Brimstone (Fae & Alchemy, #2)

by Callie Hart

“My name is Lorreth of the Broken Spires. And I have no master.”

“Saeris. I’m going to let you off because you’re new to all of this, but a vampire can’t lie to its maker. A blue aura comes off you when you try. The stronger the aura, the bigger the lie, and right now, you’re lighting up my office like a torch. But even if you weren’t, I can feel that you’re in pain. A lot of pain. Tell me what’s going on.”

“Hmm. Yes and no. The relationship between maker and made could be compared to that of parent and offspring, I suppose. So, yes,”

It’s my duty to make sure that you understand what it is to be a member of this court. It’s incumbent on me to make sure you’re equipped to survive this place, too.

“Perks of being queen. With all that said, I wanted to speak with you about… well, about Fisher. Your bond with him is unique. My own relationship with him is…” “Complicated?”

You’re God-Bound with Fisher. And right now, you’re bound to me, too. I don’t want to hurt Fisher by having any sort of power over his mate. And I definitely don’t want your rule over this court undermined by continual accusations from the other Lords of Midnight, claiming that you’re my puppet. So, my question to you, Saeris, is this: Would it offend you very badly”—he winced—“if I publicly disavowed you and severed our bond?”

“Presiding over this place is beyond me. I have no experience of ruling over a court and no desire to learn, either. I need someone to cover for me and act on my behalf when I’m in Cahlish. In general, really. I need that to be you.”

I knew that he had saved my life. I knew that he was sad. I knew that I believed him when he said this disavowment was for the best, and honestly, I had hated the idea of sharing such an intimate connection with anyone other than my mate since the second I had woken up. What Taladaius was offering me was a kindness.

“No more maker and made bullshit,” he agreed. “But how about… friends?”

“In that case, you’d better call me Tal.”

“Then tell me, Joshin. You filled me with enough venom to take down three horses… but do you scent any fear on me? Do you think I am afraid to face my demons? I’ve faced them before. I know them all by name. I’ve conquered them and bent them to my will more times than the sun has risen over Yvelia in my lifetime. I’ll face your nightmares if I have to, and I will still be the most frightening thing prowling around in the dark.”

“She is a vampire. Half vampire. But she’s also half Fae. And she did not pry that blade from Fisher’s cold dead hand.” He laughed, shaking his head, as if he couldn’t even believe what he was saying himself. “He gave it to her.”

“No? Explain yourself, then. How do you know my mate? How is it that you live within this court and yet are not a part of it and not bound by its rules?”

My death was taken from me. I’ve since tried to return the ‘gift’ that was given to me a number of times, though I have yet to be successful. I came to Ammontraíeth when I transitioned because there are no living creatures here for me to endanger. Or rather, far fewer warm-blooded folk who might tempt me to give in to my lesser instincts. In answer to your first question, I know your mate”—he heaped emphasis onto the word, as if he still didn’t quite trust that the information Lorreth had given him was true—“because I once considered him family. He trained me to fight. He saved my life more times than I can count.”

“I’m an Alchemist. I’m also God-Bound to Fisher. My hands are covered in runes, and I don’t know what they mean or how to control the magic they channel. My power is erratic, hence the giant hole that Lorreth just dangled you out of. So, yes. My life’s pretty complicated right now. And I’ve also been thrust into this world where everyone wants me dead, and—” I frowned, trying to analyze the vampire’s expression. “What? What is it? Why are you looking at me like that?” “You’re an Alchemist.” “I am.” “The runes are real.” “They are.” “They’re not just tattoos?” “No. Look, is this going somewhere? Because I have a forge to get to.” “When was the last time you slept?” I blinked at the unexpected change in questioning. “I’m sorry?” “Alchemists required a lot of sleep to regulate their power. Their bodies needed rest in order to tap into their magic effectively. You look like you haven’t rested in weeks.”

Foley was the first person we had come across in all of Yvelia who knew anything about the Alchemists and their magic.

“If you do know how to seal these things,” I said, holding up my hands, “providing a little guidance would go a long way toward making up for the fact that you just tried to snap my neck.” The vampire’s expression implied he didn’t really feel bad about what had transpired and didn’t care about making it up to me, either. But he inclined his head, wearing a stiff smile. “Anything for Kingfisher’s mate.”

“Until you learn how to be gentle, I will not teach you how to be violent.”

Her hands had touched it. Her hands had made it. That made me feel… Fuck, I just ached for her. I wanted her here, next to me. I wanted to hold her; the fact that she wasn’t in my arms right now felt like the greatest injustice that had ever been inflicted upon me. There was no breathing my way past it.

“Are you in love with her?” He let his head drop, laughing quietly as he pulled out a chair at the table and sank down heavily in it. Stretching his legs out in front of himself, he rested his hands on his stomach, one on top of the other, and looked up to meet my gaze. “No,” he said simply. And then, immediately, “Yes?” Heat flared up inside me, making my throat close. “It’s not a simple thing, Fisher. She’s… well…” “Spectacular,”

Her fire keeps others warm in the cold dark. It is her strength, not her weakness. Being around her reminds you that you’re alive.”

No, I couldn’t blame the male for seeing what was obvious. I could only pity him that she wasn’t his and be fucking thankful that she was mine.

“Every year that I live, it seems the magnitude of my loss eclipses the last. So yes. I love Saeris Fane, because she’s electric, and fierce, and loyal, and being around her brings the world back into focus. But I’m not in love with her, Fisher. I tried. But my heart was just too full of sorrow to make room for her.”

“So responsive. I love how your body reacts to me, Little Osha. It lets me know that you’re mine.”

“Your heart’s racing, Saeris Fane. Why might that be?”

“The most unique, most beautiful creature in the entire realm, on her knees in front of me, looking up at me like she’s feeling feral and might just like to fuck me? Yes,” he said, “I’d say I’m feeling pretty pleased with myself.”

“I’m not arrogant. I’m fucking proud. I hear how your pulse quickens when you touch my body, and it makes me feel fucking invincible. You can hear my pulse do the same when I touch you, can’t you?” Holy fuck. He was trying to kill me, I swore it. “I—”

“I could spend the rest of eternity right here and die happy,” he rumbled. “I could fuck you and feast on you until the ages turned and the suns all died and burned out in the skies, and I still wouldn’t have had enough of you.”

Thank the gods, I chanted in my head. Thank the fucking gods. Don’t thank them, came Fisher’s low, resonant reply. Thank me. I’m the one who’s about to make you scream.

“You’ve existed in my mother’s drawings for most of my life, but you were never real to me before. I didn’t believe…” His eyes were wide and full of awe. “I had no idea what you would mean to me. I had no idea what I would do to keep you safe. When I close my eyes, you are all I fucking see, Saeris Fane. I could be dead in the ground five thousand years and the frosts could have taken my bones, and still no other male will ever have loved another female the way that I love you.”

I want to stand behind you and watch you on your hands and knees. I wanna see your slickness running down the inside of your thighs, your pretty pink little pussy on show for me, aching for my cock.

“Kill me. Sit on my face and ride my tongue until I fucking die. I can’t take it anymore.”

He’d found subtle ways of rebelling against his master. He’d been a force for good wherever he could. He had saved Foley’s life, and mine. And yet… “Why does Ren hate him so much? Tal?” I asked. “Anytime anyone mentions his name, Ren gets up and leaves the room.” I’d seen it happen more than once.

Everlayne was in love with Taladaius once.

Tal fled the Winter Palace, against his father’s wishes and his king’s command, and he knelt at the feet of Sanasroth’s throne.” “Willingly?” Kingfisher nodded. “But why? If he hated Malcolm and all he stood for, then why would he have done such a thing?” “Why does any male act recklessly, Saer...

I will burn worlds to keep my word to her, old man. There isn’t a single person in this realm or any other that I wouldn’t sacrifice to make sure I don’t let her down. I promised her that I’d bring her brother home. Will you test my resolve in this?”

You are a pretender, the voice accused. My name is Saeris Fane— Your name is ruination, the voice snorted. Blight. Curse worker. You do not deserve to live. I do! There are others more worthy. None of them stand before you now! It

A dark horizon looms. What will you do to prevent it? Anything! You would die? Yes! You would kill? Yes! You would give up that which is most dear to you?

“No. I can’t,” I said. “I won’t sacrifice him.”

He offers safe harbor at the Winter Palace for you, in exchange for a small number of concessions on your end.”

Every single member of the Fae who fought and defended the banks of the Darn at Irrín had pledged to serve the Winter Palace—to serve Belikon—my friends and my mate included. We were so fucked.

My prince of shadows. I had been born into the light, but my salvation had been waiting for me in the dark.

“When I look at you, I feel as though I’m peering into a mirror,” he said quietly. “I can speak into your mind, but it’s still a mystery to me. I feel as if I should

“You think I’m above tickling you?”

“Go on. Do it. I’m not ticklish.”

“Well, that’s ...

“What about you? Are you ...

“I’m afraid I’m not going to answer that question.”

“Because you can’t lie!”

“A warrior never reveals his weaknesses.”