Page 15 of Moth & Flame (Gothika & The Blackspire Empire)

HELLA

LATER THAT EVENING

I ’ve spent my life hiding from everyone I know. Born amongst vipers, I never felt safe enough to express anything other than righteous anger or disgust. And now, I’ve been given the gift of Draven Morainu.

I’ve never been much for religion or its zealots, but I will thank Akash every day for uniting me with my soulbound.

Even if he is leading me back into the lair of Lazarus—the infamous underground crime lord who gave me Draven’s name. As it turns out, Lazarus has many allies, including Draven. Little did I know, Lazarus was once a Reaper alongside him—many years before Draven retired.

Dark, busted-out windows observe us like haunted, hollow eyes as I scan the abandoned buildings lining the cobblestoned street. Draven, with me moulded to his back, cuts the engine of his motorbike and steers us to the entrance of the same warehouse I visited only months ago.

“There are only two people in this world I would trust with my life outside of you. Lazarus is one of them.”

Still…

“This place is even creepier at night.”

Draven chuckles. “I brought you for one reason, or else I’d have come alone.”

“Why is that?”

“I want his golems to see you. To know that you belong to me and that you’re a friend of Laz’s.”

A shudder runs through me. Golems.

“But why?”

“They are his eyes. They have a hive mind and are everywhere in this city. Under Laz’s orders, they haunt the same nightclubs as Alister and the other serpents slithering around the underbelly of this city. If they see that you are my soulbound and an ally to Laz, they’ll always keep an eye out for you too. You’re safe, Hella. They’ll be another measure of security. If Alister so much as speaks your name, they’ll know about it.”

My stomach churns even as I steel myself. Draven pats my thigh, signalling me to slide off his bike. He follows, pulling me against his chest. Large hands frame my face as he presses a lingering kiss to my lips.

“Nothing will happen, kitten. Lazarus will lure Alister to me, and then he’ll be too fucking dead to raise a hand against you.”

Draven takes my hand, leading me to the warehouse entrance. My heart leaps into my throat as two golems step out of the shadows–or thin-fucking-air– and open the double doors wide for us.

Shafts of moonlight spill through the cavernous ceiling as we’re led by another golem. They’re increasingly rare beings, supposedly animated not by soul but entirely of magic. My eyes roam across the sprawling interior of the warehouse, bouncing from one golem to the next. Some stand sentry, others unpack strange artifacts, while others weave ancient magic through the air and bring new golems to life.

It would take an inconceivable amount of magic to sustain such a large army of golems. Access and control over that kind of magic hasn’t been possible since before The Exiled founded Gothika a glowing amber orb floats from above.

Behind it stands the notorious crime lord we’ve come to see. With the exception of his gold prosthetic arm, Lazarus is covered head to toe in tattoos. His eyes blaze an unnatural shade of gold—a color that very nearly matches the preternatural shade of his skin and slightly darker hair. His otherworldly beauty is a contrast to the coldness carving his features—until a knowing grin slides across his face to reveal a glittering smile and gilded fangs. His deep voice holds the warmth of the sun as he rounds the table to stand in front of us.

“What a pleasure to see the two of you. Together. ”

I can’t help but grin. “Yes, thank you for all your… assistance.”

Lazarus’ lips twitch with amusement as he extends his gilded synth hand towards us. “My pleasure.”

Draven embraces it with both hands. I’m surprised they don’t embrace in that typical, back-clapping male way. After all, this is one of three people Draven trusts.

I don’t miss the subtle tension in Draven’s muscles as I accept Lazarus’ handshake, nor does Lazarus. Both wearing unreadable expressions, but before any suspicion can grow, Lazarus endows us with another dazzling smile.

“Congratulations, Morainu. I have to admit, I envy you.”

Draven’s arm is a comforting weight over my shoulders. My eyes slide up to see Draven’s reaction, and I’m surprised to see a look of unmistakable sadness. Lazarus flexes his hands at his sides, and I notice his flesh-and-bone hand is covered in a glove made of fine, silvery chainmail.

“I take it you’ve come here to discuss Alister.”

My eyes leap from Lazarus’ hands to his eyes, making my cheeks flush at being caught staring. Lazarus offers me a reassuring smile as Draven replies.

“You’re still in close contact with him?”

Lazarus smirks, leaning against the table with arms folded and ankles loosely crossed. “Unfortunately. The male is a thorn in my side.”

“I need you to set up a meeting with him.”

Lazarus studies my reaction before gradually nodding.

“Consider it done. I just need to tie up a few loose ends… before any unfortunate accident befalls him.”

My anxiety surges. “He’s going to send every sentry in Blackspire looking for me. As will my family when they hear from him?—”

Lazarus gives me a look that tells me he knows Alister better than I do. “No. He won’t.”

“But… How?”

A knowing grin curls a corner of his mouth. “What does Alister value above all else?”

My brows pinch. “Power? Money? Public opinion?—”

Lazarus’s smirk blooms wide as he taps one gloved finger on the tip of his nose. My jaw drops as relief and hope wash over me.

“Thanks to my golems and all of my night clubs’ security footage, I have decades of visual documentation that reveal not only Alister’s methods of conducting business but also depict him in numerous compromising situations.”

My brows leap, and the sympathy that softens Lazarus’ features makes me question just how nefarious this male actually is.

“Look, I don’t know how well you’ve come to know your husband or his family’s way of doing business, but I can assure you, if any of this information were leaked, the Blackspire Empire’s justice system would face collapse. Alister and his family would be hunted down.”

At my slack-jawed expression, Draven smoothes my hair back and presses a kiss to my head, his voice a soothing murmur at my temple.

“See, kitten. Everything’s going to be fine.”

I frown. “Won’t that put you in a compromising situation when he learns you have all this dirt on him?”

“Alister already knows. I will simply remind him and tell him that you are under my and Draven’s protection.”

My eyes dance between them in disbelief. “But won’t he—or his whole family—hunt us down for threatening them?”

A grin saunters across Lazarus’ face, and for the first time since I’ve met him, I get a glimpse of the malice I’ve heard horror stories about glinting in his otherworldly eyes. “They are certainly welcome to try.”

Laz’s eyes slide back to Draven as they seem to have another silent conversation. “Never a better time than the present.”

My stomach knots as I glance between Lazarus and Draven.

“Pardon?”

Draven turns me into his chest, his gaze searches mine, causing unease to swirl in my gut. “Lazarus and I aren’t from here.”

My brows knit together. “Here as in… Dreadmere?”

“Here as in… Gothika.”

My jaw drops. “You’re from another realm?!”

Apprehension bleeds into Draven’s eyes as he nods. “You’re familiar with The Exiled?”

Did I say my jaw dropped? It’s now sailing towards the lowest circle of hell.