Page 25

Chapter 24

O nce more, Aya found herself seated in the council chamber, waiting for the other members to arrive. Alexios was with her, restlessly pacing a few feet away. He’d said little after their discovery and, frankly, she didn’t blame him. Words evaded her, and the more she thought of the dead, their flesh mutilated, the hotter her anger burned.

Alexios paused suddenly, looking sharply upon the door. “Loraina is coming.”

“And the others?”

“Can’t hear anyone else.”

Yet hung like an unspoken threat between them.

The summons had only gone out a few hours ago, so she was skeptical of anyone arriving swiftly. They hadn’t exactly disclosed details in the missives, simply enough to convey a note of urgency and that all members—loathe as Aya was to invite Orion—were needed.

A few seconds passed and Aya heard the telltale footsteps. Heels clicked steadily against stone. The door swung open slowly, admitting a wearied Loraina. Her gaze found Aya first.

“What happened?”

Aya tilted her head. “I’ll explain when everyone else arrives.”

“And if not everyone attends?”

“Somehow, I suspect everyone will make their best efforts to come—don’t you?”

Loraina’s gaze hardened, the statement clear. She sat wordlessly, not looking away, not backing down. “So, the last meeting went very well, don’t you agree?”

“I don’t like the human.”

A ghost of a smile pulled at the syren's mouth. “I don’t think you not liking someone is new.”

Behind her, Alexios snorted softly. Aya shot him an arched look over her shoulder, staring him down until he slid into the chair beside her. It wasn’t a matter of liking or not liking someone. Something about the human rubbed her the wrong way and she couldn’t put her finger as to why.

Slowly, she pulled her attention back to Loraina. “Curious that is how you read that interaction.” She released a small smile, flashing a tiny hint of teeth—a predatory challenge. “You certainly kept his promotion a secret or am I truly to believe it’s so new? Marisol has been dead for weeks.”

“The witches—”

“Had a new Grand Matron. They just didn’t exactly feel it was safe returning to the folds of this council so soon. That I understand.”

A wave of surprise swept over Loraina’s face. “You’re trusting witches now?”

“I am full of surprises.”

The conversation crumbled away as more footsteps approached. A second later, the door opened once more. One by one, the remaining members arrived. Orion came last, gliding in with all the damn bearing of a noble prick. She wanted to carve the smile off his face, make him cry.

Ryker regarded her warily, as if seeing some big threat by her calling the meeting. Tension ratcheted through his powerful body, like his wolf side was barely contained. Ingrid bore a little caution too, though it was concealed better behind a stony mask. Only a quick glance at Aya, lingering for a second too long, and the decision to sit as far as she could from her, spoke volumes. She, too, was afraid of what the announcement was.

To her surprise, Orion sat across from her, the closest out of the three arrivals. He kept his own mask fixed in place, but Aya saw through it. Didn’t miss the forced ease at which he sat down, a little too stiff to be truly relaxed. As his gaze bore into her, the fear was still there, lingering just behind his eyes. But something else was there, quietly regarding her as one might an enemy. One to carefully consider before attacking. Was it purely curiosity given his new position or determination to reclaim some sort of power after he so clearly balked in the last meeting?

Aya decided she was going to have fun with this.

She rose from her chair, looking over all of them. Her wings rustled a little before tucking in close. Instinctively, she darkened the room. Barely a perceptible amount.

Orion stiffened.

“Thank you for all answering the call,” she began silkily. “Alexios and I discovered something truly disturbing. It was an easy decision to quickly inform all of you of what we learned.”

She paused for effect, then set about explaining what they discovered in the ruins. Once she came to the state of the bodies, she made sure to carefully describe the way in which the bodies were desecrated. Ingrid went rigid in her chair, outrage burning in her eyes. Her slender hands gripped the table, knuckles turning white as wood splintered beneath her touch.

Even Loraina let a little of her own disgust and horror bleed through. Her mouth parted, color draining from her already ashen complexion. Ryker, ever the difficult one to read, appeared pale. Orion shifted uncomfortably on his chair, looking around like he wasn’t quite sure where—or who—to look at.

Loraina shuddered. “Do you know why our people were butchered like that?”

“It’s being looked into.”

“You don’t have any theories?”

Aya opted to ignore the accusatory edge in her voice.

“I have several, some of which are very well supported by the curious evidence we found. Until we’re surer, I am keeping that quiet for now.”

Ryker slammed his fist down onto the table. Wood cracked beneath the blow. “Stop the games! Tell us what you know.”

Aya levelled him a steady look. “The people were used as part of a blood spell. Beyond that, it’s complicated. Now, what is good news is that I sensed none of the souls lingering with the bodies. Take heart in the knowledge your people were not trapped in the place.”

“So, they have moved on?” Ingrid asked, her voice barely above a whisper. “They rest as we intended?”

“I cannot be sure.”

The last thing she expected was a chuckle from far across the table.

Aya’s gaze snapped to Orion. “Something amusing to you?”

What small smile on his lips snapped behind a scowl. “You’re a necromancer. Shouldn’t you know what lays beyond death?” Before she could answer, he waved a hand. “Oh, I forgot. You were never trained by your own kind. Never mind, I apologize for my outburst. You can’t know what lies beyond death.”

Aya stared him down, letting her mouth curl into the kind of smile that was a little unhinged. Orion, however, regarded it with a flicker of confusion. The bastard expected her wrath, but she wasn’t going to give him anything.

She pushed on.

“Alexios has already begun to organize the transport of the bodies to the Inner District. Your people may collect them and lay them to rest once more.” Aya sat down and leaned back in her chair. “Now, this is only a suggestion, but how might everyone feel about a ceremony? Something to bless the dead, give them back the respect that was taken from them. Purgatory used to do such ceremonies.”

“In times of disease and suffering,” said Ingrid. “But as you said, their souls have long since passed on.”

“If any do linger in this land, then a ceremony would offer a chance of closure and a way to pay respects.”

Ingrid’s chin dipped. “Very well. My kind light lanterns to illuminate the way for the spirits to find their way to rest. I would like to do this for the ceremony.”

Ryker cleared his throat. “My pack conducts the ceremonies at night beneath a full moon. In two days, there is one. Does anyone bear disagreement with that timing?”

No one did.

Loraina was next, simply asking that it was held by their lake. Aya expected some of the others to argue against that, that the ceremony should be conducted on neutral ground. No one argued. Perhaps since their own requests were granted, this too, could be agreed upon.

All attention drifted to Orion.

“All that I ask is that we are permitted to assemble a pyre and burn our offerings to the gods.”

Fuck the gods, was all Aya wanted to say to that, and may their whole fucking kingdom burn.

Aya and Alexios were heading back to the house, riding through the forest. The reactions of the council members played over in her mind. She carefully picked over every single one, dissecting their words with a delicate blade. Every sound and sharp look, how tone and posture shifted.

Lost to her thoughts, a hand suddenly touched her shoulder. She snapped into the world with a curse, her heart spearing against her ribs. A breath caught against her teeth. She drew it back in, steadying herself before she glared at Alexios.

“What?”

“Tobias said you get into these moods and it’s damn near impossible to get your attention,” he said dryly. “He’s right. I’ve been calling your name for the past several minutes.”

“I’m just thinking about Orion’s words. I never spent much time around the human parts of the Inner District, but I didn’t know they held much faith with the gods.”

After everything ended with Marisol, Aya had kept as much distance from the human population as she could.

Alexios’s smile slipped. “I thought that strange as well, but I know some of our feeders do pray to some of the gods.”

She sighed. “What is your feeling about him ?”

“Orion?”

She hummed a ‘yes’.

“He’s…odd.” At that, she eyed him with one brow lifted, spurring him to explain. “I never heard any whispers of Marisol having her eye on an heir. Then again, I never knew her role with Honoria, so not sure how much my opinion is worth there.”

“Can you see if your spies can find out anything about him? He claims to have been here for a while, but I want to know everything about him.”

“Don’t you have your own spies?”

She sighed. “The dead are being difficult with me right now.”

Try as she did, since she basically pushed them to help her find Sabra, there had been a tension between her and the dead. Had she pushed them too far in her search for Sabra, demanded too much too roughly?

“Can your kin help with that?”

Her grip tightened on the reins. No words passed over her lips.

“Aya?”

“It’s complicated.” She hoped the sharpness in her tone would suffice to say she really didn’t want to talk about it.

Because she was still no damn closer to learning more about her powers. She doubted she’d receive much of a warm welcome if she reached out again.

She didn’t want to think about that anymore.

“What did you think of everyone’s reactions to the news?” she asked.

“Justifiable disgust and horror. Ryker’s going to be out for blood and he’s not going to be happy for long with being kept in the dark.” Alexios sighed. “He might be worth speaking to about it. I don’t think he’s the traitor.”

“Oh?”

“Wolves are incredibly territorial. I don’t imagine he’s going to like the barrier being down. That would simply bring more people into the area, risking his pack.”

She was in agreement, and her assessment of his reaction told her he was either a very good actor or someone that might be useful to have on their side. There was just one slight problem.

“Tobias won’t be happy if we bring him in.”

“I know.” Alexios rubbed the back of his neck. “It ended so catastrophically between them when Tobias stepped down as Alpha. That whole situation was a god damn fucking mess.”

Aya sensed a ‘but’.

“ But, I think we could use Ryker. He’s angry and that we can use.” Alexios slanted her a conspiratorial look. “We don’t necessarily have to bring him into the inner circle but with the right prodding, we could use him to pressure the council. Encourage whoever is the mole is to make a mistake. And, if by some terrible chance he is the threat, then we have him close enough to keep an eye on him.”

“I’m in agreement but before we make any steps, I want you to clear it with Tobias.”

“Me?”

“You’re his mate. If anyone can convince him, it’s you.”

As they approached the invisible ward edging their territory, a familiar figure waited by a tree, half shrouded in darkness. Nora. Aya shot Alexios a look, but his own puzzled frown said he hadn’t even scented her. Meaning Nora wanted to take them off guard.

Aya stopped her horse and slid down. Wordlessly, she handed the reins to Alexios.

“Continue on to the house. I won’t be long.”

He opened his mouth to argue but she shook her head.

“I’ll be okay.”

Sensing there was no point arguing, he nodded stiffly. Aya stepped back to let him on his way. She watched until he vanished among the trees and shadows, ignoring Nora’s piercing stare.

“Speak,” she said without looking at Nora.

“Can you tell me about what you found in the ruins?”

She was tempted to lie but she was curious about Nora’s reactions. Coming to her, alone and without protection, it was Nora’s attempt at a white flag. Though the syren was by no means defenseless, Aya knew she could take the woman in a fight.

With a sigh, she described what they found, detailing the bodies and what they found after. Including the symbol of Vesmir, the strange tunnel and what happened once they surfaced. As she spoke, a quite look of horror settled over Nora’s face. Raw, her body shaking. Tiny, rapid breaths skittered over her lips. She stepped back, pressing a hand to her mouth, as if she was fighting not to throw up. After a beat, her hand fell away, and her gaze still burned with a panic that cut Aya uneasily.

“How many bodies?”

It took Aya a moment to recollect the exact number. “Three hundred.”

Nora paled. “And you said the hearts were missing? Nothing else.”

The sudden edge and urgency threw Aya into confusion. “No.”

“You’re sure?”

“Yes!” Aya took a step closer. “You know what the spell is, don’t you?”

Nora went silent for a moment as she stared into the woods. It was as though she were somewhere else entirely, like Aya ceased to exist. Whatever this spell was, it had her rattled beyond anything, and Aya found herself shifting nervously.

It felt like an eternity before Nore finally spoke.

“I honestly didn’t think it was possible. My predecessor swore that because so much knowledge had been lost, some of our order wanted to tap into some of the forbidden spells. Ones supposedly written by the child I told you about. Written by a desperate, bitter soul.”

“What spell?”

Nora finally looked at her, pale as death. “The power to resurrect.”

Aya shook her head, stepping back. “Only a necromancer can bring the dead back.”

“My predecessor said they had found a way, but the price was the very reason no one had carried it out. That it was too high, an affront to everything we believed in the honor of life and balance.”

Aya began to understand. Only this time, she was the one who wanted to be sick. The bodies. Three hundred of them. Their bodies mutilated in some sick spell. It was nothing like the way her people brought the dead back. Hell, she could only do it if the soul was close by and willing. If the soul ventured to the land beyond, then it should be impossible…

“With that number of bodies, how many people could they bring back?”

“Just one.”