A Shade of Vampire 82 A Circle of Nine - Bella Forrest Page 0,63

beyond the palace,” Petra said.

I looked at Sidyan, though his image was no longer clear. Tears were stinging my eyes. I tried to blink them away, but they rolled down my cheeks, instead. “Sidyan… they burned her body…”

“I know. I’m sorry,” he whispered. His face was close to mine, his breath brushing against my lips. His embrace was ironclad, and I knew he wouldn’t dream of letting me go at this point. I could no longer stand on my own, and I needed his peculiar and deathly warmth.

“She did it to spite Sofia,” I said. “Not even knowing the damage she was inflicting upon Nethissis herself. How are we ever going to bring her back when this is over if her body has been destroyed?”

“I’m not sure,” Sidyan said. “But we have to keep going. We can’t stop now, Lumi.”

“We’ve come too far, yes,” I conceded, lowering my gaze. I could still feel his galaxy eyes on me, though, as if he were peering directly into my soul. There was nothing for me to hide. I was practically an open book. A weeping mess, too.

Sidyan’s hand touched my face, startling me out of my miserable thoughts. His knuckles traced the contour of my cheek as his lips drew up in a warm smile. “We’ll figure something out about Nethissis. Didn’t your friend Ben get a fae body after he died?”

I nodded slowly. “It’s a possibility, I guess.”

“With everything we’re doing here, Death must be able to find a way for Nethissis to come back.”

Looking at Sidyan, I wanted to believe him. Hell, I was desperate to believe him. But my experience and my guarded nature were holding me back. Looking to my left, I watched Petra as she got the rest of the details from Milos. Turning my head to face Sidyan again, I braced myself for the hard truth I knew he was keeping to himself.

“Be honest, Sidyan. What are the odds that Death will bring Nethi back now that she’s dead?” I asked, my voice trembling.

He took a moment to answer. “Slim to none.”

“You were lying to comfort me,” I replied, my tone now flat. I felt vulnerable, and not in a good way. The Word continued its low hum, but it wasn’t giving me anything to hold on to. Not even a sliver of hope. I had to get myself out of this state, and quickly. There was too much at stake.

“Yes. I need you focused,” Sidyan said.

I pulled away, surprised to find I’d regained some strength in my legs. He released my waist but maintained his grip on my hand to keep me concealed. Maya reached out and touched my arm, her lanky fingers gently caressing my skin. The poor thing was trying to offer sympathy, and I would’ve loved nothing more than to hold her.

“You’re a sweetheart,” I whispered to her. I saved a different kind of energy for Sidyan. “You, on the other hand… Don’t lie about such things. Don’t get my hopes up about Nethi if none of your kind are going to deliver. I’m a big girl. I can handle the truth, no matter how tough it might be.”

“Are you here to see the Master, then, milady?” Milos’s voice snapped us both back to the nightmare unraveling nearby.

“I am, Milos. I have important matters to address,” Petra replied.

The Rimian servant was in on the whole Darkling conspiracy. Yet another red flag. How many of them were working for the Darklings? So far, I’d counted the Nalorean nanny who’d killed Acheron, and Milos here. What made them become the Darklings’ allies? Were there gold coins involved? Favors, perhaps? Blackmail?

I wouldn’t get my answer now, but as I’d just said to Sidyan, I wasn’t going to stop here. No, we’d gotten in too deep. We owed ourselves and Death an answer regarding the identity of the Master of Darkness. Sooner or later, we were going to be the Darklings’ downfall, but now I’d also added Danika’s name to my list.

She was at the very top for what she’d done. And I wasn’t the kind who failed to collect on such debts. My hands were already itching, energy gathering and pricking the tips of my fingers. The only thought that calmed me was the fact that I would have to tell Nethissis what happened. How could I break her heart even more?

She didn’t deserve this ordeal.

Seeley

“Are you ready?”

Kelara’s voice tore me out of a single moment of silence where everything and everyone had stood still.