A Fey New World (The Godhunter #32) - Amy Sumida Page 0,69

kingdoms.”

“But they will have their own wells, doesn't that make them separate?” I asked.

“They are separated by distance and the Aether,” Cian explained. “Which is why they need their own wells, but they are connected through magic to our realm. They will be anchored in Earth but fed by Faerie. It should work.”

A clamoring came from outside the room, then Morpheus burst in, followed by a flustered fey guard who Cian waved off. Morph was frantic—his wings fluffed and the blue mists swirling in his wide eyes. There were spots of color on his pale cheeks and a leaf stuck in his hair. The leaf was bright green and glossy. Ivy perhaps. No, something else. Something more exotic. And it was that leaf above all else—even the expression on Morpheus' face—that frightened me.

“What happened?” I shot to my feet. “Where's Azrael?”

“Azrael...” Morpheus panted and then gaped at me. “Azrael isn't Azrael anymore.”

Chapter Thirty-Eight

“What?!” I shrieked.

“Explain now!” Arach demanded.

“I caught up with Az on the other side of the fence,” Morpheus continued to breathe like a startled rabbit. “I called out to him and released my invisibility so he could see me. But... but...”

“What happened next?” Odin asked calmly. “Take a breath, Morpheus, and then tell us.”

Morpheus took a breath. His wings lowered and he met my gaze. “I'm so sorry, V.”

“What happened to Azrael!” I lurched forward and grabbed Morpheus by his shirtfront. “Tell me, Morpheus!” I shook him. “You tell me right now!”

“Vervain!” Odin grabbed me and pulled me away from Morpheus.

My talons had burst free and torn Morph's shirt. Not just his shirt; he was bleeding.

I saw the blood and flinched. “Morph, I'm so sorry.”

“It's okay, V,” Morpheus whispered and started to cry. “It's okay.”

“Morpheus, tell us what happened,” Odin urged.

“Az was setting the fox down but the fox was glowing,” Morpheus said. “I don't think you pulled all of the magic out of it. The glow seeped up Azrael's hands. He was already changing by the time I reached him.”

“Changing?” Cian asked. “The fey magic changed Azrael Morningstar?”

Morpheus swiped at his eyes and nodded. “Az fell on the ground and started to convulse. When I went to help him, he shouted at me to stay back. His face... it wasn't his anymore. His eyes were wild. Green. Bright fucking green. And they glowed. His body got bigger. Thicker. And these horns grew out of his head. You know, like on a deer. No, a stag! Antlers! That's what they're called. Yeah... antlers...” Morpheus trailed off, his gaze falling away.

“Morpheus!” I shouted.

“Oh!” Morph jerked his stare back to me. “Sorry. He, uh, he grew antlers and claws. And the symbol on his cheek, Vervain, Azrael's name... it...”

“Yes?” I asked softly.

“It disappeared. Azrael stood up and he was someone else. His hair grew. It went down his back and as it grew these shadows appeared and wrapped around him. So fucking creepy. I called his name and he just stared at me as if he didn't recognize it or me.”

“No,” I whispered. “No, this isn't happening.”

“I grabbed his arm to trace him here,” Morph went on. “I thought maybe a faerie could help him. But then this fucking plant shot out of the fucking ground and bashed me onto my back. Azrael traced away and I didn't know what to do so I came straight here.”

“Az,” I whispered and rushed out of the room.

“Vervain!” Odin called after me.

I started running. I passed faeries whose faces I would never recall, speeding through hallways that became a blur. My mind was focused on one thing—an angelic face with a delicate tattoo on its cheek. A face that might never be the same again. Azrael. His name kept pounding in my head as I reached down the bond between us. There was something there, but I didn't recognize it and it didn't respond to me. I couldn't even sense where Az was. And then I was flying. Others flew behind me, shouting for me to stop, but I didn't look back. I was headed for the tree and the tracing point that would take me back to Russia.

“Vervain!” Arach caught up with me first. “We don't know how to help him. Stop, Vervain!”

“I'll figure it out when I find him,” I snarled.

“Because that will work out well,” Odin said sarcastically as he flew up alongside me. “We need to speak to Cian. Turn around.”

“No! I won't lose him!”

“You're bound by Blood to Heart,” Odin said firmly. “Nothing can take that away, not