Page 103 of Vasmora

Zevander leveled his gaze back on Lothare. “With all due respect, I don’t exactly have time for you to decide what to do with him.”

“And what will you do with him?”

“After he breaks the curse? Watch him drink his own organs.”

Hands behind his back, Lothare chuckled and paced in front of Zevander. “You’re creative, I’ll give you that. This plague. What do you know of it?”

“It’s contained, for the moment. So long as Prince Dorjan remains alive.”

“And if he dies?”

“The Umbravale falls.”

Lothare’s pacing ground to a halt, and he turned, frowning. “So, why are they bothering with your mate? Why not go after their prince? Ensure that he lives?”

“Because I believe they seek power, not protection. Dorjan is Sagaerin’s only heir. If he and the king were to perish …”

“Akmyrios chooses the next.” Lothare clicked his tongue and shook his head. He turned to the one who’d pulled Zevander’s memories earlier. “Seek out this Akmyrios. Bring proof of this creature he houses.”

“He’ll consider it an insult that you sent someone in your stead,” Zevander reminded him.

“Then, he’ll know I’ve already declined his offer.”

“You would decline what he’s offering?”

Lothare shrugged. “You said yourself he can’t be trusted. I didn’t get to where I am, a threat to the Solassion king himself, by making poor decisions, and I surely don’t trust an advisor willing to betray his king. It seems to me, the wiser choice would be accompanying you to protect Prince Dorjan. What do you think King Sagaerin would offer, if I delivered his son alive and protected the realm?”

“I don’t care. I work alone.”

“How quickly you seem to forget who holds the advantage. It sounds like you have a lot of mages who are very interested in your woman. But as I said, I am a man of strategy. And the promise from a king sounds a whole lot more promising to me.”

Screams echoed through the camp, and Zevander felt a hum beneath his skin.

Maevyth.

CHAPTER TWENTY-FIVE

MAEVYTH

Twenty minutes earlier …

The moment Zevander stepped out of the cave, I rested my forehead against the heel of my hand and exhaled a shaky breath.

Don’t break. Not yet.

My body felt as if it’d been wound up too tight, begging to unravel at any moment.

Hold it together. Don’t break.

Now was not the time for it. After all, we weren’t safe yet.

What if he doesn’t come back.

Eyes squeezed shut, I shook my head, banishing those thoughts. “He’s coming back,” I whispered. “He’s going to come back.”

An icy, branching cold spread across my skin, my heart beating too fast. The cave walls closed in on me, pressing too tight, my lungs heavy and full.

I can’t breathe. I can’t breathe!