Page 29 of Chasing the Night
The door slammed so hard it rattled the china in the cabinet nearby. I nearly lost the damn glass when Atticus’ voice began to boom.
“I don’t need two wombs to bargain with. I need a fucking Queen.”
A slap was the only response I heard. Messiah scooted a chair out and bid me to sit while taking the seat next to it. I cautiously lowered myself and peered around, eager to see who would be joining us or what the source of the upset was.
Aella rounded the corner first. She walked to the other side of the table, keeping her eyes on me even when it required her to turn her head to maintain the aggressive eye contact. Demetri arrived next and claimed the seat next to Messiah.
Isabella and Atticus entered behind him, shifting the energy of the room so quickly it gave me goosebumps. Her chin was parallel to the floor, and she afforded us all a tight, fake smile. Atticus, on the other hand, made no effort to pretend. He took his seat at the head of the table with a scowl, his wife’s handprint still staining his rugged features.
Down the hall, something thundered against the floor. It found a rhythm as the sound advanced toward us. I glanced nervously around the table, but all I found were smiles. The glow of the hall shifted with shadows, and Ender rounded the corner. A long, black staff in hand. He twirled and stepped with it, slamming the top against the floor now and then for effect. He spun it like a baton, struck the spiked ball atop it against the floor again, and stared at me expectantly.
My hand shook as I reached for it. No one had ever given me a gift like that. I ran my fingers down the slick black stem and tipped it so that I could inspect the weapon end of it. Just as I suspected, it was the piece from Dagma’s flail. The majestic clacking spikes had been broken down to from a whole new weapon. One spiked ball now rested atop my staff.
“I saw you eyeing it at the forge that night. It was nice but would have required you to be at a very close proximity to use it. This on the other hand…” Ender smiled, motioning to the staff.
I used it to pull myself from the chair and stood beside it. I knew myself to be tall for a woman. Nearly six-foot, Mother had once guesstimated. The staff was tall enough I could rest my cheek on the spiked ball while I stood.
It was a promising looking weapon. The business end, where it turned to spikes, was slightly larger than a man’s fist.
For the first time, I wasn’t embarrassed by the emotions that welled in my eyes. His long arm snaked around me and pulled me toward his shoulder.
“Welcome to the Krypt,” he whispered before pressing a kiss to the top of my ear. Heat flooded my face, and I made a fuss over smoothing my hair.
Flustered beyond belief over a chaste kiss, I completely forgot my conversation with Messiah.
“Perhaps, Reverie…” I rambled.
“Reverie is getting her beauty sleep. She has to look her best for her new intended.” Atticus dismissed.
My fingers went limp and the staff almost fell. I fumbled with it until Ender reached out and righted it.
“In... intended… but she is only widowed today?” I stammered.
Atticus sighed and gave a superior smile toward Messiah. “See your new sister to her room. The excitement has taken its toll.”