Page 3 of The Magic of Eternity
“They’re not yours. They will never be yours. A woman like you should’ve never been allowed to have children,” I spat, the words pure venom on my tongue.
She froze, her body unnaturally still. I leaned my head back against the wall and closed my eyes, still feeling a bit shaky after being sick.
“Where are my men?” I whispered the words, my eyes remaining shut. I couldn’t even look at her. She made me sick.
Laurie sighed dramatically. “Where Asrael wants them to be.”
“I need to see them,” I replied, awkwardly getting myself off the ground.
She smiled. Too widely. Too excited. “And you shall. In two days’ time.”
“What? What do you mean? Are they hurt? Tell me, Laurie!” I screamed, reaching for her. Red was bleeding into my vision as rage overtook my body. Before I could touch her though, she snatched my wrists and squeezed hard enough that I felt the bones grind against one another. My teeth clenched against the flare of discomfort as she leaned in, her face inches from mine.
“You’ll see. In two days. Everyone will see what happens to traitors of the crown.” She dropped one of my arms, tugging me harshly out of the bathroom. My feet stumbled over the cool stone floor, still not accustomed to walking or supporting the weight of my body.
“Stop!” I screeched, as I tripped and caught myself on the back of a chair. “What the fuck is wrong with you?” I ripped my arm from her grip, my breaths coming in jagged pants now. Laurie sneered, and I couldn’t believe this was the woman who had given birth to me.
“You’re what’s wrong with me. You’ve been nothing but an inconvenience to me your entire life!” Her eyes flared with pure hatred, making her beautiful face look hideous. Did she think this was breaking news to me? On some biological level, I’d always wanted her attention, a relationship of some sort. For fuck’s sake, she was my mother. But the day she killed Guppy had been the day that hope died completely. You don’t get to pick who you’re born to, but you can certainly choose who your true family is… and this bitch wasn’t it.
“Well then, by all means, get the fuck out of my life! If I ever see your face again, it’ll be too soon. You’re nothing but a power-hungry cunt with the temperament of a toddler.” I breathed heavily, using both hands to support myself as I leaned over the chair. “You and Asrael deserve each other. Evil pieces of shit...” My body trembled with white-hot fury toward these two people who had been doing everything in their power to destroy my life.
Laurie chuckled, and tsked in her patronizing way. She’d always made me feel like I was beneath her. Not as smart. Not as thin. Not as beautiful. Then I realized something. She wasjealous.A laugh bubbled out of my mouth before I could stop it, and then just kept coming. I dropped into the chair and laughed so hard tears fell.
“What’s so funny?” she snarled.
I wiped my wet eyes and shook my head.Maybe I’ve lost it. I finally lost my damn mind.“You’re jealous of me.” My gaze darted up just in time to see her face. Her eyes widened only for a moment before narrowing. If looks could kill... “I don’t know how Khol ever tolerated you.”
“More like how I ever tolerated him. He likes to pretend he’s not just as bad as I am. Make no mistake, that demon is—and always will be—mine. Az knows. We’re all connected. Khol can fool the best of them; he’s an excellent liar. It’s one of my favorite things about him. So deceptive.” She sighed and pushed a stray strand of hair behind her ear. She was speaking about him in present tense, and my heart twisted with hope.
“Where is he?”
She looked at her nails for a moment, and my stomach clenched as she grinned smugly. “I suspect he’s still in my bed, where I left him. His appetites are just as strong as they were twenty-eight years ago.”
“He’s alive?” I croaked, ignoring her other words. Tears welled in my eyes because I’d seen the way that blade had pierced his body, the way he’d dropped to the floor, not moving. But if he was alive, then my other men, my loves...
“Very much alive. Insatiable, really.”
I glanced up and scoffed. “You’re a liar. I won’t believe a word out of your mouth. Never again. Khol wouldn’t fuck you if you were the last woman on earth.”
Laurie shrugged, like it didn’t bother her one way or another if I believed her. “Suit yourself.” She walked through the room, heading for the door. “Asrael will be by later to see you.” I glared at her, seeing a slow, wicked smirk take over her expression. My stomach sank. She was the queen of low blows and underhanded jabs, so I braced myself for whatever she was about to deliver. “As for me, I have some mages to see. Imagine how surprised I was to see the beautiful Fischer in person again. Talk about a mindfuck.”
I pushed to my feet. “You stay away from him!”
“What’s even more interesting is that he appeared to have been cloned. We want to know how that happened,” she mused, her eyes glittering with excitement.
Appeared.Not appears. Where is Faris?I didn’t want to beg her, but damn it. Not knowing was killing me.
“Laurie. Just tell me... I need to know,” I whispered, clutching my chest.
“I don’t give a shit about what you need. Two days!” She spun, throwing the door open and slamming it behind her hard enough that some of the small glass vials on the nightstand fell over.
A sob broke free and I sank to the floor, my body barely registering the coolness of the stone on my bare legs. I tried to open my mind and search for the consciousnesses of the guys, but there was just a black void. I spoke to them all anyway, hoping for a miracle.
‘Please. If you can hear me, know that I’m alive. The babies are alive. I love you, and I’m going to do whatever I have to do to get you back.’
Endless cold water assaulted my senses.You’re not gonna drown. Fuck, I hated waterboarding. The cloth was ripped off my face as the chair’s front two legs hit the ground. Air whooshed into my lungs greedily, sweet oxygen the only thing I wanted at that moment. Aside from knowing where the hell my woman was.
“Tell us what we want to know, mage,” the interrogator snarled, grabbing my hair and tugging my head back so I was forced to look at him. Thinking about Saige and in turn, my brothers, had a delirious sort of laugh bubbling from my lips. I was the interrogator of our team, and I knew what pissed us off. His dark eyes flashed, and I didn’t have a chance to get a deep breath before the cloth was thrown back over my face and I was once again suspended backward.
