Page 60

CHAPTER 59

W e are walking through the forest, their questions hitting me left, right, and centre, when I feel it. “Do you feel that?” I whisper.

“Yes.” Jarek suddenly stills. “Magic, dark magic. Death magic. It’s not too far from here. Zombie.”

Worrying my lip, I look him over. We have all read the reports on what happened recently. Could it be an escaped one wandering about? They aren’t picky about who they attack or eat, so innocents could get hurt. “Take me there,” I demand.

We step through a portal and out into an old graveyard where we see a zombie in better condition than I expected. It even has a shirt and pants on . . . as well as a collar like a dog, but it’s still a zombie.

“Shit, I’ve never seen an actual zombie,” Fang mutters. “Have you?”

“No, but I’ve read about them. They are notoriously hard to kill,” I reply, but then my head tilts as I watch it. “This one is not rampaging though, just walking.” I hold up my hand to stop them. “Let’s wait and watch.”

“Boring,” Zeev mutters, but we do just that. It wanders closer, seemingly curious, and we let it, but then darkness suddenly leaks across the ground, and four figures step out of it and towards us.

I pull my blade out of instinct, and I feel the others ready themselves as I eye the new arrivals. Three men—er, two, one monster, and a woman in a lacy gown. They seem just as surprised to see us as we are to see them.

“The dark magic is coming from them,” Jarek whispers helpfully.

Where there’s a zombie, there’s a master.

I stare at them for a moment, but they don’t attack, and I know looks can be deceiving, but something about this woman makes me want to trust her. “Is this yours?” I ask as I nod at the zombie sniffing Addeus in confusion.

The monster steps in front of her, glaring at me, while the demon at her side watches me curiously, but the golden man smiles.

“Ah, sorry about that. Our zombie got loose. He likes to wander sometimes,” the woman says with a wide grin. “Thanks for not killing Bobby. He’s part of the family.”

I simply nod as the zombie wanders over to them and sits at their side. She pets his head. “You’re a necromancer.” It’s rare, and I’ve never met one, but I made it my business to know everything. While everything had been going down with us, there was a big war in another city up north, and a necromancer was there.

This must be her. The reports said she tried to save them all.

She swallows, watching me carefully. “Are you here to kill me?”

“Why would I be?” I ask.

“You’re a hunter. It’s what you do, isn’t it?” she counters.

“You’re a necromancer. Isn’t evil what you do?” I retort, and she smiles.

“I guess you have a point. I’m Freya. This is Phrixius, Bobby, Sha, and my demon,” she says.

“Um, Tate, and this is my team.” I quickly introduce them all, following suit. “But no, I am not here to hunt or kill you. We heard reports of a zombie and came to check it out. I guess we don’t need to worry.”

My hands tingle as I watch her, and I know this woman is important, just like I knew Quinn was. “You’re the one building the new court for the necromancers?”

Her eyes widen. “How did you know?”

“I know everything. Don’t worry, I have no plans to stop you. Everyone should have a home, a safe place.” I glance back at my team. “I understand that.” I hold out my hand. “I mean you no harm. It’s nice to meet you, Freya of the Court of Heathens.”

She watches me carefully before shaking hands, and like with Quinn, I sort through her memories before a barrier comes down, her eyes narrowing. “You’re in my head. How?”

Pulling back, I grin. “Clever. It’s my gift. I’m the descendant of a fae. I had to be sure.”

“Sure of what?” she snaps.

“Sure you are what I think you are.” I smile. “You’re building a better world, and so am I—one where monsters do not have to fear us or humans.”

“A fairy tale,” Phrixius scoffs.

“No, it’s the truth. I met your friend Mors and his bride, Avea. I have met vampyrs and wolves. Look at those behind me. Not a fairy tale or a dream. I plan to make it happen.”

“How?” Freya asks.

“An accord,” I answer. “A treaty if you will, between the courts of your world and mine.”

“I am nobody,” she begins.

“You are somebody,” I correct. “I don’t care if others forsake you or do not accept your kind. You deserve a seat at that table. When I am sure, I will send a message, but until then, it was nice to meet you. Good luck with your court.”

“Tate?” I still at her voice. “If your invitation comes, I will attend. I’d like a treaty. I’m sick of innocents dying. If we can stop that from happening, then I’ll help in any way I can.”

“I knew you would.” I let Zeev summon a portal, and we step through, back into our floor at home.

TEM

“Mistress, help!” I rush into the room she is sleeping in and bounce on her bed. She groans but spins me, her eyes narrowed as she looks down into my grinning face. Her hair, which is growing out, frames her stunning features.

“What is it?” she asks, holding a weapon in her hand as she scans the area, ready to protect me.

“Zeev and Fang were being mean.” I pout, and she relaxes, rolling her eyes. “Can I play with you instead?”

“Tem.” She sighs. “What did I tell you?”

“To not let them bully me and give it back to them, but they just laughed,” I mutter. “Besides, I missed you.”

“I’ve been gone for ten minutes,” she mumbles, but she sits up, watching me with a soft smile. “You want to play?”

I nod eagerly as her eyes run down my body with a hungry gleam. Desire courses through me, alongside hope. She has claimed me before, but that doesn’t mean she will again. Her intentions become clear, however, when she leans down. “Then let’s play. It turns out I’m tired of thinking through my plan anyway. A distraction will be good.” Her teeth dig into my lip, the pain making me groan. “Do you want to distract me, my tempest?”

“Yes, mistress,” I answer breathlessly, and her smirk is cruel as her hands slide down my body.

“Then let’s play,” she says before her lips press against mine, and she claims my body and heart once more.