Page 108 of Brimstone

The Hazrax flashed its teeth again. “That was up to the king, of course. If it was within my power to grant it, it was done.”

“And what exactlyisthe nature of your power? Whatareyou?”

The Hazrax stepped toward me, its feet silent against the stone floor. “Mine is the power to put out a sun, perhaps? The power to . . . untether gravity?”

I watched, stunned speechless, as the relic on the counter slowly rose into the air. The tongs. The crucible. Up they floated, lifted by invisible strings. The loose strands of my hair that had escaped my braid began to float around my face.

“As for what I am . . .” The creature trailed off. “Who knows anymore? This body is just a vessel. My mind is very old. It canbe in many places at once. I see through the eyes of others from time to time. These are very useful skills to have.”

I wasn’t listening. A weightless sensation was pulling at my stomach, causing it to roll. The soles of my boots began to lift off the ground, and a bark of panic burst out of my mouth. “Stop! Enough. That’s enough!”

The crucible crashed back down to the ground, cracking the stone where it landed. The tongs caught on the side of the bench and then hit the ground, spinning. The relic I’d just made remained suspended in the air, though. It rotated slowly, the light catching on the tiny vines and leaves that wound around its band.

“I am capable of many things. You just need to know how to ask,” the Hazrax said.

“And, so, what?” It was a miracle that my voice didn’t shake. “You want to strike a bargain with me now that Malcolm is dead?”

There was no mistaking the sound now—the Hazrax was definitely laughing. “I would make the same deal with you that I made with Malcolm, yes,” it said.

“And if I refuse?”

Its lips spread wider, the dark, hollow void of its jet eyes boring into me as it flicked its finger, and the floating relic began to spin faster, faster, faster . . .

“I must remain, Saeris,” it said evenly. “Theremustbe a deal.” The threat was veiled, but it was there. I had no idea what the Hazrax would do if I denied its request, but I knew with every bone in my body that it wouldn’t be good.

If this thing had been human—orFaeeven—I would have come up with some very colorful language to describe what it should go do to itself. But this was no member of the Fae. Despite the position it held, it was no member of the Blood Court, either. There was something deeply sinister about thecreature, and I sensed that pissing it offmightnot be the smartest idea.

“Okay,” I said. “Fine. One favor a year, in exchange for permission to stay and observe. But I want the opportunity to renew the bargain each year. I don’t want to be locked into an agreement with you until the day I die.”

“I see no issue with that arrangement.” The creature inclined its head. “You will quickly realize how valuable my favors are and will not mind honoring my simple request in return. I agree to your stipulation.”

I wouldn’t be queen of this wretched court for much longer. I had no idea what possessed me to make the demand, but some part of me urged caution when dealing with this creature. My gut instinct had proven right many times in the past; I wasn’t about to start ignoring it now.

The Hazrax had turned and was walking away. It appeared our business was at an end, then. “Wait! Don’t we need to seal the agreement in blood?”

The strange creature did not turn around. “I’ve already told you, Saeris Fane. Blood magic is crude. We have no need for it, you and I.”

The forge seemed to double in size once the Hazrax had gone. It was suddenly easier to breathe. The relic still hung suspended in the air, spinning fast—a blur of silver and black. I went to reach for it, and it abruptly stopped spinning and dropped like a stone into my hand.

The second the cool metal hit my palm, the world pitched on its side. Blinding white light flared behind my eyes.

Pain . . .

The gods knew I was familiar with pain, but this was the kind of pain that tore a soul apart.

It was everywhere. My hands—my eyes. I couldn’t see. Couldn’t breathe.

Ever since I’d woken up in the Black Palace, I’d fought to partition my magic behind a thick, high wall. It escaped often, activating my quicksilver rune. It had spilled over too much in the library, yes, but this? This wasn’t an overflow of power. The wall inside my head was gone. It was as though it had never even existed, and now there wasnothingholding my power back. It blazed through me, all of it at once, lighting me up like a torch and searching for an avenue of escape.

Fuck!The silent curse scraped the back of my throat.

I was going to destroy Ammontraíeth. Worse, I was going to fuckingdie, and I wouldn’t even get to say goodbye to my own mate.

Panic merged my scattered thoughts into one urgent command:

Run.

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