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Chapter no 77

House of Earth and Blood

Bryce knew there was little chance of this ending well.

But if Jesiba had seen her messages, maybe it wouldn’t be in vain. Maybe everyone would know what had happened to her. Maybe they could save the books, if the protective spells on them held out against an Archangel’s wrath. Even if the gallery’s enchantments had not.

Bryce said smoothly to Micah, โ€œI have no idea where the Horn is.โ€ His smile didn’t waver. โ€œTry again.โ€

โ€œI have no idea where the Horn is,ย Governor?โ€

He braced his powerful forearms on the table. โ€œDo you want to know what I think?โ€

โ€œNo, but you’re going to tell me anyway?โ€ Her heart raced and raced.

Micah chuckled. โ€œI think you figured it out. Likely at the same moment I did a few days ago.โ€

โ€œI’m flattered you think I’m that smart.โ€

โ€œNot you.โ€ Another cold laugh. โ€œDanika Fendyr was the smart one. She stole the Horn from the temple, and you knew her well enough to finally realize what she did with it.โ€

โ€œWhy would Danika have ever wanted the Horn?โ€ Bryce asked innocently. โ€œIt’s broken.โ€

โ€œIt was cleaved. And I’m guessing you already learned what could repair it at last.โ€ Her heart thundered as Micah growled, โ€œSynth.โ€

She got to her feet, her knees shaking only slightly. โ€œGovernor or not, this is private property. If you want to burn me at the stake with all these books, you’ll need a warrant.โ€

Bryce reached the steps. Syrinx and Lehabah hadn’t moved, though. โ€œHand over the Horn.โ€

โ€œI told you, I don’t know where it is.โ€

She put one foot on the steps, and then Micah was there, his hand at the collar of her shirt. He hissed, โ€œDo not lie.โ€

Hunt staggered all of one step down the stairs before Sandriel stopped him, her wind shoving him back against the wall. It snaked down his throat, clamping on to his vocal cords. Rendering him silent to watch what unfolded on the screens.

Micah growled in Bryce’s ear, more animal than angel, โ€œDo you want to know how I figured it out?โ€

She trembled as the Governor ran a possessive hand down the curve of her spine.

Hunt saw red at that touch, the entitlement in it, the sheer dread that widened her eyes.

Bryce wasn’t stupid enough to try to run as Micah ran his fingers back up her spine, intent in every stroke.

Hunt’s jaw clenched so hard it hurt, his breath coming out in great, bellowing pants. He’d kill him. He’d find a way to get free of Sandriel, and fuckingย killย Micah for that touchโ€”

Micah trailed his fingers over the delicate chain of her necklace. A new one, Hunt realized.

Micah purred, unaware of the camera mere feet away, โ€œI saw the footage of you in the Comitium lobby. You gave your Archesian amulet to Sandriel. And she destroyed it.โ€ His broad hand clamped around her neck, and Bryce squeezed her eyes shut. โ€œThat’s how I realized. How you realized the truth, too.โ€

โ€œI don’t know what you’re talking about,โ€ Bryce whispered.

Micah’s hand tightened, and it might as well have been his hand on Hunt’s throat for all the difficulty he had breathing. โ€œFor three years, you wore that amulet. Every single day, every single hour. Danika knew that. Knew you were without ambition, too, and would never have the drive to leave this job. And thus never take off the amulet.โ€

โ€œYou’re insane,โ€ Bryce managed to say.

โ€œAm I? Then explain to me why, within an hour after you took off the amulet, that kristallos demon attacked you.โ€

Hunt stilled. A demon hadย attackedย her that day? He found Ruhn’s stare, and the prince nodded, his face deathly pale.ย We got to her in timeย was all Danaan said to him, mind-to-mind.

โ€œBad luck?โ€ Bryce tried.

Micah didn’t so much as smile, his hand still clamped on her neck. โ€œYou don’t just have the Horn. Youย areย the Horn.โ€ His hand again ran down her back. โ€œYou became its bearer the night Danika had it ground into a fine powder, mixed it with witch-ink, and then got you so drunk you didn’t ask questions when she had it tattooed onto your back.โ€

โ€œWhat?โ€ Fury Axtar barked.

Holy fucking gods. Hunt bared his teeth, still forbidden from speaking.

But Bryce said, โ€œCool as that sounds, Governor, this tattoo saysโ€”โ€ โ€œThe language is beyond that of this world. It is the language of

universes. And it spells out a direct command to activate the Horn through a blast of raw power upon the tattoo itself. Just as it once did for the Starborn Prince. You may not possess his gifts like your brother, but I believe your bloodline and the synth shall compensate for it when I use my power upon you. To fill the tattooโ€”to fillย youโ€”with power is, in essence, to blow the Horn.โ€

Bryce’s nostrils flared. โ€œBlowย me, asshole.โ€ She snapped her head back, fast enough that even Micah couldn’t stop the collision of her skull with his nose. He stumbled, buying her time to twist and fleeโ€”

His hand didn’t let go, though.

And with a shove, her shirt ripping down the back, Micah hurled her to the floor.

Hunt’s shout was lodged in his throat, but Ruhn’s echoed through the conference room as Bryce skidded across the carpet.

Lehabah screamed as Syrinx roared, and Bryce managed to snap, โ€œHide.โ€

But the Archangel halted, surveying the woman sprawled on the floor before him.

The tattoo down her back. Luna’s Horn contained within its dark ink. Bryce scrambled to her feet, as if there were anywhere to go, anywhere to hide from the Governor and his terrible power. She made it

across the room, to the steps up to the mezzanineโ€”

Micah moved fast as the wind. He wrapped a hand around her ankle and tossed her across the room.

Bryce’s scream as she collided with the wood table and it shattered beneath her was the worst sound Hunt had ever heard.

Ruhn breathed, โ€œHe’s going to fucking kill her.โ€

Bryce crawled backward through the debris of the table, blood running from her mouth as she whispered to Micah, โ€œYou killed Danika and the pack.โ€

Micah smiled. โ€œI enjoyed every second of it.โ€

The conference room shook. Or maybe that was just Hunt himself.

And then the Archangel was upon her, and Hunt couldn’t bear it, the sight of him grabbing Bryce by the neck and throwing her across the room again, into those shelves.

โ€œWhere is theย fuckingย Aux?โ€ Ruhn screamed at Flynn. At Sabine. But her eyes were wide. Stunned.

So slowly, Bryce crawled backward, up the mezzanine stairs again, clawing at the books to heave herself along. A gash leaked blood onto her leggings, bone gleaming beneath a protruding shard of wood. She panted, half sobbing, โ€œWhy?โ€

Lehabah had crept to the metal bathroom door in the back of the library and managed to open it, as if silently signaling Bryce to get there

โ€”so they could lock themselves inside until help arrived.

โ€œDid you learn, in all your research, that I am an investor in Redner Industries? That I have access to all its experiments?โ€

โ€œOh fuck,โ€ Isaiah said from across the pit.

โ€œAnd did you ever learn,โ€ Micah went on, โ€œwhat Danikaย didย for Redner Industries?โ€

Bryce still crawled backward up the stairs. There was nowhere to go, though. โ€œShe did part-time security work.โ€

โ€œIs that how she sanitized it for you?โ€ He smirked. โ€œDanika tracked down the people that Redner wanted her to find. People who didn’t want to be found. Including a group of Ophion rebels who had been experimenting with a formula for synthetic magicโ€”to assist in the humans’ treachery. They’d dug into long-forgotten history and learned that the kristallos demons’ venom nullified magicโ€”ourย magic. So these clever rebels decided to look into why, isolating the proteins that were targeted by that venom. The source of magic. Redner’s human spies tipped him off, and out Danika went to bring in the researchโ€”and the people behind it.โ€

Bryce gasped for breath, still slowly crawling upward. No one spoke in the conference room as she said, โ€œThe Asteri don’t approve of synthetic magic. How did Redner even get away with doing the research on it?โ€

Hunt shook. She was buying herself time.

Micah seemed all too happy to indulge her. โ€œBecause Redner knew the Asteri would shut down any synthetic magic research, thatย Iย would shut their experiments down, they spun synth experiments as a drug for healing. Redner invited me to invest. The earliest trials were a success:

with it, humans could heal faster than with any medwitch or Fae power. But later trials did not go according to plan. Vanir, we learned, went out of their minds when given it. And humans who took too much synth โ€ฆ well. Danika used her security clearance to steal footage of the trialsโ€” and I suspect she left it for you, didn’t she?โ€

Burning Solas. Up and up, Bryce crawled along the stairs, fingers scrabbling over those ancient, precious books. โ€œHow did she learn what you were really up to?โ€

โ€œShe always stuck her nose where it didn’t belong. Always wanting to protect the meek.โ€

โ€œFrom monsters likeย you,โ€ Bryce spat, still inching upward. Still buying herself time.

Micah’s smile was hideous. โ€œShe made no secret that she kept an eye on the synth trials, because she was keen to find a way to help her weak, vulnerable, half-human friend. You, who would inherit no powerโ€”she wondered if it might give you a fighting chance against the predators who rule this world. And when she saw the horrors the synth could bring about, she becameย concernedย for the test subjects. Concerned for what it’d do to humans if it leaked into the world. But Redner’s employees said Danika had her own research there, too. No one knew what, but she spent time in their labs outside of her own duties.โ€

All of it had to be on the flash drive Bryce had found. Hunt prayed she’d put it somewhere safe. Wondered what other bombshells might be on it.

Bryce said, โ€œShe was never selling the synth on that boat, was she?โ€ โ€œNo. By that point, I’d realized I needed someone with unrestricted

access to the temple to take the Hornโ€”I would be too easily noticed. So when she stole the synth trial footage, I had my chance to use her.โ€

Bryce made it up another step. โ€œYou dumped the synth into the streets.โ€

Micah kept trailing her. โ€œYes. I knew Danika’s constant need to be the hero would send her running after it, to save the low-lifes of Lunathion from destroying themselves with it. She got most of it, but not all. When I told her I’d seen her on the river, when I claimed no one would believe the Party Princess was trying to get drugs off the streets, her hands were tied. I told her I’d forget about it, if she did one little favor for me, at just the right moment.โ€

โ€œYou caused the blackout that night she stole the Horn.โ€

โ€œI did. But I underestimated Danika. She’d been wary of my interest in the synth long before I leaked it onto the streets, and when I

blackmailed her into stealing the Horn, she must have realized the connection between the two. That the Horn could be repaired by synth.โ€

โ€œSo you killed her for it?โ€ Another step, another question to buy herself time.

โ€œI killed her because she hid the Horn before I could repair it with the synth. And thus help my people.โ€

โ€œI’d think your power alone would be enough for that,โ€ Bryce said, as if trying flattery to save herself.

The Archangel looked truly sad for a moment. โ€œEven my power is not enough to help them. To keep war from Valbara’s shores. For that, I need help from beyond our own world. The Horn will open a portalโ€” and allow me to summon an army to decimate the human rebels and end their wanton destruction.โ€

โ€œWhat world?โ€ Bryce asked, blanching. โ€œHel?โ€

โ€œHel would resist kneeling to me. But ancient lore whispers of other worlds that exist that would bow to a power like mineโ€”and bow to the Horn.โ€ He smiled, cold as a deep-sea fish. โ€œThe one who possesses the Horn at full power can do anything. Perhaps establish oneself as an Asteri.โ€

โ€œTheir power is born, not made,โ€ Bryce snapped, even as her face turned ashen.

โ€œWith the Horn, you would not need to inherit a star’s might to rule. And the Asteri would recognize that. Welcome me as one of them.โ€ Another soft laugh.

โ€œYou killed those two CCU students.โ€

โ€œNo. They were slaughtered by a satyr high on synthโ€”while Danika was busy stealing the Horn that night. I’m sure the guilt of it ate her up.โ€

Bryce was shaking. Hunt was, too. โ€œSo you went to the apartment and killed her and the Pack of Devils?โ€

โ€œI waited until Philip Briggs was released.โ€

She murmured, โ€œHe had the black salt in his lab that would incriminate him.โ€

โ€œYes. Once he was again on the streets, I went to Danika’s apartment

โ€”your apartmentโ€”disabled the Pack of Devils with my power, and injected her with the synth. And watched as she ripped them apart before turning on herself.โ€

Bryce was crying in earnest now. โ€œShe didn’t tell you, though. Where the Horn was.โ€

Micah shrugged. โ€œShe held out.โ€

โ€œAnd whatโ€”you summoned the kristallos afterward to cover your tracks? Let it attack you in the alley to keep your triarii from suspecting you? Or just to give yourself a reason to monitor this case so closely without raising any eyebrows? And then you waited two fucking years?โ€ He frowned. โ€œI have spent these past two years looking for the Horn, calling kristallos demons to track it down for me, but I couldn’t find a trace of it. Until I realizedย Iย didn’t have to do the legwork. Because you, Bryce Quinlan, were the key to finding the Horn. I knew Danika had hidden it somewhere, andย you, if I gave you a chance for vengeance, would lead me to it. All my power couldn’t find it, but youโ€”you loved her. And the power of your love would bring the Horn to me. Would fuel your need for justice and lead you right to it.โ€ He snorted. โ€œBut there was a chance you might not get that farโ€”not alone. So I planted a seed in the

mind of the Autumn King.โ€

Everyone in the room looked to the stone-faced Fae male.

Ruhn growled at his father, โ€œHe played you like a fucking fiddle.โ€ The Autumn King’s amber eyes flashed with white-hot rage. But

Micah went on before he could speak. โ€œI knew a bit of taunting about the Fae’s waning power, about the loss of the Horn, would rankle his prideย justย enough for him to order his Starborn son to look for it.โ€

Bryce let out a long breath. โ€œSo if I couldn’t find it, then Ruhn might.โ€

Ruhn blinked. โ€œIโ€”every time I went to look for the Horn โ€ฆโ€ He paled. โ€œI always had the urge to go to Bryce.โ€ He twisted in his seat to meet Hunt’s stare and said to him mind-to-mind,ย I thought it was the gallery, some knowledge in there, but โ€ฆ fuck, it was her.

Your Starborn connection to her and the Horn must have overcome even the masking power of the Archesian amulet, Hunt answered.ย Thatโ€™s quite a bond, Prince.

Bryce demanded, โ€œAnd summoning the kristallos these months? The murders?โ€

Micah drawled, โ€œI summoned the kristallos to nudge you both along, making sure it kept just enough out of camera range, knowing its connection to the Horn would lead you toward it. Injecting Tertian, the acolyte, and the temple guard with the synthโ€”letting them rip themselves apartโ€”was also to prompt you. Tertian, to give us an excuse to come to you for this investigation, and the others to keep pointing you toward the Horn. I targeted two people from the temple that were on duty the night Danika stole it.โ€

โ€œAnd the bombing at the White Raven, with an image of the Horn on the crate? Anotherย nudge?โ€

โ€œYes, and to raise suspicions that humans were behind everything. I planted bombs throughout the city, in places I thought you might go. When Athalar’s phone location pinged at the club, I knew the gods were helping me along. So I remotely detonated it.โ€

โ€œI could have died.โ€

โ€œMaybe. But I was willing to bet Athalar would shield you. And why not cause a little chaos, to stir more resentment between the humans and Vanir? It would only make it easier to convince others of the wisdom of my plan to end this conflict. Especially at a cost most would deem too high.โ€

Hunt’s head swam. No one in the room spoke.

Bryce slowed her retreat as she winced in pain, โ€œAnd the apartment building? I thought it was Hunt, but it wasn’t, was it? It was you.โ€

โ€œYes. Your landlord’s request went to all of my triarii. And to me. I knew Danika had left nothing there. But by that time, Bryce Quinlan, I was enjoying watching you squirm. I knew Athalar’s plan to acquire the synth would soon be exposedโ€”and I took a guess that you’d be willing to believe the worst of him. That he’d used the lightning in his veins to endanger innocent people. He’s a killer. I thought you might need a reminder. That it played into Athalar’s guilt was an unexpected boon.โ€

Hunt ignored the eyes that glanced his way. The fucking asshole had never planned to honor his bargain. If he’d solved the case, Micah would have killed him. Killed them both. He’d been played like a fucking fool.

Bryce asked, voice raw, โ€œWhen did you start to think it was me?โ€ โ€œThat night it attacked Athalar in the garden. I realized only later that

he’d probably come into contact with one of Danika’s personal items, which must have come into contact with the Horn.โ€

Hunt had touched Danika’s leather jacket that day. Gotten its scent on him.

โ€œOnce I got Athalar off the streets, I summoned the kristallos again

โ€”and it went right to you. The only thing that had changed was that you finally, finally took that amulet off. And then โ€ฆโ€ He chuckled. โ€œI looked at Hunt Athalar’s photos of your time together. Including that one of your back. The tattoo you had inked there, days before Danika’s death, according to the list of Danika’s last locations Ruhn Danaan sent to you and Athalarโ€”whose account is easily accessible to me.โ€

Bryce’s fingers curled into the carpet, as if she’d sprout claws. โ€œHow do you know the Horn will even work now that it’s in my back?โ€

โ€œThe Horn’s physical shape doesn’t matter. Whether it is fashioned as a horn or a necklace or a powder mixed with witch-ink, its power remains.โ€

Hunt silently swore. He and Bryce had never visited the tattoo parlor.

Bryce had said she knew why Danika was there.

Micah went on, โ€œDanika knew the Archesian amulet would hide you from any detection, magical or demonic. With that amulet, you wereย invisibleย to the kristallos, bred to hunt the Horn. I suspect she knew that Jesiba Roga has similar enchantments upon this gallery, and perhaps Danika placed some upon your apartmentsโ€”your old one and the one she left to youโ€”to make sure you would be even more veiled from it.โ€

Hunt scanned the gallery camera feeds from the street. Where the fuck was the Aux?

Bryce spat, โ€œAnd you thought no one would figure this out? What about Briggs’s testimony?โ€

โ€œBriggs is a raving fanatic who’d been caught by Danika before a planned bombing. No one would listen to his pleas of innocence.โ€ Especially when his lawyer had been provided by Micah.

Bryce glanced up at the camera. As if checking that it was on.

Sabine whispered, โ€œShe’s been leading him along to get a full confession.โ€

Despite the terror tightening his body, pride flared through Hunt. Micah smiled again. โ€œSo here we are.โ€

โ€œYou’re a piece of shit,โ€ Bryce said.

But then Micah reached into his jacket pocket. Pulled out a needle. Full of clear liquid. โ€œCalling me names isn’t going to stop me from using the Horn.โ€

Hunt’s breath sawed through his chest.

Micah advanced on her. โ€œThe Horn’s remnants are now embedded in your flesh. When I inject you with synth, the healing properties in it will target and fix whatever it finds to be broken. And the Horn will again be whole. Ready for me to learn if it works at last.โ€

โ€œYou’d risk opening a portal to another fucking world in the middle of Crescent City,โ€ she spat, inching farther away, โ€œjust toย learn if it works?โ€

โ€œIf I am correct, the benefits shall far outweigh any casualties,โ€ Micah answered mildly as a bead of liquid gleamed on the syringe’s tip. โ€œToo bad you will not survive the synth’s side effects in order to see for yourself.โ€

Bryce lunged for a book on a low-lying shelf along the stairs, but Micah halted her with a leash of wind.

Her face crumpled as the Archangel knelt over her. โ€œNo.โ€ This couldn’t happen; Hunt couldn’tย letย this happen.

But Bryce could do nothing, Hunt could do nothing, as Micah stabbed the needle into her thigh. Drained it to the hilt. She screamed, thrashing, but Micah stepped back.

His power must have lessened its hold on her, because she sagged to the carpeted steps.

The bastard glanced at the clock. Assessing how much time remained until she tore herself apart. And slowly, the wounds on her battered body began to seal. Her split lip healed fullyโ€”though the bone-deep gash in her thigh knit far more slowly.

Smiling, Micah reached for the tattoo on her exposed back. โ€œShall we?โ€

But Bryce moved againโ€”and this time Micah’s power didn’t catch her before she grabbed a book from the shelf and clutched it tight.

Golden light erupted from the book, a bubble against which Micah’s hand bounced harmlessly off. He pushed. The bubble would not yield.

Thank the gods. If it could buy her just a few more minutes until help came โ€ฆ But what could an Aux pack do against an Archangel? Hunt strained against his invisible bonds. Scoured his memory for anything that could be done, anyone left in the fucking city who might helpโ€”

โ€œVery well,โ€ Micah said, that smile remaining as he again tested the golden barrier. โ€œThere are other ways to get you to yield.โ€

Bryce was shaking in her golden bubble. Hunt’s heart stopped as Micah strode down the mezzanine steps. Heading straight for where Syrinx cowered behind the couch. โ€œNo,โ€ Bryce breathed.ย โ€œNoโ€”โ€

The chimera thrashed, biting at the Archangel, who grabbed him by the scruff of his neck.

Bryce dropped the book. The golden bubble vanished. But when she tried to rise on her still-healing leg, it collapsed. Even the synth couldn’t heal fast enough for it to bear weight.

Micah just carried Syrinx along. Over to the tank.

โ€œPLEASE,โ€ Bryce screamed. Again, she tried to move. Again, again, again.

But Micah didn’t even falter as he opened the door to the small stairs that led to the top of the nรธkk’s tank. Bryce’s screaming was unending.

Declan switched the feed over to a camera atop the tankโ€”just as Micah flipped open the feeding hatch. And threw Syrinx into the water.

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