Brimstone (Fae & Alchemy, #2)

by Callie Hart

“It was a gift from the gods.”

“A weapon from one of the dead houses. Older than the halls of this kingdom and theirs combined, and he expects us to believe that the traitor gods gave it to him.”

Referring to Nimerelle.

“That sword could end worlds in the right hands. If it’s what I think it is, it is one of the forgotten blades of our ancestors… and you do not have the right to wield it.” “Is that so?” Khydan answered Crave’s smirk with one of his own. “You should probably go ahead and take it, then.” “Mm. Yes.” Crave nodded enthusiastically. “You’d like that, wouldn’t you?” “I really would.”

“I can scent the magic on that thing,” he said. “It smells like death.”

“I doubt you can imagine the kind of torment you’re about to suffer. If you wanted to survive this place, you should have guarded your mind a little better. Arissan saw what you did to her child. ’Shacry was her only surviving offspring. You desecrated his body and let your king carry off his head. For that alone, your penance will be death. But you killed our father’s emissary, too. You severed his only thread of power in Yvelia. You weakened him—”

“Ereth was a traitor to his people,” Khy said. “His own actions against Yvelia signed his death warrant. But he tried to attack my mate. Of course I killed him. No one will ever harm her while I still draw breath.” Ereth. The Lord of Midnight who had attacked me at the coronation. He’d been a religious leader of sorts. He had told Khydan that he worshipped different gods. Undergods… “Petulant fool,” Githrand scolded. “You spill blood in the defense of your precious mate, but then you bring her here? You’ve condemned her to hell, Khydan Finvarra. You will be dismembered piece by piece. She will watch, and when we’re done with you, we will make her one of our concubines. We will breed from her until it kills her or we grow tired of her. She will know nothing but humiliation and shame in this place. She will never see the sky again—” Shadows and smoke tore out of Khydan—a blast of magic so powerful that, for a moment, glittering darkness stole the light from the flickering torches. It happened fast. When the shadows drew back, a tall, semitranslucent wall stood between us and the crowd of Diaxians who had gathered to watch.

Sorry, Osha. Arissan has always guarded Diaxis. I’ve spent centuries practicing at hiding information behind locked doors in my head. She saw what I wanted her to see. But you? I knew she’d look into your mind. You wouldn’t have been able to hide it from her. There just wasn’t time to prepare you. Khydan’s words were laced with regret.

Prepare me for what? Khydan’s jaw worked. I’ll tell you everything. I promise. As soon as we’re safe, I’ll explain.

“Shadow magic doesn’t belong in your realm. Where did you get this power?” “The same place I got the sword,” Khydan snarled. Tendrils of shadow whipped from his hands. At the same time, shadows spilled from Crave and Githrand, but their magic was nothing compared to Khydan’s. Paler. Weaker, somehow. Less… corporeal. Khydan’s shadows cut through the magic they hurled at him like a blade slicing through water.

Still holding Nimerelle loosely at his side, Khydan stalked forward toward the males. He held the point of the sword over Githrand’s throat. “Release her,” he commanded. “Now.” The pressure pinning me to the floor vanished in an instant. I toppled forward but caught myself, preventing myself from falling onto my face. Khydan was there immediately, helping me to my feet. His hands were in my hair, then, cradling my face, his beautiful eyes full of concern, skipping over my features and searching for injury.

My heart squeezed as he took my right hand in his and pressed my palm against the center of his chest, holding it there for a second. “Do you trust me?” he asked. “Yes. Always. Yes.” And for a split second, he smiled the most heartbreakingly beautiful smile. “I love you, Saeris Fane.” He kissed me hard, and so many unspoken things passed between us as he did. Promises and hope. Oaths and regrets. He tore away from me and was gone. In four long strides, he was towering over the one called Crave, grabbing him by the front of his armor and pulling him up from the ground. “Who… are you?” Crave choked. “Only… half-gods may wield shadows.”

Noting as it may have something to do with Zareth's offer? When Khydan (Kingfisher) visited the god realm a second time.

“I’ve come for a dragon, as is my right. Summon our father. Tell him I’ve come to make a trade.”

WTF. WHAT. WHAT ARE YOU TRADING?!