“Nektas and the other draken will—”
“I don’t care what Nektas and the other draken do,” I cut her off.
“You should. Because that damn bastard out there isn’t burning the woods for the fun of it.” Another boom shook us. I half-expected the chandelier to come crashing down from the ceiling. “You hear that? That’s not trees exploding. That’s the ground erupting. You know what’s under that ground, right?”
My body flashed cold. “The entombed gods.”
Orphine nodded. “That draken is burning straight through the soil, the chambers, and the damn chains entombing them. If he isn’t stopped, the entire Shadowlands will be swamped by hundreds of starved, pissed-off fallen gods.”
I didn’t have to think hard to remember the ravenous gods clawing their way from the ground. That had only been a few. Hundreds? “Then we really need to help.”
“You can help by staying inside the palace, where it’s currently safe.”
“I know we don’t know each other at all, but I am not the type of person who stands back and hides when I can fight.”
“I really don’t care what type of person you are.” She started toward me. “If you don’t sit your ass down and behave, I will sit your ass down for you.”
Frustration crashed into my fury, driven by the unnecessary deaths and the knowledge that my actions were likely the cause. I squared off with the draken. “No.”
Orphine drew up short. “Excuse me?”
The embers in my chest suddenly hummed, but it was different than when Nyktos was near or when I summoned the eather to give life. The vibration was deeper and stronger and pumped through me, filling my veins until I felt as if my entire body was thrumming. “I said, no.”
“I heard you, but I don’t know why you think you’re in a position to say that.”
“I don’t know why you think you’re in a position to tell me what to do.” The humming pressed against my chest, and Orphine’s pupils suddenly stretched even thinner. “Why do you think we’re under attack? Is some Primal just that bored and decided to really piss Nyktos off? Or is it because of what I’ve done? Because I’m here?”
Orphine let out a low growl of displeasure.
“I’m going out there,” I told her. “If your duty is to protect me, then protect me out there. Or don’t. I couldn’t care less.”
A tense moment passed. I knew if the draken wanted to stop me, she could easily do so. “Fuck me,” she muttered. “Let’s do this.”
“Thank you.” Exhaling roughly, I turned to the doors and threw them open before she changed her mind. Orphine was right behind me as I hurried down the hall, the halves of the robe fluttering around my legs.
“You know,” she said as we entered the back staircase that led to the exit closest to the courtyard facing the Red Woods, “you’re not wearing shoes.”
“That is the least of my concerns.”
“Yeah, getting yourself killed should be your number one concern, but I don’t think it has even made your list of things to be worried about at this point.” She shot me a red-eyed glare. “You need to be careful so you don’t end up dead. If that happens, I’m going to kill you myself.”
“Not only does that threat seem really counterproductive”—I raced down the last of the steps—“it’s going to be really hard to do since I’d already be dead.”
“But you get my point.” Orphine slipped in front of me as we reached the main floor landing, the ridges of scales in her pale skin far more noticeable now. “Stay close to me.”
“You stay close to me.” I brushed past her.
The string of curses Orphine let out was rather impressive. “Nyktos warned me that you were hard-headed.”
“Did he?” I shoved open the exterior door and stepped out into…
Chaos.
Chapter 4
My palms warmed, and the embers really started pulsating. Pain and death were everywhere—in the smoldering heaps on the ground and in those who still stood. Beyond the Rise, fire spread from tree to tree as they continued exploding under the heat of the eather. Smoke whirled through the air in thick tendrils, carrying the nearly suffocating stench of burnt wood and charred flesh. Orphine shouted as another draken crashed into the courtyard, kicking up soil and loose rock as it slid across the ground.
Guards rushed from all sides of the courtyard and on the Rise, kneeling and taking aim at the tan draken as it circled back, raining shimmering blood in its wake. The blood showered the west side and the guards there—