When It Reigns (Cursed Reigns, #1)

CHAPTER FORTY-SEVEN

Just as my eyes were drifting shut and sleep was dragging me under, a faint knock sounded at the door. The ring heated around my thumb, and I held my breath as I listened to Shade's deep snores. I picked my head up and peered in the darkness. 

The inconspicuous movements I took to slip off the bed were painstakingly slow. I did not want the bed to creak, and I tried not to shuffle around in the sheets. Even though a knock hadn't awoken the beast, it didn't mean I was stealthy enough to keep him asleep. 

My toes touched the floor, and I sucked in a breath, taking a single step in the direction of the door. Shade stirred and my heart lurched as he rolled onto his side. I released the breath and took another step as I strained to see in the thick darkness. 

My foot smacked into Shade's back, and I went sprawling across the floor, crashing into the wire frame of the fireplace. The gate rattled and my heart played a tune just as loud. 

Shade groaned and started to sit up. 

Go back to sleep, I compelled, stuffing my glowing red hand in my borrowed shirt. 

Shade dropped with a thud and his snores resumed. 

I took a few more breaths to steady my racing heart and crawled to the door. I stayed on my hands and knees as I listened to Shade's even breaths, and stood, twisting the doorknob. I opened the door and stepped into the bright hallway, squinting as my eyes adjusted to the burst of light. 

A sudden hand clamped over my mouth and I was hauled against a boney chest. 

"Be quiet, Aer. It's me," Bastion hushed, leading me down the hall. "We need to be quick." 

Now that the haze of sleep had cleared my foggy mind, I realized how risky it had been to open the door to an unknown visitor in the Ravos Kingdom. I cursed myself for being so reckless. 

Bastion peeled his hand away and released me once we dipped into a room at the end of the hallway. He flicked on the lights and shut the door, twisting the lock on the doorknob as he scooped a huge bag overflowing with clothes from the floor and shoved it at me. 

"Here are your things. I...bribed the escort tasked with bringing your things to you with a generous reward if he'd let me take them to you instead. We don't have much time," he rambled, smoke drifting out of his hand, "but you need to trust Shade. King Kristos is as evil as they come, but his son is different." 

I choked on the influx of smoke and took my possessions from Bastion as I coughed. "You're one of them, Bastion. I can't even believe a word you say." 

Hurt flickered across his pale, sunken features. Just the tips of his hair were strawberry blonde now while the rest was growing out the same shade as all the Ravos demons. The dark veins on his body were more pronounced and half his face was dominated in bone. 

"Aeryn, you need to listen to me," he pleaded, glancing at the door, "Trust Shade. My powers were taken from me by Emperor Nepheus." 

"I know – wait, powers? Plural?" 

Bastion nodded in earnest. "Yes, I had the ability to tell when someone was lying. My second power was to read the truth behind that lie." 

"I thought that was one power." 

"No, I tried to play it off as such since my Insignia incorporated both powers. And you know who else has two powers?" 

Zoran. 

Bastion answered his question without giving me the chance. "Every Ravos demon." 

The door burst open, rattling on its hinges as an enraged prince filled the entrance.