Extending her arms, the new ruler turned in a half circle to face her companions. “Any objections?”
The others darted their gazes, staying quiet. Not Blythe. “Do you plan to kill him?” she demanded.
Completing the spin, Sheena met her gaze and laughed. “Kill him? Are you kidding? He’ll be the first male to enter this world. I plan to bed him again and again and again and again. When I’m pregnant and done with him, I’ll gift him to the others. They can spend a night in his bed. For a price.”
For a price. The theme of Ation. But. Allow Roux to experience pleasure upon pleasure during his task? Although...
She’d followed him for weeks, yet she’d never seen him make use of his concubine in a sexual way. Nor had he shown favor to a harpy. Therefore, she had no idea about the kind of women who revved his engine. But come on. What hot-blooded, single warrior wouldn’t relish time spent with sex-starved prisoners?
She balled her hands. As more weakness settled in her limbs, Penelope moaned with glee.
Amal’s sudden roar tore Blythe’s attention from the wraith. What? What had happened?
The other women squealed as they raced into formation, creating two lines of four and two lines of five, with Sheena two steps ahead of them all.
“Give her to me.” The new queen stretched out her arm and waved her fingers in Blythe’s direction. “Now.”
“I don’t know if I should,” Penelope replied as Amal shifted its big body directly in front of her. “My deal was with Morgana. Only her mark decorates the Oath Stone.”
Morgana, the former queen? Oath Stone? Wait. Blythe thought she remembered Oath Stones mentioned in history books. Used by the ancients to ensure beings kept their word.
“No, your deal was with the realm’s leader. I am she, and she is me.” Sheena waved her fingers again. “You’ll have your payment by morning. Now give me my insurance.”
“Very well. The deal stands.” The wraith nodded to Amal, who dropped the end of Blythe’s chain.
She pulled at her shackles. How she longed to lash out. To prove her superior strength. To punish. To excise the tension building inside her. But, as the ground shook, then shook again, gaining traction, she barely remained upright.
Sheena wasted no time, swiping the links and yanking. Blythe stumbled forward, unable to halt her momentum. The queen caught and spun her, putting them chest to back, then wrapped one arm around her waist. With her free hand, Sheena held a blade at Blythe’s throat.
Blythe fumed. She, a former assassin with nine stars branded in her left wrist, had been rendered all but helpless.
Her gaze landed on the wraith and narrowed. “You’ll pay for everything I endure.”
“Sure. Okay.” With a parting wink, the wraith faded until only a transparent outline lingered. And only for a moment. Both the outline and the beast vanished in a rolling white fog.
“This is really happening,” someone behind her whispered. “In a matter of seconds, a man will enter Ation. A real, live man with a penis and everything!”
“Be quiet,” Sheena snapped. “Be ready.”
“Iamready,” the whisperer replied.
The murk drew closer. Closer still. Would she find Roux inside it? Heart thumping, Blythe squinted into the miasma. Searching, searching...
Closer...
Blythe braced for impact. The vapor enveloped her, scented with cedarwood and spiced oranges, and air hitched in her lungs. Her eyesight hazed.
For several seconds, no one moved or spoke. No one dared to breathe. And it wasn’t because of fear. Oh, no. Anticipation crackled all around, hot enough to burn off the haze.
Suddenly, Roux towered before the troops. He stood roughly thirty feet away, his formidable body laden with enough weapons to equip an army of fifty.
He’d come prepared for war.
Blythe’s wings shuddered, relief and hatred converging inside her. A confusing mix. Of course, her link to the wraith instantly reactivated, causing fresh weakness to pour through her limbs.
Deep breath in, out. She did her best to concentrate on the relief. The Astra was here, and he was killable. Her trip and subsequent suffering had been worth it. Forget her present state. It was temporary and subject to change. Vengeance could and would be had. Soon. And who knows? She might find a way home to Isla afterward.
A wave of homesickness nearly crushed her chest.