Page 20

Oswald

M y mind was spinning with the new information Junie had provided as I thought through all the implications. I’d had my suspicions that the prophecy about us had something to do with these trials, but there was still so much we didn’t know even if her theory was correct.

There was only one way I could test her theory, though.

I’d been keeping my distance from everyone since Junie and her new… friend disappeared (I was not going to think about what she had accidentally told me, because gross), and they had been keeping their distance too. Likely because my scowl promised pain and suffering for anyone who got too close. The only one who had dared come anywhere near me was the other purple Daemon. I figured he and the other one were related since they looked so much alike so, since we were sort of in the same boat. A few Daemons tried to get close, but my new brooding buddy scared them away even more than I did, so let him stick around. He was making himself useful.

A few of the Humans tried pulling me away from edges of the room and into their little circle as both groups had taken up clear territory within the rocky chamber. I just hid behind a stalagmite and tried not to let my fear consume me.

I was significantly more relaxed after Junie had contact me though, and Barney Number Two had definitely noticed. I decided to test out Junie’s theory on him.

‘Hi. I’m Oz,’ I told him, extending my hand for him to shake. He eyed me like I was insane, then my hand like it was about to bite him. Eventually, he copied my motion and slid his hand against mine.

‘Abaddon,’ he replied, giving me his name. It didn’t immediately let me know if he understood my words so much as my actions, however, so I tried again.

‘That other guy, what’s his name?’ I asked, and he jolted back as if I’d tried to slap him in the face.

‘You know the language of the Legion?’ he asked, shock colouring his tone.

‘Nope,’ I said, a grin slowly stretching my cheeks wider. It had worked. ‘But it’s nice to be able to communicate with you. To me, you’re speaking English.’

He gaped at me. ‘How is this possible?’

‘The magic of the Trials, I supposed. It’s in the name, right? The Unity Trials. I guess once we start acting united then little, insignificant things like a language barrier doesn’t mean much.’

‘Insignificant… We’re not even from the same realm,’ he pointed out and I chuckled at his astonishment. It was slightly hysterical, but at the same time it felt good, like a release of the tension.

‘You didn’t answer my question,’ I prompted.

‘What? Oh. Phenex. He’s my little brother.’

‘I’m sure he’s fine,’ I tried to assure him as much as I could with the curse gagging me from being more specific. If I could have told him I knew that for certain I would have.

His amused snort was not the reaction I had expected, however.

‘I’m sure he is. He’s been dreaming about that girl for years now, believe it or not. Fell in love with a figment of his damn imagination. Imagine my shock when he tells me he’s gone and fucking found her.’

I almost choked on my tongue. ‘I’m sorry, what?’

He let out a small noise of agreement. ‘I’m happy for them, don’t get me wrong, but I’m still trying to wrap my head around the fact that Humans are real. And not just Humans.’

I barked out a laugh. ‘Yeah. Tell me about it.’

‘What are you two gossiping about over here?’ the stunning red temptress of a Daemoness that had stood up for Junie asked as she rounded the stalagmite and perched her perky ass against the wall.

Abaddon jerked his head in her direction. ‘Can you understand her too, or is it just me?’

‘I heard her.’

She blinked at me in shock, her long, thick red lashes fluttering seductively with the movement. ‘Well, that’s new. I can understand you, too.’

‘Do you think once you understand one you can understand them all?’ Abaddon asked me.

‘Only one way to find out,’ I said, then moved back to join the others, both Daemons following close behind.

I clapped my hands and whistled sharply to get everyone’s attention and the quiet murmurs of conversation died down immediately as all eyes latched onto me. ‘Who here can understand me?’

When I received nothing but blank stares from the Daemons and confused mutterings from the Humans, I got my answer. I shared a look with the two Daemons I could communicate with, an understanding passing between us.

‘I’ll explain things to my people while you go to yours, yeah?’

‘Indeed,’ Abaddon agreed, though he seemed faraway, lost in his thoughts as he meandered into the throng of his people.

The Daemoness turned to me, eyeing me up and down as she bit her lip in appreciation. I wasn’t about to admit that her finding me attractive was the biggest ego boost of the century since I was sure she got that a lot, but I was definitely mapping out in my head how I could see how far that appreciation went. She seemed to catch onto the direction of my thoughts and stepped into my personal space, her fingers reaching up to trace patterns on my forearm.

‘I’m Qarinah, by the way.’

I cleared my throat so I wouldn’t squeak when I spoke, relieved when my voice came out steady and strong. Manly. ‘Yeah, I got that.’

She hummed, the sound sending all the blood rushing from my brain straight to my cock. ‘You didn’t tell me yours.’

‘Huh?’

She smiled knowingly and looked up at me from beneath half-lidded eyes. ‘Your name.

‘Oh, right. I’m Oz.’

‘Short and sweet.’ Her fingertips brushed teasingly against my hard cock through my pants and she leaned in close until I could feel her warmth breath coasting against my ear. ‘I’m glad it’s the only thing that is.’

Fuck me, if I didn’t get away from this woman I was about to embarrass myself.

‘Right,’ I said, stepping away and clearing my throat again. This time, my voice was deeper, hoarser, full of sexual promise. At least I wasn’t squeaking like a little boy. Small blessings.

I pointed my thumb over my shoulder in the general direction of my own people. ‘I should…’

‘Only if you come find me when you’re done,’ she smirked, her fill red lips tilting up at one corner before her smooth, pink tongue poked out to lick them.

I didn’t bother saying anything as I tried to make it look like I wasn’t running away. I was, in fact, running away. That woman was Dangerous with a capital D.

Any lust fled my body as soon as I saw who I was inadvertently heading right towards, and I almost turned on my heels and fled. Unfortunately, Kendra saw me coming and shot me a flirtatious smile that had once worked wonders on me. Now, however, I just saw the girl that kept talking shit about my sister because she thought we were fucking.

Seriously, the rumours about me and Junie needed to end because, quite frankly, they were sickening and it was really pissing me off now. When they’d first started I’d squashed them immediately, mostly for Thorne’s sake. Now, I was just annoyed at their persistence, and it was petty bitches like Kendra that kept them alive.

‘Ozzie, baby. Come join us,’ she simpered. ‘We’re worried about you.’

‘Don’t call me that,’ I snapped. Junie was the only one allowed to call me that. ‘I’m fine. We need to talk, though.’

She lit up like a damn light bulb and I immediately realised my mistake.

‘Not just you. All of us,’ I corrected, and while she deflated a little it didn’t seem to stick. The fact that I was even talking to her right now was probably reinforcing her delusions, so I extracted myself and used the bodies of the others as they gathered to keep a distance between us.

Sex with Kendra was fantastic, but I’d learned the hard way that good sex did not equate to a decent relationship. I was thankful I’d put a stop to that before it had gotten that far, though I still felt a little guilty I’d never told Junie about it. It was a tricky situation, but ultimately it was the curse that had held my tongue, but not for the typical reasons. She had lost so many friends over the years because of it and I didn’t want to be the reason she lost another one, even if I did think she was a fake bitch. In hindsight I should have just be upfront and honest, but my intentions had been good.

I shook those thoughts from my head when everyone was gathered in a circle around me, eagerly awaiting whatever it was I had to say. I didn’t make them wait any longer and launched into the explanation about the Trials and their purpose, what was needed to communicate with the other races, and how we needed to band together and, wait for it, unite in order to survive the trials.

A few people scoffed, not because they didn’t believe me but because they didn’t trust the others. I didn’t blame them entirely, but I knew our biggest challenge wasn’t going to be sentient trees or underground mazes. It was going to be convincing us all to not only work together but to build trust between us all.

It was hard enough to do that within our own race, let alone with four others. This was not going to be a fun adventure, and I dreaded every moment of it.

I needed Junie back. Her light was what kept my shadows away most days, and without her here now I felt them creeping in, eagerly tearing away any ounce of goodness in my life.

I took solace in the fact that she was close enough for us to communicate through our mind link, though. I had figured out that it was likely a proximity thing, which this most recent interaction had only confirmed for me. Twice now she had been out of range, and I didn’t like it. I just wanted her back where I could keep her safe.

Not that she needed me for that. She was one of the most powerful Witches I’d ever met. I had a feeling she was probably one of the most powerful Witches currently in existence. If that got out, which it would eventually if these trials went the way I thought they would, then she was going to need as many people on her side as possible. Real friends who cared about her as a person, not fake friends like Kendra who would only try to use her for one reason or another. It was another reason I needed to break this curse and soon. I needed to be her brother, and I couldn’t do that with this damn spell binding and gagging me. I enjoyed a good bit of bondage, but not like that.

After a moment of deliberation between members of each group, I stood back and watched as a few of them tentatively met in the middle of the chamber. Soon, more and more of them were introducing themselves and starting the long, slow process of building that connection I knew the Trials were after.

I was proud of Junie for figuring it out and pleased with the progress being made, but it didn’t answer the biggest questions still looming over our heads. First, someone had initiate these trials, but who? And then, most importantly, why?

Abaddon joined me against the wall, kicking a foot up to rest against the rock as we surveyed the results of our announcement. Qarinah was next to take up a spot beside me, earning me a single lifted brow from Abaddon. It shot up higher than mine could go, almost disappearing into his hairline. Impressive.

‘That’s quite an impact you two have made,’ Qarinah commented, her gaze fixed ahead on our tentatively mingling people.

The Shifters finally materialised from where they hid within the tunnel behind us, curious about what was happening between our two races. Their Alpha, the giant snake that I’d caught eyeing up Juniper like a piece of meat he couldn’t wait to consume, was the first to slither from the shadows. I couldn’t figure out if he wanted to fuck her or kill her, but I had the worst feeling that it was both.

I jerked my chin at him and directed my next question to Qarinah since she was the only one who had witnessed what happened there. ‘What’s going on with Nagini over there?’

She frowned at me in confusion. ‘Nagini?’

‘Right. It’s a snake from the Harry Potter series. I keep forgetting you wouldn’t know what that is.’

‘Oh,’ she said when she realised what I was asking. ‘He made fun of Juniper. She got annoyed with it and put him in his place. It was the best thing I’ve seen in a long time, but he’s been pouting about it ever since. I think she threatened his fragile masculinity and now he’s been quietly trying to find a way to build it back up again.’

I sighed in annoyance. Not at Junie, because damn right she should have defended herself, but because of him. He was going to be a problem.

Two glowing yellow eyes found mine from across the room and I found an intelligence there that sent chills down my spine. He was plotting something, I could tell. I just needed to uncover what it was before he hurt my sister, because he wouldn’t survive it and that would put a damper on the Trials’ objective.

But I could tell from that single glance he was going to be a bigger problem than we could afford.