Page 187 of Lady of the Drowned Empire

My stomach growled, and I couldn’t resist any longer. I slipped into the dress and sat down to eat the food Parthenay, the chayatim girl, had left.

I opened my mind, imagining the obsidian walls parting, allowing in any thoughts I could find. I needed to know who else was here. Who was prisoner. And where Meera was, if she was really okay. But I could only hear her faint ramblings. She was far, her mind quiet. But she seemed content. Cleaned up, and eating—just as he said. Her heart was racing with what she had seen. Who she had seen. But it was a far cry from the way her heart had been racing in terror since we’d been taken.

The rattling became more persistent and I closed my eyes, straining my ears. Who was it? Who else was here?

Not Lumerian. I couldn’t hear their mind. Akadim? Or was I simply weakened from being here? Was it possible they’d taken the elixir?

No. That wasn’t it. It was that the prisoner wasn’t human—I was locked out of their mind. There was only one other race of Lumeria who could evade my thoughts—the Afeya.

All at once, the ceiling filled with glittering Valalumir stars. They fell slowly into the water. I turned, seeing hundreds upon hundreds of stars spinning and glowing with light. It was the presence of an aura. It wasn’t Lumerian. Only Afeya could cast their auras out like this.

Be careful. A thought forced itself into my mind. He’ll fuck you and soothe your body with oils and perfume. But if your sister is successful in coming here, you’ll be just as much a prisoner as I am. Even if your bars are invisible.

Mercurial? I asked.

First Messenger of Her Royal Highness, Queen Ishtara of the Star Court, High Lady of the Night Lands.

You fucking bastard. You— My thoughts cut out—something in his powers able to freeze my mind.

Killed your father? He taunted. Forced your sister into a deal? Do not speak on matters you do not yet understand. He may call you Goddess, but you are not yet. Not to me.

And what about him? He imprisoned you—didn’t he! I thought Afeya were more powerful than Lumerians.

He purred in my mind. You thought correctly, my raven-haired lady.

I narrowed my eyes. Then how were you imprisoned?

I was not captured by a Lumerian. But a man testing his God-power. It’s very dangerous to mix your blood with akadim. He will pay a price for this. Moriel should know better.

Great. What the fuck do I do?

Ah, ah, ah. Even while I am imprisoned—I am not one you should ask questions to. You are not beyond a deal with me yet. And I will not be here much longer. His magic grows weak. If you ask me anything again, I will require a bargain.

I would never deal with you.

Mercurial laughed in my mind. No. You never did want to. Do what you wish, my remembered Ereshya. My prison bars are thinning by the hour. The very magic he wants to restore his power will release mine. His window to keep me is fast coming to a close. And by the Gods, and the stars upon my queen’s head, he will pay.

I have no doubt, I thought.

Never forget, I am immortal. And I am by far, the most destructive force in this cave. You would fare much better with me.

No.

I leave you to your choices. As always. But, consider this a favor from an old acquaintance. A piece of advice, if you will. If you do not get out soon, I promise you, he will trap you for eternity.

THE THIRD SCROLL:

THE RED SHARD

CHAPTER THIRTY-SEVEN

LYRIANA

The waxing moon shined above as my feet hit the crunch of snow on Gryphon’s Mount. Rhyan had taken us up the side of the mountain, and we rested on the edge of a cliff. We were still, searching for soturi in silence. Rhyan had bypassed the usual way of reaching the seraphim—coming from his father’s keep. The snow and flatness of the mountain’s base made it impossible to walk or hike up. It could only be climbed, and there were soturi in place to spot anyone who attempted to do so.

But landing where we had—almost halfway to the top, where there was no truly viable entrance—we found ourselves alone.

The cliffs were sharp with jagged edges, uneven and rough. A valley surrounded the craggy, snow-capped mountains, and against the wind and falling snow, gryphons called to each other. Their screeching and growling so much louder now that we were off the ground. Intense gusts of wind threatened to blow me back, all generated by the powerful force of their wings.