Blood Lands (Savage Lands #5)(22)

“Hey, fairy, someone wants to talk to you.” Scorpion went to the corner, hissing into Ash’s cell.

“For the last time, I won’t give your dick a pep talk. It was a one-time thing,” Ash muttered back through a yawn.

I glanced at Scorpion; eyebrow curved up.

“He’s kidding.” He cleared his throat, his head wagging.

“Don’t worry,” I smirked at Scorpion. “He’s probably jerking off over there to both Kek and Lukas.”

Scorpion sputtered. “Both Lukas and Kek? Seriously? At the same time?”

“Whoa. Who the hell did you hear that from?” Ash was suddenly off the floor and standing at the corner of his cage.

“Wow, you weren’t kidding?” Scorpion snorted, addressing me. “Interesting. And with that demon—she’s fucking terrifying. Call me impressed.”

“Bazdmeg.” Ash sighed. “Brexley’s there, isn’t she?”

“Yeah, or I finally lost my mind.” Scorpion scoffed.

“There is a good possibility of both,” Ash replied.

“Tell the asshole I miss him.”

“Brexley says you’re an asshole.”

“Scorp!” I smacked Scorpion. The sensation was like touching someone through plastic. Real, but not completely yet. “Tell him.”

“I am not going to tell him that. I won’t be your carrier pigeon.” Scorpion huffed, stomping over just a few feet to the other side, hitting the wall connected with Killian.

I could see Ash’s hands sticking out of the bars. Reaching over, I let my hands grasp onto his. Goosebumps covered his skin, his body jolting with a chill.

“Fuck!” He jerked back. “That’s just creepy, Brex.” He chuckled, shaking out his shivers, knowing full well it was me. Out of most people, Ash would feel the connection threading through the atmosphere, the energy tugging at the molecules connecting Scorpion and me. “Many people claim to have sex with ghosts... always been curious. Any takers?” I pinched him with my fingers, making him laugh louder. “Just putting it out there.”

Strolling over to Scorpion, I chuckled to myself. Damn, I missed my boys.

“Hey, your highness? Wake up.” Scorpion whispered toward Kilian’s cell.

Silence was the only response. But I could feel he was awake, feel the brooding melody of his mood.

There had always been a connection to Killian from the day he brought me to his palace. I felt his presence from a distance, could sense him in an abstract way. It was vastly different from my link to my boys, but still substantial. Was it my magic, Aneira’s power running through me, which made me feel his more acutely? He was at the level of a noble, a king if he declared himself to be. A queen would respond to this kind of magic—good or bad, enemy or ally, war or peace. Killian was an equal.

And that kind of magic attracted the same.

“Killian.” I knew he couldn’t hear me, but I wondered if he could sense me too. “Killian, please, we need you. Don’t give up. I can’t do this without you.”

“I am not saying that either,” Scorpion grumbled.

I glared up at him.

He blew out. “We need you, blah, blah, don’t give up.” Scorpion rolled his eyes.

“Well, that was heartfelt.”

“It’s all you’re gettin’.” Scorpion retorted. “Basically, highness, stop moping and help us out here, or your girlfriend is gonna nag me all night long. Drive me out of my skull.”

“What do you want?” Killian’s low, taut voice finally came through the dark. “And who are you talking about? I have no girlfriend.” He spat the word, which sounded odd coming from him. It didn’t fit him at all. Killian did not have girlfriends. It was too insignificant for him. He had lovers, or possibly a mate.

“Black hair, black eyes, magnet for danger, and a real pain in my ass.”

“Mine too!” Ash piped from the cell over.

“Brexley?” Killian sounded like he sat up.

Both Scorpion and Ash burst out laughing.

“That obvious, huh? Didn’t even have to think about it.” Scorpion snickered.

“All of you are dickheads.” I rubbed my neck.

“Why are you asking me about her? Is she all right?” Killian moved to the bars right where Scorpion’s cell and his almost met.

“You all right, PIMA?” Scorpion asked me with a grin.

“PIMA?”

“Pain in my ass.”

“Oh, yeah.” I scowled. “I’m fantastic. Besides being imprisoned, brutalized, starved, beaten, forced to kill my uncle, thrown into the hole for five days, and knowing Warwick is being brutally tortured every single moment and he’s blocking me out. Sure, I’m fucking fabulous.”

“She says she’s horny.”

I couldn’t fight the snorted laugh breaking from my lips.

“What do you mean she says...?” I knew if I could see Killian, his eyebrows would be furrowing in confusion.

“Yeah... well...” Scorpion licked his lip. “She’s here with me now. Not physically, though to me there’s not much difference. I’m not gonna get into it; she can tell you the whole story later. Just let’s jump to the part where you accept the fact she’s here, and we can move on.”