Quicksilver (Fae & Alchemy, #1)

by Callie Hart

I clung to him, panting, already anticipating the surge of heat I would feel the moment he thrust himself inside of me. Wanting it. Craving it so badly that I could have screamed. God-bound. We were God-bound. Mates.

could feel it now—a bright thread of energy drawing us together as he wrapped himself around me. If I wanted it, all I needed to do was reach out and claim it.

Fisher’s shadows rippled over my skin like water. I breathed it in, welcomed it inside me, feeling it become a part of me. He was a part of me. I sensed that in my bones. If I wanted him to be, he would be the axis around which I revolved. I would be his. Two counterparts, independent of one another. Already whole, but together stronger than we could ever be apart. It was my choice. The backs of my hands tingled as I ran my palms over the smooth, strong planes of his chest, and I knew that the ink was back. Each finger prickled with the power of the runes that emerged upon them. The back of my left hand buzzed with warmth, but the right throbbed with energy as I felt rune after rune stacking on top of my skin there. The God Bindings were last to arrive. Fine strands of fire lashed around my wrist, trailing up my arms. More ink followed. It skated over my stomach and caressed my thighs. Columns of it rose up my back, wrapping around my spine. I felt it everywhere.

Please, Fisher. Gods, I want you. His low, rumbling chuckle skimming over the surface of my mind was pure sin. You’ve got me, Little Osha. And I’ve got you.

“Nobody will ever fuck you the way I’m about to fuck you, Saeris Fane. I’m about to introduce you to all seven gods. When you meet them, don’t forget to tell them I’m the one you worship on your knees.”

You want me to worship you? I’ll worship you,

“I thought you were hiding these from me,” I said. “Maybe I was. But I’ll be damned all the way to hell and back if you use that sweet mouth on me and I don’t get to watch.” He gazed at the ink staining my skin, taking it all in. When his eyes met mine again, they were full of fire. “And, anyway. I’m not afraid of them, Little Osha. Are you?”

And there it was. A question I’d been asking myself over and over again. I still didn’t understand the implications of these marks. I was very worried about what they meant for any future Fisher and I had if we chose this. But they were beautiful. A representation of what he was beginning to mean to me.

watched, unable to tear my gaze from him, and an array of new tattoos bloomed like black flowers across his skin. They climbed up the side of his throat. Fresh runes chained his collarbone, interlocking and bold. The design on his neck looked like feathers at first, and—yes, they were feathers. The outstretched wings of a majestic bird, flashing metallic blue and green, fanned around either side of his neck, unique and stunning.

“Gods. That…” I swallowed thickly, trying to catch my breath. “That was…”

“That was just the beginning, Saeris.”

“Didn’t think I’d be done with you that easily, did you?”

What I don’t know is why you have a new tattoo,” I pressed. Drawing me closer, he rested his chin on top of my head and sighed heavily. “All right, fine. I’ll tell you. In the past, one party always got the mating marks first. When the other party accepted the bond, sometimes Marks showed up on their bodies, too. It didn’t happen all of the time. But sometimes…” He trailed off in a hushed voice. I pushed away from him, sitting up too fast. My head spun like a top, but I ignored the pitching room, narrowing my eyes at him. “You did… what?” “I accepted the bond. Earlier. When I was inside you. When my soul was wrapped around yours.” He was so calm. Not a hint of uncertainty or nerves at all. Meanwhile, I felt like I was about to pass out. “You accepted it,” I said.

“No! How could you accept it? I’m—” I shook my head, trying to get my thoughts in order. “I’m human. Aside from all of the things we have to iron out once Everlayne is safe, you’re nearly immortal, and my lifespan is… is…” “Inconvenient,” Fisher said. “You’re right. That part sucks. But…” He frowned, snaking his arm around my waist, and pulled me back down to lie on his chest. Once I was settled, he slowly stroked his fingers through my hair and spoke again. “I’ll be grateful for every second that I can say that I belong to you, Saeris Fane. Eighty years or eighteen hours. It doesn’t matter to me. It’ll still be the highest honor of my life. But don’t—Are you about to have a heart attack? Your pulse is flying.” The bastard laughed, and I nearly burst into tears. “Don’t freak out. Here. Look.”

“Just because I’ve accepted it doesn’t mean you have to. You still have weeks to decide. And if you reject the bond, then it won’t matter. My new wings will disappear, and that’ll be that.”

He’d accepted me as his mate. In spite of all the blockades that stood in our way and all of the very good reasons we shouldn’t be mated… he’d done it. “I’m in love with you, Saeris Fane,” he whispered quietly into my hair. “And I’m already half-mad, anyway. What’s a little complicated thrown into the mix?” “I—” “Please, for the love of the gods, don’t say anything. Just let me have my fantasy. Just for tonight.”

This may seem dramatic now, but it’ll make sense in time, Saeris. Go through the gate. It’ll take you back to Cahlish. Wait there with the others. I’ll send Layne back as soon as I can. Tell Iseabail to sedate her the second she comes through the gate. She’ll be close to transitioning. There won’t be much time. She’ll want to go back through the gate before I close it, so you’ll have to be ready for that. You have to stop her. This will all be for nothing if she jumps back through. Tell Lorreth to live his life. Tell him not to worry about me. I have endless patience and no interest in having martyrs for friends. Tell Renfis that I’m sorry. That he was the standard that I always held myself to, and Yvelia would have been a better place if I was half as good as him. And you, Osha. I release you from your oath. You know how to make the relics now. A selfish part of me wants to beg you to make as many as you can so that my friends and their families can escape Yvelia before this realm falls. But I understand if you need to go. Find Hayden and Elroy. Help your friends. Then go exploring. There are countless realms out there, waiting to be found. Make one of them yours. I’ve never been one to trust in the gods, but I choose to believe that all things come from the same place when life begins. I have hope that they return to the same place when it ends. I’ll be waiting for you there, Saeris Fane. F

sank to my knees and sobbed. The last time I’d cried like this, my mother had been blowing away on the reckoning wind. I’d vowed I’d never care about anyone enough to experience this kind of pain again. But here I was, shattering. I well and truly broke when I saw what rested on the mantlepiece above the fire. Nimerelle. The tarnished black sword sat amidst melted puddles of wax and the jars full of paintbrushes, sunlight flaring in a starburst at its tip. He hadn’t taken it with him. I knew why. If Malcolm killed Fisher and laid his hand on a god sword, there was a chance he might find a way to convince it to channel. If that happened, there were no limits to the destruction he might wreak. And he could still the quicksilver. There would be no escape for me or for any of Fisher’s friends. So Kingfisher had gone to Gillethrye to save Everlayne and everyone else he cared about. And he had gone there alone and unarmed.

“Fisher just loves leaving notes.”

“I’m sensing a little tension in the air,” Carrion quipped. “Have you two fallen out already?” “If by fallen out you mean am I going to kill him, then the answer is yes.”

Ren got to his feet, letting out a long exhale. “I could kiss you, Carrion Swift.” Carrion seemed taken aback by this. And then somewhat interested. After thinking for a second, he said, “I wouldn’t be opposed. But maybe later. First, Saeris has work to do, and I plan on giving her a hand.” “What work?” It was a miracle that I managed to ask the question. I was so full of adrenaline now that the library was spinning. I was definitely going to throw up. Carrion grinned, all teeth and mischief. “I’m coming with you through that portal. I’m gonna help you save your asshole boyfriend. But first, I want one of those fancy swords.”

“Have you heard about the fire at the circus?” I paused for dramatic effect. “It was in tents. Get it? In tents.” Carrion winced. “That was terrible.” “Shut up. It asked for a joke. It didn’t specify that it had to be a good one. I was a metalworker and a thief in Zilvaren, not a comedian.” “I was a smuggler and I’ve still got way better jokes than that.”

“All right. Fine. A husband turns to his wife one day and says, ‘Y’know, I bet you can’t think of something to tell me that will make me both happy and sad at the same time.’ The wife doesn’t even need to think about it. She turns to her husband and says, ‘Your cock is way bigger than your brother’s.’” The quicksilver, which hadn’t made a peep over my joke, started to chuckle. “What’s it doing?” Carrion asked. “It’s laughing, isn’t it?”

Yes, yes. Our friend. Ours. He will name us. Carrion’s eyes rounded out of his head. “I heard that!” “Good.” I flipped the sword and handed it to him. “Then give it a name and let’s go.” The evening was almost here, and the others were waiting for us. Carrion held the sword, turning it this way and that. After much consideration, he said, “It looks like a Simon.” “Simon?”

“Carrion Swift, if you don’t wake up right now, I’m going to tell all of your asshole friends back in the Third that you were a shitty lay.”

Carrion flopped onto his back and fixed me with narrowed eyes. “You wouldn’t… fucking… dare.”

Lorreth answered in a horrified tone. “Release us.” Release us! Release us! Release us! I heard it now, as if the words had been translated in my mind. Hundreds of thousands of people, begging to be released. I couldn’t bear to look at them.

We’re here, Fisher. For what it’s worth, we’re coming. I didn’t expect a reply, but as I entered Harron’s gate, I got one. Saeris? Fisher’s voice was full of panic in my mind. Saeris, do not come here! But it was already too late. Harron’s vortex was ripping me to pieces.

HE WAS the first thing I saw. Always. My heart and my soul knew exactly where to find him.

Madra, with her fair hair bound into a beautiful braid beneath her glittering crown, made a disgruntled sound. “You should have at least let them try, Brother. I was looking forward to seeing the look on their faces when they realized how much trouble they were in.” Brother? But… how could Belikon be her brother? Human. Fae. Vampire. The three regents all adopted similar expressions of satisfaction as they took in our confusion.

“War?” Belikon sneered. “We haven’t been at war, you fool. I’ve simply been feeding my brother’s army.” There was that word again. Brother. I still didn’t fully understand, but some pieces of this puzzle were snapping into place. Belikon had refused to send supplies and food down to Irrín. He’d embargoed silver—the only thing capable of permanently killing Malcolm’s kind—and had refused to send any of it south.

“Remove yourself from me, or you won’t like what happens next.” “Oh, please.” Madra waved away his threat. “I hate to tell you this, but I can do anything to you that I want. Malcolm has always let me play with his toys.” “I play back,” Fisher spat. “It might not be today, but oh, I am coming to find you, Madra. Fear the shadows, bitch. I’m made of them. One night soon, I’ll climb out of one and slit your fucking throat.”

“What a lucky girl I am.” Madra feigned nonchalance, but I could see it, even from here, plain as day. Fisher’s venom had shaken her a little. “And what, pray tell, have I done to deserve such special attention from the likes of you?” “You spayed my mate when she was a fucking child,” he seethed. “For that alone, I’ll make your undying existence an unending agony. An eternity of suffering the likes of which even your evil mind cannot comprehend. You’ll know no peace at my hands. I will destroy your empire and erase your name from the annals of time. When I am done with your legacy, Madra the Undying will never have existed. And you’ll live on at my behest, suffering for all of eternity. And no one will know. And no one will care.”

His words rocked me. The pure, unadulterated hatred in them. I had no idea that it had affected him this badly. When I’d told him about what had been done to me, he’d reacted strangely, yes, but… to provoke a response from him like this? Kingfisher of the Ajun Gate was on his knees in the dirt. He was broken and bleeding, but his promise of retribution was still t...

Tell me,” Malcolm said, spinning on the balls of his feet. “I’ve been dying to know. After a hundred and ten years in that labyrinth, what made you finally leave?” “You bored him to fucking tears and he couldn’t take it anymore,” Carrion sniped.

“I don’t need magic to mess you up, you fuck,” he growled. “This is for me. But mostly, it’s for my parents.”

I’d been haunted by the idea of this moment. Harron had owned me the last time we’d faced each other. I should have died at his hand, and that knowledge had made me fear facing him again. But now that the moment had come… I realized that I was better than him.

Feigning shock, I said, “Wait a minute. I think Death just remembered your name, Harron.” And then I snapped his neck.

Malcolm rocked back on his heels, lips stained red, his chin crinkling in an odd way as he frowned down at Carrion. “You…” he said. Carrion was deathly pale, but he grinned up at Malcolm like a lunatic. “You really should have let me finish introducing myself earlier. It’s rude to interrupt people.” Malcolm let go of him, shoving him away. Miraculously, Carrion managed to stay on his feet. “My name is Carrion Swift. But there was a time when I was known as Carrion Daianthus. Firstborn son to Rurik and Amelia Daianthus.” Malcolm began to shake. A violent convulsion wracked through him, and a thick stream of blood jetted from his mouth. It spattered over the coins at his feet. “You tricked me?” He choked, vomiting up another gush of blood. “You tricked me into drinking Daianthus blood?” “Holy… fucking… gods.” Fisher and Lorreth muttered the curse in unison.

“Yes! But look how much evil exists here. So much pain, and death, and suffering. Isn’t it time for some good? For balance? I…” I trailed off, not knowing how to win this argument. “I love him,” I said. “I can’t bear for him to die.” The Kingfisherrrrr, the whisper buzzed. Yes. Your mate. I stared into the dark, feeling hopeless. “Yes,” I said. “My mate.”

I lifted my hand, and— Oh. My skin was stained black with ink. Runes upon runes upon runes. The God Bindings flared metallic blue around my wrists as if consolidating and becoming more real, somehow. My whole body rushed with heat. I’d said it out loud, hadn’t I? I’d acknowledged that Fisher was my mate.

not lose consciousness, Saeris. If you pass out now, you’re dead. That didn’t sound like my voice. It sounded like Fisher’s. So clear. So loud. So close…

Pointing at the runes on my index and middle fingers, he named them one at a time. “Earth. Air. Fire. Water. Salt. Brimstone. Quicksilver. The full gamut. More power than any Alchemist I’ve ever encountered. You are capable of restoring me to my power and a lot more besides.”

“Speaking of impressive marks, I haven’t seen the likes of this before, either. Such pretty artwork. It seems as though you’ve landed yourself a mate. I wonder who it could be.” “Fuck you,” I spat. “I’ve spent a lot of time with Fisher over the years. He’s quite something to look at, so you’ll believe me when I tell you that I noticed his new marks immediately. But I didn’t need to see ink on skin to know you were his, did I? I scented you on him the second he showed up here, demanding I let his sister go. I scented your body on him.” He forced out the words as if they left a foul taste in his mouth. “But the scent of your blood was much stronger. I couldn’t believe it. That he’d fed from you,”

He chose to stay and suffer. And then you. A pathetic, weak human? His mate? It’s offensive.” “Sorry.” It was scary how rattly my lungs felt when I spoke. “He’s just not into the undead.”

Our Kingfisher? Our Kingfisher? This sick piece of shit couldn’t claim any part of my mate. Fisher was mine. “I’m going to kill you,” I groaned. “It’ll be the last thing I do, but it’ll be worth it.”

The little coin hummed happily in my hand as I held it up for him to see. “What was Belikon’s deal again? Leaves or fishes?” “Don’t!” Malcolm cried. “DON’T!” I flipped the coin. Not high. I wouldn’t give him the chance to grab it out of the air the way he’d done when Belikon had flipped it. The little coin flashed brilliantly as it spun. It didn’t matter which side it landed on anymore. Only that it landed. The ground shook when the shining silver struck the obsidian. There was a moment of stillness, and the ruins of Gillethrye held its breath.

“Only the gods are eternal,” I told him. And I cut off Malcolm’s head.

Could he feel how weak I was right now? I could tell that his shoulder was injured. I could feel his exhaustion. I didn’t understand this connection between us, but it had grown stronger since I’d accepted my marks and acknowledged him as my mate. I knew that he was running. I also knew that he was afraid. Don’t worry, he said. I’m