Page 112 of Lady of the Drowned Empire

I held my breath, looking around the cell and hall, which remained empty.

A clap of thunder burst against the walls, so loud I cowered in Rhyan’s arms.

He pulled me up at once as shadows swept through the cell. Complete and utter darkness surrounded us. Seconds passed, but my eyes couldn’t adjust to the light. I couldn’t see even a hint of the shape of Rhyan or the bars or anything.

But I felt it. Mercurial.

“It’s him,” I said. “He’s responding to your call.”

All at once, the cell filled with small glittering Valalumir stars. They fell slowly from the ceiling to the ground, each one spinning the way Mercurial had spun mine in his palm.

“It’s his aura,” Rhyan said, eyes moving slowly around the cell. “He heard us.”

“But he’s not here.” I reached out a hand. “Mercurial?” I asked, feeling his presence, his energy imbued in every star. My chest heated, and a faint glow emerged from behind my tunic. It wasn’t painful, but there was something forceful in it—something that made me positive it was Mercurial doing this, affecting me.

The stars vanished, and the light of the torches and the moon returned.

I turned on my heels, checking that every star was gone. “I think he really might be in trouble.”

“Then he can’t help us. I’m ready to do whatever it takes to get your sisters back. But I don’t think we should just be following some stranger’s orders like this. We need to tell Aemon at least,” Rhyan said. “Have him send his soturi to this location immediately.”

“The note said come alone.”

Rhyan folded his arms across his chest, the veins in his forearms protruding. “Lyr, we don’t know who this is or if this is someone who will keep their word.”

“So, your solution is to alert the Ready? And then what? Aemon tries to collect the pieces? That’s if he even believes me or takes this note seriously. Plus, you know your father isn’t going to admit to Aemon he has the key. Or that such a thing even exists. And if by some miracle he does, do you know how long it would take to negotiate this exchange between our countries? Think about it. Why does your father want me? Why else did he speak to my mother of marriage when I was just a baby? He knows I can open the seraphim and offer him one of the shards of the Valalumir. Imperator Kormac wants it—that’s why he’s forcing me into an engagement with Viktor. I was third from the Seat. I should never have been on anyone’s radar. I was a spare’s spare, not a prize for Imperators. Everyone is after this. And after me because I am Asherah. If we tell someone…we’ll get nowhere. And I’ll lose my sisters.”

“But the only way to even open the seraphim, Lyr—if they’re telling the truth—is to make a deal with my father, trade with him for the key.”

We stared at each other, both knowing what that trade meant: Rhyan.

His chest heaved, his mouth opened in protest.

I shook my head fiercely. “You know I’d never do anything that hurts you. Especially not with him. Maybe I can offer him something else.”

Rhyan’s eyes narrowed. “Like what? What offer do you think he’ll take, Lyr? I’m not going to let you sacrifice yourself.”

“Rhyan, you don’t get to decide what I’m willing to lose. I have to try. I need to get my sisters back.”

“No.” His aura darkened, as he took a step forward. “You’re not doing that. I don’t care. Lyr, you’re not making a deal with my father. I swore to protect you, especially from him.”

“But I—”

“NO!” Rhyan’s knees bent, his hands running through his hair, before he sprung up, towering over me. “No! That’s final.”

“Rhyan! It’s my only choice right now. Please.” My voice broke. “I lost Jules, my father, my friends. I can’t…I can’t lose them, too.”

He grabbed my shoulders. “You’re not going to.”

“Then get me out of here. Take me to him. Let’s start. Let’s figure this out.”

“If you make a deal with my father,” he said, voice low, “he will twist it. He will hurt you. He’ll take you for all you are and more.”

“You think I don’t know that? You think Ka Kormac isn’t already trying to do the same? I know, but I have no other choice at this point. I’m willing to risk it.”

His aura exploded. “You’re willing to risk it?” The room darkened. His accent was so heavy with anger, he was hard to understand. “I’m not willing to risk you. You don’t know him, Lyr, you don’t know what he’s capable of. He’ll torture you.”

“I’ve made deals with Imperators before.”