Page 4 of Kiss of Embers
“You deserve every bit of happiness coming your way,” I said. “You’ve sacrificed a great deal for the pack.”
As he always did, Drute brushed off five hundred years of servitude with a shrug. “The gods will it that way. My people accept our bondage, and our lands thrive because of it.”
Not for the first time, I imagined the otherworldly plane Drute sometimes described. The gargoyle lands were steeped in perpetual twilight, with skies forked with constant lightning and grand homes carved from soaring granite mountains. According to Drute, his world flourished when gargoyles served with honor on the earth plane. When they broke their vows, the gargoyle plane suffered.
Drute sobered. “I don’t want to leave you with this moon sickness epidemic on your plate. Brader Ashcroft isn’t wrong about your father. Reinald believed the two of you would make a good match.”
A sigh built in my chest. Two years ago, I might have done what Drute and everyone else wanted and married Brader. He brought numbers, as well as important connections with the other alphas on the Council. With Brader’s wolves protecting my borders, I could focus on figuring out the cause behind the moon sickness. But losing my parents had given me a new perspective. I was immortal, yes, but I wasn’t invincible. Life was more fragile than I’d realized. I couldn’t waste it with a man I didn’t love. And I couldn’t hand over my father’s pack and let the Rockford name die out. If that made me weak or selfish, so be it.
“I can’t do it,” I told Drute.
“I thought you might say that. So, we should consider another option.”
I stood close enough to Drute to see my shocked expression reflected in his dark eyes. “I have another option?”
He nodded. “The Firstborn Games. The competition starts a week from tomorrow.”
Apprehension slid down my spine. The Games were no joke. They occurred just once every two hundred years—probably because it took a couple of centuries for anyone to work up the nerve to compete again. The competition was intense, sometimes deadly. But the prize was always rare and invaluable.
“People have died in the Games,” I said.
Drute stroked his jaw, the rasp of his palm against his cheek like stone grinding against stone. “It’s a risk, to be sure. But I’d go with you. And this year’s prize is worth considering.”
“What is it?”
“A dram of the Elixir of Vozgadach. Brewed by the ancient demon wizard of the same name.”
“As in, the Vozga demons?” The demon kingdoms numbered in the thousands. It was impossible to memorize them all, but my father insisted I know the most important ones. Most among the Firstborn Races viewed demons with disdain. Mortal, they existed on the fringes of Firstborn society. But they could channel like vampires, which made them effective messengers. And since they weren’t part of the Firstborn Races, they were the ideal choice for running the Games. The Vozga were known for being philosophers and magicians, and they took their name from the legendary wizard whose potions continued to stump modern-day spellweavers.
“That’s right,” Drute said. “Vozgadach’s magic was one of a kind. His elixir is so potent and precious, the Vozga change its location every hour. It’s shocking that they’ve agreed to part with even a dram of it. I imagine the goddess supervising the Games agreed to give them something important in exchange for their generosity.”
“What does the elixir do?” I asked.
“A person who ingests it receives a single wish with no limitations.” Drute leveled a look at me, his horns glinting in the fading light. “None, Zara. If you won the Games and drank theelixir, you could wish for all the money in the world. Or your father’s return from the dead.”
My breath caught.
Drute’s dark eyes gleamed. “You could wish for the Rockford Pack to be forever immune from moon sickness.”
Now, my reflection in Drute’s eyes showed wonder…and resolve. “I could save the pack.” Not only would I save my people, no one would ever question my ability to lead again.
Drute waited for my decision.
“Where are the Games being held this time?” I asked.
“South America, in the Amazon rainforest.”
I squared my shoulders. “When do we leave?”
Chapter
Two
STRUAN
One week later
Istood in the cabin’s kitchen doorway, my eyes glued to the finest ass I’d ever seen. Clad in a pair of tight, thin boxer briefs, it was round and firm. But not too firm. No, it had a bit of heft to it. Just enough meat for a man to grab onto. I should know. When it came to the ass in question, I’d done my share of grabbing over the years.