Page 69

CHAPTER SIXTY-NINE

C assandra hefted the hammer into the air, grinning at the male who’d turned it over to her.

And though she hated Aedelmar for the cruelty he’d enforced here in Tartarus—she would never, ever , forgive him for how he’d treated the humans and the half-breeds—a part of her understood why he’d become such a monster. The loss of his wife, his people, his way of life… It was enough to drive a male past the brink of sanity.

She glanced over her shoulder at Tristan, those visions from the pool swimming behind her eyes.

Yes, she could understand it.

Silas shuffled over. “Hate to be the bearer of annoying news, but one of you must die by the other’s hand. Or else ownership of the hammer will not transfer.”

The hall tensed, and a flurry of sounds erupted: the hiss of unsheathed weapons, the pop of newly exposed claws, rumbling growls and snarls.

The Koenig grunted, then signed to Silas, who through a mix of intelligent guesses and pantomiming was able to interpret for him.

Silas addressed the hall, “He says she is the Koenigin now. Resurrected by divine force. He will die by her hand.”

Cassandra passed the hammer to Tristan. “Careful with that, Birdman,” she winked, lightning writhing up her fingertips.

Aedelmar made another series of hand gestures.

“I think…” Silas began, “he’s asking about his Brethren. About what you intend to do with them.”

Cassandra flicked her eyes toward the blond-haired male with the brown wings who’d thrown her into the moat. She had no desire to give him any kind of chance. She thought about Jonas, who’d taken advantage of his power over Mireille to use her for his own sick amusement. He certainly hadn’t deserved more than the savage death Ronin had already delivered.

Could any of the Brethren be worthy of forgiveness?

There was only one person Cassandra trusted to answer that question.

“Their fates will be decided by Mireille Valois-Fortin,” she pronounced, jutting her chin toward the she-wolf, who was still propped up by Ronin. Mireille offered the Brethren nothing but stone-cold indifference. Many trembled. “When she’s ready.”

Cassandra glanced up at Aedelmar. His eyes were closed, and his face was soft. Resigned.

Cassandra pointed the tip of a crackling finger at his left breast.

His eyes snapped open and he wrapped his hand around her wrist, his eyes saying what he no longer could.

Do it. Mercy. Please.

Cassandra gripped his shoulder for leverage, and just as she was about to unleash a bolt, a shuddering boom rattled the castle walls.

Followed by a bellowing roar.

Cael and Signys had arrived.

Cael was sitting astride a dragon.

A fucking dragon .

The only dragon in all of Ethyrios.

And though Tristan knew they were coming, it was still a shock to see the creature in the flesh.

Cael’s ash-brown waves were tousled, his cheeks red and blotchy. He was bundled into a charcoal wool cloak, his sole wing rustling behind him.

From the exhilaration on Cael’s face, Tristan knew his friend had left that wing out for the entire flight. Had relished the feel of the rushing wind and misting clouds. Sensations he’d thought he’d lost forever.

But there was something dark at the edges of Cael’s expression. Something devastated.

Tristan’s stomach dropped.

Where was Xenia? No way would she have let Cael leave her behind to free Cassandra.

He tried not to jump to conclusions, distracted himself by surveying Signys.

Her iridescent white scales glowed, beacons against the black stone castle. Her long neck ended in a massive horned head housing reptilian rainbow eyes and a mouth full of sharp, curved teeth. Tiny puffs of smoke curled out with each breath, a giant beastly bellows.

Two enormous wings hugged her back, though she draped one down to allow Cael to dismount. Before he did, he brushed a hand along her neck, and she chirped affectionately.

Cassandra, Tristan, and Aedelmar stood at the front of the crowd who’d amassed outside the castle to welcome their rescuers. Mireille, Ronin, and Silas gaped behind them. Tiny flames flickered at Mireille’s fingertips. Testing out her magic after centuries without it.

Cael landed in the gravel and crunched toward the group, his eyes widening as he beheld Cassandra’s wings. “Uh, wow.” He swiveled toward Tristan, cocking an eyebrow. “Did you do that?”

Tristan glowed with pride, rustling his feathers. “We’ll tell you about it later. Have you come alone?”

“The others are up at the intake tower.”

Ronin’s eye narrowed as he addressed Cael. “The intake tower is miles away through those black mists. Are you gonna give us a ride on your new pet?”

“Nice to see you, too, Matakos,” Cael smirked, shaking his head. “The mists are gone. They dissolved as soon as the wards fell.”

“The souls were freed,” Mireille said reverently.

“And the intake tower is just beyond the hill across the moat.” Cael nodded backward.

Cassandra stepped in front of the prisoners and called out in a commanding tone that heated Tristan’s blood, “You’re free to leave Tartarus. Free to return to the continent and take your chances with Eamon Erabis. But if you seek a different path, consider joining the Teles Chrysos.”

“She’s right,” Tristan added. “Join us willingly, and you’ll be given a chance at vengeance against my brother and the Empire who locked you away.”

“What about us?” One of the Brethren shouted. Heads swiveled toward Mireille, seeking permission from their new master.

She raised a hand to her face, flames licking between her fingers. “I haven’t decided yet. You’ll be locked up by the Teles Chrysos until I do.” She turned to Tristan. “Got any kennels in your rebel village?”

“We’ll make some,” Tristan said with a razor-sharp grin.

Aedelmar had fallen to his knees before Signys, sorrow and worship etched onto his face.

Cassandra strode over with Silas, and after a bit of back and forth, Silas relayed Aedelmar’s final request. Shock widened her features, and Aedelmar grabbed her wrist, mouthing please .

Cassandra nodded, and Aedelmar nearly sagged with relief, but did not rise from where he knelt.

Cassandra returned to Tristan. “He says he wants the dragon to end him. It’s the most honorable way for the Cynn Drakan to die. As long as I give the command, he will die by my hand and ownership of the hammer will transfer.”

Tristan shrugged. “No reason to deny him.”

Cassandra turned to Cael, who threw his arms around her and dipped his head against her neck, his shoulders shuddering violently.

Tristan had a very bad feeling.

Cassandra pulled back, scanning Cael’s face with furrowed brows, but there were too many eyes upon them to discuss it. Plus, there was a centuries-old wingless warrior turned king of a warded prison turned loser of an executioner’s appeal to deal with.

“Aedelmar wants to be ended by the dragon,” she said. “Can you make that happen?”

Cael nodded stiffly, then walked back to Signys, who regarded Aedelmar with a slight tilt of her head. As if she recognized him.

Aedelmar closed his eyes, a tear tracking down his scarred cheek.

The ground shuddered beneath Tristan’s feet as Signys crept forward until she was directly above Aedelmar. He lifted a palm, and she nuzzled it with her nose, her lids sliding closed.

Cael whispered a word to the dragon, too faintly for Tristan to hear, and Signys roared a grief-laden bellow to the sky.

Aedelmar signed to Silas, then opened his arms wide.

“What did he say?” Cassandra asked.

“To…Priya? Who’s that?”

Aedelmar opened his arms wide, then tipped his head back and closed his eyes, a faint smile curving his lips.

“His peace,” Cassandra answered.

Signys’s gigantic ribs pushed outward, and when she opened her maw, a column of flame poured out over Aedelmar.

The heart gem within the hammer, still clasped in Tristan’s fist, pulsed. Faintly at first, then more intensely with each wave of Signys’s fire.

The dragon closed her mouth, dissolving her fire, then turned her muzzle toward Cael. Seeking comfort.

When the smoke cleared, all that remained of Aedelmar Burkhardt was a smoldering pile of bones.

The gem pulsed once more, and a burst of red erupted from its center. The glowing light bathed Cassandra, then sparkled up her limbs and out across her feathers. Binding her to the hammer’s magic.

The courtyard was grave silent, giving the Brethren a moment to say farewell to their erstwhile king.

And now that her ceremonial duties were over, Cassandra rushed over to Cael and cupped his face in her palms.

“Where’s Xenia?”