CHAPTER 45

Rune stood on an open terrace, surveying his realm. The Ra'Voshnik roared from its confines, thrashing against the bindings holding it in place. The creature demanded its freedom, wanting to return to the minx. Relentlessly fighting him for the past three days.

He felt Sadi phase into his realm, arriving behind him.

Why is she here? She offends our queen. Remove her from your presence.

Rune ignored the creature turning to Sadi. She raised a brow, glancing at him. "You don't look well."

Because you are near!The Ra'Voshnik's scream echoed through Rune's mind.

"I need your expertise," Rune said, leaning against a crystal pillar.

Sadi nodded in answer and agreement.

"I need you to search the Ra'Voshnik's mind and locate the spell binding it to the mortal."

"I doubt your overgrown bloodlust will let me near it," she said.

"I will remedy that."

Sadi glanced around her. "We would be more comfortable in Chaos."

Rune infrequently visited the Familiar's home realm. Morbid closed his realm to outsiders and Rune had only been to Morbid's estate. With a sigh, Rune admitted, "I am unable to phase. It is trying to return to Faye as we speak. Stopping it is hindering my ability."

"I can take us," Sadi said, as their images flickered. Her midnight eyes met his gaze as she tensed, trying again. They flickered once more, and she bared her teeth. "Do you want me to seal the creature in its own mind while I'm at it?"

I will kill her before I allow her to touch me,the Ra'Voshnik answered.

"Let us see how difficult it is to locate the spell before we consider other arrangements for it," Rune said, nodding to Sadi before he descended into himself.

She appeared beside him a moment later, standing at a depth within his power comfortable for her. A growl echoes from far below them. Sadi looked down at the black marble at her feet, and said, "He sounds rather upset."

"The fool creature is fixated on Faye. I need the tie to her mortality broken."

Sadi stepped away from him and waved her hand. What looked to be a stone altar large enough to hold a man appeared before them. Large, free standing candelabras were positioned at each corner illuminating the space.

"Can you confine him?" She asked. At Rune's nod she patted the stone.

Rune summoned the Ra'Voshnik, binding it to form and mentally restraining it to the stone. It fought him viciously, struggling against the altar.

Sadi's eyes widened, and her jaw slacked for a moment before she recovered her composure. "He looks like you."

"It has since our first meeting," Rune said quietly.

The Ra'Voshnik focused on Sadi. "When I get free, I will bring your head to my queen as a gift."

Sadi stroked the side of its face, not flinching as it snapped its fangs at her. "She is your death, but I will free you of her soon enough," she quieted, standing beside the altar, staring off into nothing.

Moments passed and Sadi pulled back sharply as the Ra'Voshnik laughed. It turned to Rune, "She didn't appreciate me showing her how we worshiped at Faye's altar." It grinned, turning its attention back to Sadi, "We knelt to her for a very long time."

Sadi hissed at it, grabbing its face under its chin. Her nails dug into either side of its mouth. It smiled up at her. "You look betrayed," it crooned, then said, "Know I would still be feasting on her if I wasn't bound to a frightened bitch who ran."

It parted its lips, inhaling deeply. "You taste of jealousy, want, and death."

Rune willed it quiet, silencing its lies. He could not taste Sadi or Morbid's emotions, and the creature sought to sow discord. Rune waited patiently, giving Sadi the time she needed to search its mind.

Time passed, stretching as Sadi remained still over the Ra'Voshnik. As Rune began to grow concerned, Sadi shoved away from the creature and left his mind. "What did you do?"

"She doesn't appreciate the desire we have for our queen."

Rune cursed in High Tongue and returned it to its prison before ascending to his body. Sadi stood, waiting for him. "Tell me you weren't kneeling before the mortal."

"Did you find a spell?"

Sadi searched his eyes and turned away. "I combed through its mind twice while it showed me all the things it wanted to do to Faye. You need to distance yourself from her, Rune. She's dead. Not just yours. Everyone. Whatever you two are doing will bring down the realms."

"I have it under control."

She stepped toward him. "You don't. I can discern fantasy from memory. He showed me memories. You are too tangled in this. Too close to her. There is no spell, Rune."

"You found no spell tied to the Ra'Voshnik?" That couldn't be. Rune stepped away to wipe his hand over his mouth.

Sadi shook her head as the creature's voice echoed from far below him,She is your fate. Accept it.

She is not mine!Rune's growl echoed through his mind, silencing the Ra'Voshnik.

Rune didn't fear death. He expected to embrace the Darkness in a war or in some other fashion defending his court.

All my efforts on you will be wasted.

His mentor's words echoed through his memory, haunting him for centuries. Had Saith somehow known this would befall him? A mortal would drag him closer to the grave with each passing day.

A muscle ticked in his jaw. His death would be senseless and would leave his court vulnerable. Lyssa would be challenged as High Queen without the strength of her court behind her. Morbid did not participate in wars stating it was fate and it was not his place to interfere. Sadi fought alongside him but would not do so for Lyssa.

The weight of his years bore down on him. Too much rested on his shoulders to accept the fate the Ra'Voshnik embraced too eagerly. Fate could not be this cruel. Ending him, destroying what remained of his court, and his court's legacy in one arcing swing. This could not be fate.

Rune closed his eyes silently pleading,Don't let her be mine, while the Ra'Voshnik's laughter echoed far below him.