Anthem of Ashes: Book 9 in the Spellsinger Series Read online

  Yes; I would have been happy with just Gage, but I knew I was even happier as I was.

  You're damn right, you are! RS exclaimed in my head. I made all of this possible. You're welcome. And by the way; that was fucking hot last night. Or hot fucking, rather. When are we gonna do anal again? Oh! You could ride one of them and have another take your ass. Doesn't that sound fun? Let's do it right now!

  Sure. And it's so romantic when you put it like that,” I said dryly in my mind.

  Can you be anymore crass? Kyanite groaned. What she did last night was a triumph over an evil done to her. She took something ugly and made it beautiful.

  Yep. Ass-fuckin' has never been so damn beautiful or so smoking hot! RS hooted. I wish I had an ass so Gage could fuck it. Oh, that fine Griffin and his sweet talk and his thick cock and his talented tongue and his—

  Okay, enough of that! You're going to distract me so badly that I'll fall off the bridge.

  It's okay; Gage will catch you; hopefully on his dick.

  Cease! Kyanite shouted. I will not stand for you disrespecting Elaria like that.

  What's disrespectful about encouraging her to enjoy herself? RS verbally pouted. I'm approving, not disapproving. unlike a certain blue stone that shall remain nameless... Kyanite!

  Please just stop, I groaned.

  Miracle of miracles; they both went quiet.

  Gage and I made it to the balcony of my tower without me falling over the railing, and I started to head inside. The living room was empty, but I could see my other men sitting at the kitchen table, eating breakfast. Gage took my hand and pulled me back against his chest.

  “Before we go in, I just want you to know that we don't have to tell the others about what we did or why we did it. If you want to include them, I'll support you, but if you want to keep this a secret, I understand.”

  “Thank you.” I kissed him gently. “But I don't want to keep anything from them, especially not after that talk we had yesterday. I'll tell them now.”

  “Okay.” He grinned. “Good. Then maybe we can try that again with others.”

  “My possessive griffin wanting to share his mate,” I teased. “Can you believe you've come this far?”

  “I believe your love is strong enough to overcome anything; be it the possessive nature of a griffin or the horrors in your own head. You know that I'm in awe of you, right? I think part of the reason that I have this need to dominate you sexually is that mentally, I'm at your feet. I worship you; have from the start. Thank you for letting me take control; without it, I don't think I could keep my pride.”

  “Gage,” I whispered as I laid my palm on his cheek, “I'm just as much in awe of you. I would humble myself in any way just to make you happy.”

  Gage's stunning smile blossomed over his face as he scooped me up and kissed me passionately. Love infused my entire being, shining back and forth between us, and I felt RS soaking it up. This was her payment; her fuel. She needed this to make us powerful and keep us alive. I gave it freely.

  “More than tribe and sky,” he whispered. “That's how much I love you.”

  “More than music and magic,” I shot back. “Remember that when you find yourself at my feet again.”

  “I will,” he vowed. “I'll never forget it.”

  We headed inside, to the dining room, and after I greeted my men, I made my confession; about Lucifer and about what Gage and I had done to get past it. The men sat quietly processing, some of them silently stewing, while I asked them not to hold it against Lucifer. The last thing I wanted was to cause Luci more grief after he'd been so sweet to me recently. Yes; I knew he was romancing me, but the way he did it made me respect him even more. I still didn't want to be with him, but, if possible, I wanted to keep him as a friend.

  The men finally gave me their promise to not hurt Lucifer for something he'd done while the Devil had still been in charge. They knew that Lucifer had touched me intimately so this wasn't a huge surprise for them, they just hadn't known every detail. I suppose I'd been embarrassed. The act that Gage and I had done together was one that I'd always viewed as unsavory. Something dirty. That opinion had darkened even further with Lucifer's unwanted touch. But now, I could see it as just another path to pleasure. There is nothing shameful about a body; it functions as it is meant to function and if pleasure can be found through its use, then why not experience it? I was done being oppressed by my fears or opinions based on theory instead of fact. From now on, if my lovers wanted to try something, I'd give it a chance before saying no.

  “So, when do we get to partake in what you gave the Griffin?” Declan, unsurprisingly, was the first to come out and boldly ask for it.

  I laughed and shared a knowing look with Gage. “Whenever you like, honey.”

  “Well, I suppose that makes it easier to forgive that feathered freak,” Torin grumbled. “I've been wanting to try that with you ever since you first sang to me.”

  “When I tried to kill you, you mean?” I asked dryly.

  “Tried to kill me in the sexiest way I've ever seen,” Torin amended. “And you shook your ass at me as if it was your greatest weapon.”

  “She does have an amazing ass,” Banning agreed.

  The other men added their eager opinions while I rolled my eyes.

  “Should I just strip now and bend over the table so you can each have a go?” I huffed.

  “Would you be up for that?” Declan waggled his brows at me.

  “Her Majesty is needed to see to her kingdom today,” Sara announced primly as she strode into the room. “You've been running around, trying to save everyone else while you've neglected your people, Queen Elaria.”

  I flinched, hoping Sara hadn't heard too much. It was one thing to be open with my lovers and another to tell Sara about it. She would tease me mercilessly.

  “This would have been the perfect time to pursue Osamu, except for the fact that the woman who knows where to find him is currently in a mad scientist's cage,” I said wearily. “I suppose I should use the opportunity to handle kingdom business instead.”

  “Don't worry about Shava and Vivian,” Darcraxis comforted me. “We're going to save them. That's if they don't save themselves first; those women are both powerful beneathers.”

  “True,” I whispered. “Okay, Sara; I'm coming.” I got up to follow her out of the room.

  “Look at that!” Sara exclaimed smugly. “I got you to come, and I didn't even have to stick something up your ass.”

  I groaned as the men chortled.

  Chapter Forty-One

  Darcraxis and I were in a meeting with William, our steward, after sitting through a grueling session of hearing petitions from Kyanite residents. Darc handled it all with elegant poise and enviable wisdom. By the end, I was feeling damn grateful for having him as King of Kyanite to help me with all of this. Grateful and bored. As William droned on, I wondered if all royals went through this or if it was some kind of extended hazing ritual.

  Declan and Torin had gone home to conduct their own kingdom meetings while Banning and Slate had returned to their businesses. Only Gage had remained in Kyanite with us, but he was outside, training with my knights, instead of sitting beside me supportively. Not that I blamed him; I'd rather be crossing swords with my knights in the hot sun than words with William in a comfortable chair. After the first hour, the chair had ceased to be comfortable. I wasn't sure, but I had a sneaking suspicion that my brain was swelling from the abuse.

  Be a queen, it'll be great; you get a castle and power and your own army, I grumbled inside my head.

  We can hear you whining, RS said snidely.

  I know; that's why I'm doing it. I have to listen to you two arguing all the time, the least you can do is listen to me whine.

  My love, these mundanities are necessary to keep your kingdom strong and able to support you, Kyanite chided.

  In other words; grow a backbone and stop bitching, RS added. Oh, boo-hoo; you have to sit still and listen to people talk.
Oh, no! That's basically all I do all day long and you don't hear me complaining.

  You complain all the time. I don't know why I even bothered to argue with her.

  My point is; it could be worse, she muttered. You could be in that cell still or on fire or Faenestra.

  Valid, I muttered.

  My contact charm chimed, and I jerked upright eagerly. “I'm so sorry, William, but I have to take this.”

  “Of course, Your Majesty.” William bowed his head respectfully.

  I slid the charm into my ear and answered.

  “Elaria,” Odin's voice came through, “we found Vivian.”

  “Thank goodness,” I whispered; relieved both to escape William's clutches and to help Vivian escape Dr. Daniels. “Where should we meet you?”

  “We'll come to you,” he said. “Are you in Kyanite?”

  “Yeah, still here. See you soon.”

  As soon as my call to Odin disconnected, I contacted my absent men, letting them know what was happening. Then I called Cerberus. The chiming in my ear echoed outside the door of our meeting room. I swiveled toward the sound as Cerberus walked in.

  “You rang?” Cer asked in a Lurch imitation.

  “Disconnect,” I said absently to my contact charm before I greeted my bestie. “You have impeccable timing, my friend.”

  “I know.” He brushed invisible lint off his shirt.

  “Odin just called,” Darc explained. “They've found Vivian.”

  “Viv but not Shava?” Cer asked.

  “No,” Odin confirmed as he strode in with Glinda and three other witches. “Our personal connection to Vivian made it easier to craft a spell to find her. We figured that we could interrogate one of Vivian's guards, if not Daniels himself, and then go after Shava.”

  “No need.” Cer grinned. “I found Dr. Costa. Conveniently, he was with that guy, Leo. They gave up Shava's location and Vivian's.”

  “What did you do with them when you were done?” Odin asked.

  “Let's just say that drinking Phoenix juice didn't make them immortal.” Cer grinned maliciously.

  “Good; that's two names off my list,” Odin growled. “We'd best go after Shava first.” He sent Glinda an apologetic look. “I know you want to save Viv, but Shava's in more danger.”

  “I know, Odin, and I agree.” Glinda laid a supportive hand on his shoulder. “Cerberus, where do we find Shava?”

  “Daniels has her in a secluded research facility in the Alaskan wilderness.” Cer pulled out a folded photograph and set it on the meeting table.

  “Alaska?” I asked as I looked over the photo. “Why?”

  “Remote.” Cer shrugged. “Gets fucking cold, and Shava's fire-based.”

  “It's not all that cold now, and Shava wouldn't be bothered by it anyway; that's the perk of having Fire magic,” Glinda said in her teacher tone. “But it is remote. I'll give you that.”

  “The why doesn't matter, only that we know the where,” Torin said as he swept into the room with the rest of my men. “Let's go get her.”

  Everyone got a good look at the photo and memorized the coordinates Cerberus provided, just in case, and then we traveled through the Veil to Alaska. Glinda was right; it wasn't terribly cold. Possibly low sixties, which I assumed was damn balmy for the state, but I really have no idea about Alaskan weather patterns; it's not a place I visit a lot. Although, after we arrived, and I'd taken a good look around, I was thinking that would change.

  Sharp evergreens stabbed the sky around Daniels' compound, creating a jagged border below a swath of indigo mountains softened by scattered snow. The air was some of the cleanest I'd breathed outside of Tír na nÓg; a crisp nothingness with the hint of pine. Massive birds swooped above, crying to each other, and I suddenly had the urge to sing “America the Beautiful.” The land held the kind of pure grandeur that made humbled shivers roll out in waves from my chest. The barbwire-topped fence that outlined the research facility didn't hurt the view too badly, the twisted wire melding into the majestic background, but that monstrous cement building was an eyesore. Maybe I should take care of that.

  The security team succumbed to our attack within moments, most of them turning tail and running into the wilderness. Working with—and fighting against—Beneathers made me forget how fragile humans are. Even trained soldiers, equipped with the best weapons that money could buy, didn't stand a chance against magic. We strode into the building, the Witches and Shining One Kings taking point while the rest of us brought up the rear. We were able to subdue most of the employees without injuring them too badly. A few members of the security team did put up a fight and were dealt with more aggressively, but there were very few fatalities. At least, very few that were our fault.

  We cleared the building—from the single ground floor to its subterranean levels—and kept a few scientists awake to answer our questions. It was a good thing too because the two cells we found were both empty and Dr. Daniels was absent as well. I still didn't know if he had survived my inferno, but I was about to find out.

  The three scientists we'd kept cognizant were lined up against a wall, sitting on office chairs with wheels. They stared at us with a mixture of fear and fascination. Damn scientists; their curiosity never fades. But I suppose those are the sort of people who make great advances and discoveries; the ones who go poking at things that the rest of us know better than to poke. Such as Supernaturals.

  I let Cerberus handle the interrogations because it's kind of his thing; he's good at intimidation. He stepped in front of the scientists—two men and one woman—and crossed his beefy arms. One of the men swallowed audibly.

  “Where is Dr. Daniels?” Cerberus fired his first question.

  The scientists traded wide-eyed stares before the woman answered for them, “He was here yesterday, but he didn't stay long. He was on his way to another facility.”

  “The one in Washington?” Odin demanded.

  The woman nodded vigorously.

  “That's where Vivian is being held,” Odin said to me.

  “I knew that bastard hadn't died,” I growled. “The bad guys always survive. You gotta run them over, again and again, to be sure.”

  “The Fire magic he stole probably saved him,” Glinda pointed out with a bit more reason and a lot less movie nonsense.

  “Where's Shava?” Cerberus lowered his head to snarl at the scientists.

  “I don't know who that is,” the woman stammered.

  “Gorgeous redhead. Probably kept in a cage. Makes fire with her bare hands,” Cer clarified. “Where is she?”

  All three scientists paled.

  “Fuck!” I shouted and rushed forward to grab the woman by the front of her lab coat. “He killed her, didn't he?”

  She nodded again; eyes wide with terror and all curiosity quenched. I shoved her back into her seat with a roared curse.

  “You wanna do this?” Cer snapped at me.

  “Sorry,” I muttered as my stomach clenched with regret.

  It was all I could do to not throw-up. While I had been in Gage's arms, screaming in pleasure, my teacher and friend had been screaming as well; as she was murdered.

  “Where are the ashes?” Cerberus demanded. “And don't fucking tell me you don't know what I'm talking about.”

  “I'll show you where they are,” one of the men offered. “Just leave Ellen alone.”

  “We're not here for you,” Cerberus said coldly. “And we don't give a fuck if you remember our faces. We're supernaturals; the Police don't worry us. So, believe me when I say that if you cooperate, you will live. Okay?”

  “Okay,” the man murmured.

  “Fuck with us, though,” Cerberus added, “and I'll tear you to pieces. Little tiny ones that I'll munch on for lunch.”

  The woman fainted.

  Cerberus pulled the man to his feet and shoved him toward the door. “Get going then.” He looked at the rest of us. “I'll stay with these two. Go get the ashes.”

  We marched after the stumbli
ng scientist; down the hallway and into one of the numerous labs. He hurried up to a steel door with a number pad set into the wall beside it and punched in the code. The door made a click like a cocked gun. Torin grabbed the scientist and pulled him aside just before Odin yanked the door open. A halogen flickered to life within and a steel room echoed the buzzing bulb. Large enough to fit two men, only one shelf was utilized. Sixteen steel canisters sat on it; matching their environment. Odin started snatching them up and passing them back to us.

  I took one and started to open it, but Glinda stayed my hand.

  “Do you really want to cart ten phoenix babies through the Veil?” She asked me. “Because as soon as we open these, the Phoenixes will likely—hopefully—be reborn.”