Immortal Reign(73)

Cleo moistened her dry lips with the tip of her tongue, desperately trying to find her voice. “I assume you’re the one responsible for the restoration here.”

Olivia smiled, then waved her hand. A hundred paces away from Cleo, next to a window etched with a beautiful spiral design, a fallen column she hadn’t noticed until now rose up and mended itself before her very eyes.

“It’s my honor to bring the beauty back to this magnificent building,” Olivia said.

Cleo grimaced at the blatant display of magic. It was a reminder that she had to be very careful about how she addressed the earth goddess. “Very impressive.”

“Thank you,” Olivia said with a smile. “You need to know that we are not your enemies. We want to help you through your transition so that it won’t have to be as traumatic as Taran’s was.”

Taran. Cleo remembered that he’d been in the alleyway, appearing as if out of nowhere.

As if summoned by his name, Taran approached them from Cleo’s right. The web of fine white lines that had appeared on his face during his most recent suffocation spell had disappeared completely, as had all his other lines. His skin was unblemished, apart from the air magic spiral on his palm.

“Taran . . .” Cleo whispered, her mouth dry.

“Yes, I’ve decided to keep that name,” he said to her, “as a tribute to this strong, capable vessel, to show how much I appreciate it.”

Cleo went very still. “So Taran is gone?”

He nodded. “Once the ritual is completed properly, all remaining traces of him will be only a memory.”

“And that will be very soon,” Olivia said firmly.

Cleo’s heart clenched. So that meant Taran wasn’t gone. Olivia wasn’t gone. Not yet, not completely. There was still hope.

Out of the corner of her eye, Cleo saw Kurtis Cirillo emerge from the shadows of the cavernous temple behind her, his arms crossed over his chest.

She spun to face him. “Where’s Magnus?” she demanded.

Kurtis smirked at her. “Let’s just say that he won’t be coming to your rescue any time soon, princess.”

Panic swelled within her, thick enough to choke her. She wanted to launch herself at him, to claw out his hateful eyes. But she forced herself to take a breath.

“Kurtis . . .” Kyan began.

“Yes?”

“Wait outside.”

“But I want to be here,” he replied tightly. “I want to watch the princess lose herself to the water Kindred. You said I could!”

“Wait outside,” Kyan said again. Not a suggestion, a command.

Kurtis’s face blanched, his body stiffened, and he nodded with a jerk of his head. “Yes, of course.”

Her gaze narrowed, Cleo watched the weasel leave the temple.

“Apologies for Kurtis’s rudeness, little queen,” Kyan said evenly. “His presence isn’t necessary, and I know he causes you great anxiety.”

“That’s one way to put it,” she muttered, now watching Kyan very closely.

“How do you feel?” Kyan asked, studying her. “There’s no pain, I hope.”

“You’re very lucky that Kyan is in such a fine mood tonight,” the voice of the water Kindred said inside Cleo’s mind. “You’d be wise not to make him angry.”

Surprisingly good advice, really.

Advice Cleo chose to take. For now.

“No, there’s no pain,” Cleo confirmed.

Kyan nodded. “Good.”

She scanned the temple for any sign of Lyssa, knowing that Kyan had kidnapped her. “Do you think Lucia will come to you? That she’ll help you?”

“I have no doubt of it,” Kyan replied.

Such cool confidence. Was he right? Or was he delusional?

She couldn’t forget that this monster with the face of her best friend had burned villages to the ground and killed thousands, including her beloved nursemaid.

Cleo brushed her hand against the side of her skirt to feel for the aquamarine orb that had been in her pocket, relieved to feel it was still there, and knowing it was a miracle that no one had discovered it while she’d been unconscious.

She needed to use this opportunity to gather information she might be able to use. As much of it as she could.

Cleo swallowed back her fear. “So what happens now?”

“For now, it’s enough that we’re together, the four of us,” Kyan said. He tucked her hair behind her left ear and traced his finger along the blue wisp on her temple. She forced herself not to shove him away from her.

“As close to true freedom as we’ve been as a family,” Olivia added. “Access to my magic already feels stronger.”

“It’s incredible, this mortal form. I can feel everything.” Taran looked down at his hands, grinning. “I like it.”

“I hope you more than like it,” Olivia said. “This will be your vessel for all eternity.”

“Your vessel is perfect,” Taran replied with a nod. “As is mine.”

Cleo noticed as a muscle in Kyan’s cheek twitched.

“Are you unhappy with your vessel?” Cleo asked tightly. “You should know that I love that vessel very much.”

“I know,” Kyan said, his voice tight. “And it’s fine, really. However, it has not been without . . . difficulties. All souls of fire are challenging beings, hard to control. But after my little sorceress properly completes the ritual, all will be well.”