Underground.
Deep underground, if the stale air was anything to go by. I swung Amaya around. Her purple light parted the night, revealing the rock that surrounded us. Like the previous times the Raziq had kidnapped me, they’d dropped us into a cavern that didn’t seem to have either an entry or an exit point. Our tomb – for that’s what they always felt like – was about ten feet wide, and about the same height. At least we could stand, which was a definite improvement over previous occasions.
I glanced up at the ceiling. Once again, there was a faint, multicolored shimmer that reminded me of oil on water. I swore softly. That shimmer was a field of magic designed to prevent me from reaching for the Aedh – something I’d discovered the hard way the first time. At least this time, unlike the others, I wasn’t alone.
Wasn’t alone before, Amaya muttered. There was I.
One time, not the other.
Fault yours.
True. And it was the reason I rarely removed her these days. I glanced at Azriel. Can you sense them?
They are near.
But not near enough, I gathered from the edge in his voice.
Will they be able to read my thoughts? Hear me talking to you?
No. That applies to flesh beings and Aedh. You are more than either now.
Which explained why my father didn’t catch my thoughts when he’d confronted me earlier. It should have been a relief, but it only ratcheted up the tension. After all, if they couldn’t read my thoughts, they might be tempted to do something about it.
Not while I draw breath, they won’t, Azriel commented.
Does an energy being actually need to draw breath?
He half smiled. You know what I mean.
I do. And thank you.
He glanced at me, eyebrow raised. For what?
For always being here.
It is both my duty and my desire.
His words warmed me more than I could ever say. He was finally admitting to emotions, even if it was desire rather than love. But once upon a time he would have denied even that, even if his behavior suggested otherwise.
I scanned our surroundings again, knowing the Raziq were drawing closer but still unable to spot them. After a few seconds, an oddly dark surge of electricity ran across my skin. It made the little hairs at the back of my neck stand on end and my soul shiver away in fear.
They’d come within sensory distance. Whether that meant they were also within range of the swords I had no idea.
Unfortunately, no. The edge in Azriel’s mind voice was deeper, the frustration stronger.
It’s really not surprising given they’d sense your presence. The Raziq might be greater in numbers, but they weren’t fools. And they certainly had no desire to risk their lives – as evidenced by their continuing use of the Ania to do their dirty work. Not that either that fact or Azriel’s presence in any way lessened my fear of them. I licked my lips and gripped Amaya a little tighter. “Show yourself, Malin.”
My voice sounded oddly small in the damp, stale confines of the cavern.
“Malin is not here.” The disembodied voice was male, and while it held no threat, it nevertheless sent a chill down my spine. This was the Raziq I’d spoken to the first time I’d been captured – the Raziq who’d invaded my brain and made it seem like every part of me was being torn apart. A Raziq I thought I’d killed. Obviously, I was wrong.
Not. Sound same, Amaya said. Tasted sweet. Want more.
And I’d love to give you more. Trouble was, I doubted the Raziq would so foolishly expose themselves like that again.
“And even if she were,” the disembodied voice continued, “she would not be foolish enough to show herself with the Mijai present. His desire for revenge is so fierce it stains the fields.”
I snorted. “The only thing staining the fields is you lot. You’re the ones who made the goddamn keys and created this mess we all find ourselves in.”