Page 113 of Oath of War
I’d guessed right, judging by her annoyed sniff.
The impossibly beautiful woman walked into the light, tossing back her hair. I could see the family resemblance, but the differences were also glaringly obvious. Alaric, with his cupid bow lips and sarcastic smile, looked like sin personified; Rowena looked like sweet innocence whose touch could ease any sorrow.
‘Or I will skin you alive and throw you to the Void,’ she responded. ‘You have your uses, mage, but don’t overestimate your value.’
The cruel glint in her eye told me she would thoroughly enjoy the experience, but I wasn’t here to talk to Cahyon’s minions.
‘You and your threats. Pathetic, just like your father was.’ I waved my hand dismissively at Rowena and rolled my eyes at the Lich King. ‘How do you tolerate her? Well, I suppose you were made for each other. Anyway, I’ve arrived—so call off the zmij.’
Cahyon tilted his head, his expression unreadable as his piercing stare pinned me in place. Despite myself, I flinchedunder his assessing gaze. Then, with a sharp snap of his fingers, he broke the silence.
‘Seize them.’
Valaram reacted instantly, unsheathing a long dagger while murmuring the incantation for a shield spell. Before the spell fully took form, the heavy thud of approaching golems filled the air. I didn’t fight. I let one of the constructs grab me and didn’t resist when he pulled me towards his master.
‘Annika! What are you doing?’ Valaram shouted as he fought, and I wished I could tell him to cease fighting and follow my example.
‘Take me to the portal,’ I said calmly. ‘If you don’t want me to fight, take me there, or I will ensure your pretty palace becomes ash, and you along with it.’
‘Try it, and I’ll kill your fae,’ Cahyon answered with a cruel smile.
I shrugged. ‘He’s not my fae. Alaric died trying to rescue this bitch,’ I lied, pointing at Rowena. ‘Do you think I’d be here otherwise?’
A cloud of dust blasted past, making me stumble. Valaram was demolishing golems with the skill of a seasoned battle mage. I admired his choice of spells. He didn’t attack directly with magic, instead using elemental spells to smash physical objects over the golems’ heads.
‘Fine, Nivale. I’ll take you to the portal,’ the Lich King said, gesturing to Rowena. ‘Deal with this but keep him alive for now.’
She huffed angrily in response, but I noticed darkness seeping from her fingers, its tendrils reaching for Valaram. The last thing I saw before my captor carried me away was the fae ambassador on his knees, blood flowing from his nose and ears as he stared at Rowena with glassy, unfocused eyes.
I’ll come back for you, Val. I just need to know where the portal is.
I hung limply over the golem’s shoulder as we entered a large chamber. Far away, the distant sound of clashing swords, human screams, and monsters’ roars rose and fell like a wave.
‘Vahin?’ I asked, but didn’t get a reply. All I could sense was an echo of pain through our bond. The sky was ablaze, large, winged shadows illuminating the clouds with devastating bursts of fire high above the palace.
We stopped, and I was dumped unceremoniously in front of a frame constructed from bone and twisted rose vines. Elaborate runes glistened red over each bone.
As I watched, darkness formed within the structure, and a clawed foot passed through it, testing the ground. I gasped in shock when the rest of the psoglav proceeded. The monster fully emerged only to whine, clawing at its throat, and I noticed a red cord wrapped around its neck, digging into its fur.
‘Join the others,’ Cahyon ordered. The monster submitted, stalking into a dark corridor. The Lich King turned towards me in anticipation, as if he was expecting me to be impressed.
When I said nothing, his expression became one of annoyance before he said, ‘You see, Annika? It takes little effort to call the monsters but much more to control them. But as with my golems, I found a way.’
‘Good for you. Do you expect me to clap and cheer? Now, close it before you destroy the rest of the continent. Or maybe that was your plan from the start?’ I replied with a sneer.
Cahyon grasped my throat, squeezing hard, but I stood firm, smirking at his attempt to intimidate me.
‘I planned to take Dagome without needing a war,’ he said. ‘To finally rule a living kingdom. I asked you to come. All you had to do was join me in Katrass and let me Anchor you, and this war would have never happened.’
He brushed my unruly hair from my face with his free hand as he continued, ‘I admit I underestimated you, but I’m older andmuch more cunning than you could ever hope to be. I can feel your pulse flutter under my touch. I can see the way your eyes dart away to see if Valaram has freed himself from Rowenna’s snare.’ He laughed, squeezing my throat harder. ‘Yes, I know who he is. You are afraid, little mage, and I admit, I like it.’
The portal shimmered, a wave of unstable magic flooding the courtyard. I felt its wrongness, but Cahyon didn’t seem to notice. It appeared he didn’t know how dangerous his construct had become—or maybe he just didn’t care.
‘You’re so proud of being older. I guess it was fun living as a bag of bones?’ I asked, feeling the closeness of my Anchor in my soul. Alaric had made it here safely.
The slap that followed my words snapped my head backwards, the hot pain overwhelming my senses. ‘You will love this “bag of bones” when I Anchor you,’ he smirked.
I rolled my eyes. ‘As if ... You will never get anything from me by choice. I will never accept you.’
