting it peel away from me. I moved into the light where they all could see me. The dungeon had many secrets, one of which was a way for me to get in that no one else knew about. Lying in wait was my specialty. I hunted for my prey and then waited for the perfect moment to strike. The idea had always suited me well, and tonight it had once more.

Moira stepped around Piper. "Atlas, what did you hear?"

What hadn't I heard? "Everything."

"You swear to me right here and now it does not go beyond this room," she snapped at me.

I pressed my hand to my chest. "You have my word, Moira. And you know I always keep my word."

Zinnia raised her hands and glowing silver magic ran up and down her arms. "Yes, I remember how well you keep it."

"Secrets." Grayson cackled wildly. They startled, as if in his silence they'd forgotten he was there. "Mother, all the secrets."He rocked back and forth, biting at his nails and spitting the pieces all over the cell. His eyes were wide and unfocused. "She's got secrets."

Piper stepped to the side so I could see her perfectly. "What are you doing here, Atlas?"

"I came here to kill him," I answered honestly.

"You came here to do what ?" Moira put her hands on her hips. "Atlas Savage, you had better not be saying what I think you're saying."

"Oh, he is." Piper crossed her arms, and for a moment she looked like the little sister who was tattling to mother.

"I heard everything you said, and it's given me the hope I scarcely allowed myself to have." I wasn't lying. I'd never thought for one moment that Grayson would survive this. Though he looked madder than anything I'd ever seen, I knew now there might be a way.

"What about that story gave you hope?" Ophelia sat down on the ground and pulled one of her knives out. She placed the tip of it on the floor and held the hilt with her pointer finger. She flicked it and it spun around. "And it better be good or this knife will find a new home in your rectum."

Tucker wrinkled his nose. "Ew. Graphic."

"I've been studying body parts. That's just the first one that came to mind." She peeked up at me. "Based on his answer, the parts might change."

She let her eyes drift down to my bollocks, and I fought the need to cover myself. But I stood still. "If Titus could survive this, then so can Gray."

"He took all the blood Graymont had, and it killed him." Moira's hands were still on her hips. "Do you think Titus would be able to live with himself if he knew he killed Graymont?"

"That's not what's important." I was sorry for their loss. Deep down, I felt Graymont's death too much for a vampire I'd never known but always heard about. Somehow losing him felt like a loss that they all felt every day, which meant that I felt it too.

"Grayson would need a blood relative to drain and replace his own cursed blood. There are no more living relatives in The House of Shade," Moira pointed out.

"That you know of," I countered. "Rakes were in abundance for quite some time within The House of Shade. How do you know one of them hasn't begotten a bastard?"

Moira's eyes widened. "Atlas, you can't possibly be thinking of . . ."

"That's precisely what I'm thinking." I would do anything not to have to kill my best friend. Anything. "I will hunt one down, and they will be sacrificed. Grayson will live."

"Whoa. Hold on a second." Piper held her hands up. "That is not what he'd want."

A guy with milky-white eyes and neon-green magic chuckled from the back of the group. "Are you sure that is what you want, Atlas Savage, last member of The House of Savage?"

"I don't believe I've made your acquaintance." I'd seen a lot of things, killed a lot of things, but the power that these supernaturals wielded was something I'd never expected.

"No, but I've made yours. I'm Maze." He gave a dark chuckle. "Be careful what you wish for, Sav. You just might get it."

"I'm used to getting what I want. In this I will not fail. I never had an inclination to kill my best friend. In fact, the mere thought of it pained me so. But hearing Moira made me realize I didn't have to do the one thing I'd loathe myself for eternity over. For that, I am grateful." I gave Moira a small bow.

"When this is over, you and I will speak on this in great detail." Moira glared at me. "I am not pleased with you, Atlas."

Her words struck me, and for a moment I felt like a child being scolded by his mother. "Of course, Your Highness."

"So you want to just grab a dude, steal all his blood, and give it to Grayson so he will live?" Ophelia tilted her head to the side, studying me.

"Essentially."

She jumped to her feet. "I'm in."

The redheaded witch spread her arms out wide. "Hold on. No one is killing anyone. If anything, we've learned that with this curse, we do not act rashly."

"You're all fools!" Grayson's voice turned deadly serious. It was darker and smoother than his normal tone. It was almost a voice I didn't recognize. "I'm going to kill you all for getting in my way."

"Are we really going to trust this guy?" A dark-haired elf pointed a knife in my direction. "After all that he's done."

Piper gave me a scrutinizing look. I arched my eyebrows at her. She of all people would know I never wanted to hurt Gray. "You know I had the kill shot."

She gave a heavy sigh. "As much as I'd like to say no, he can be trusted. He had the shot, and he didn't take it. He loves Gray as much as any of us here."

More so. Before I could answer, a loud boom sounded from outside the castle and the walls shook. Dust and rock fell from the dingy ceiling. "What the devil was that?"

Another boom like a battering ram hitting the side of the castle crashed all around us, and when I looked at the others, they all had the same face I did. We were under attack. The dungeon door flew open, and a small maid ran into the room. She was tiny and round with dark hair and a tear-stained face. Her cleaning uniform was covered in dirt.

"You must come quickly. They've taken the King!"