Secret Fire

~Chapter 23~

Addy Pov.

I follow Ingressus out of Sulliman's house and down as we walk down the steps before a male voice cuts out, sounding furious.

"INGRESSUS!" It yells and Ingressus sighs a bit then walks all the way down, I follow him quickly to see the Nether Prince and a few other Netherans. "The Knights of Ardonia are attacking again!" 

Ingressus gives him a look as I hold his arm tightly, slightly nervous because of all of the Netherans. I'd be less nervous if I had a weapon, but I don't and I have confidence that Ingressus will protect me. 

"I know, I heard your shouting from up here." Ingressus says and smirks slightly at his joke, I smile a bit as well before the Nether Prince starts fuming.

"Don't you mock me Ingressus..." He snarls and Ingressus rolls his eyes for a minute. "This concerns you as well."

"What concerns me, is that your forces. Including a wither... were unable to defend against a single band of rebels, the resistance is growing in strength and yet you do nothing!" Ingressus says angrily then holds me closer to him. The Nether Prince's eyes land on me and he tilts his head slightly.

"And who is this lovely Nestoris?" He smirks before Ingressus bares his fangs.

"Don't look at her." He snaps.

"Is she a slave?" The Nether Prince asks raising his eyebrows. Ingressus nods then stares the Nether Prince down. 

"She doesn't like being looked at by anyone other than me." He says and the Nether Prince rolls his eyes for a minute before continuing, "The Knights of Ardonia and the Prime Songs were meant to be your responsibility, something about getting more food for your clan or something."

Ingressus nods then looks back towards me as I quiver a bit. 

"I knew speaking with you was going to be a waste of time... I'll deal with Merdian myself." He sighs then looks towards his Netherans and the Angel of Death.

"Go to the beacon and open a portal long enough for an attack force to get through, Skorch, go to Felden and reinforce our defenses."

"Of course my King." A Netheran says and I widen my eyes slightly. King...? 

"Stupid King of the Nether... I told him I needed help with those exact things that are supposedly my responsibility." Ingressus grumbles and I lean up and kiss him as the Nether King looks over. I see his eyebrows shoot up as I stop kissing Ingressus who smiles a bit before looking back towards the Nether King who turns around and starts leaving. I hear footsteps and Tygren stops beside us.

"With our permission I wish to join the fight at Merdian." Tygren informs him and Ingressus raises his eyebrows.

"For what purpose...?" He asks and looks Tygren over.

"For another opportunity to strike at the Knights of Ardonia of course, we can't allow the Nether to have all the fun and I'd like to kill a few of the leading Knights myself. And most of the clan is starving, there isn't much food at Hailstone for the children you know." he says and Ingressus sighs.

"Very well, you may go. But don't drink all of their blood and bring some back to me so that we can feed the children." Ingressus says then looks down at me and smiles, I shiver a bit and he raises his eyebrows, most likely unsure of why. I snuggle closer to him as Tygren grins then walks off after the Nether, drawing his sword. Ingressus sighs a bit then sits down on a bench, making me sit down beside him before leaning down and kissing me again, several humans walk by cautiously, it's not like what Crown Peak was before, I remember me and Achillean and Brayden stopped along with the Voltaris to get food, and the humans looked strong and smug. the Nether really changed them... Ingressus pulls me closer and I rub his neck for a minute, then rub behind his ears, nothing is wrong. Nothing at all...