Blood of Two Crowns (Hallowed Fates #2)

Chapter 26

Chapter

Twenty-Six

AZRAEL

I nhale for thirteen, exhale for thirteen.

Inhale for eight, exhale for eight.

Inhale for five, exhale for five.

Inhale for three, exhale for three.

Inhale for two, exhale for two.

Inhale for one, exhale for one.

The vortex breath, thanks to the Hindu Pujari I’d met on Terrenea, I’d learned the quickest way to reach Somnus, God of Dreams, and pretty much all things regarding the subconscious mind. It was the work of a few moments for my mind to slide deep enough into a meditative state to reach out to him via my subconscious. I guided my mind to linger on the male as my mind slipped further into the unconscious realms.

Somnus was already there waiting for me, starry eyes and all. Though the cosmos whirling in his black eyes did nothing to soften his hardened features.

“Never, in all my years, have I met such a conniving?—

Fuck.

I willed myself calm. It was hard to keep mental barriers intact when you were half asleep. And if I let my impatience or anger get the best of me, I’d be swiftly returned to my physical body.

“Before you get all judgy, brother ? —

“Would-be brother-in-law ? —

I rolled my eyes, mentally taking deep breaths to remain calm. “Potato-tomato.”

Somnus’ eyes narrow. “I believe you mean, po-tay-tow, po-tah-tow.”

Deep breath in, deep breath out. Gooz-frah-bah-and-what-not.

“You know precisely what I fucking mean,” I snapped.

“What do you want, Azrael? You can’t possibly be daft enough to ask for my help when you’ve just?—

“I know where your soulbound is.”

Somnus’ eyes narrowed with suspicion before his features slackened in realization. Something sinister took hold of his expression, and he stepped toward me, holding my gaze and luring me into his realm via the twin portals of his eyes. His magic, carrying both the soothing calm and the weight of all the oceans in all the realms, pressed against the barriers of my mind.

“You would dare withhold my soulbound from me?”

Oh fuck. I’d forgotten how powerful he was. The male was calm and otherwise, so benevolent and kind that he could easily be underestimated. And if it weren’t for the thick muscular sinew of his tall body, perhaps even mistaken for weak. If I allowed him to continue, he would easily break through the barriers protecting my mind from him and steal my only bargaining tool.

Or discombobulate my psyche into mush. I imagined it would take exceedingly little effort for him to have me drooling on myself and babbling like an infant if he so wished.

Sweat trickled down my back as I gripped hold of the cord binding his soul to his corporeal form and gave it a firm yank. He stumbled forward, glaring up at me as he caught himself.

“You would do the same if it meant finding your soulbound.”

Somnus’ jaw feathered. Even he, one of the most morally upright beings I’d ever known, had a dark side that could be easily ensnared when using the right bait.

What wouldn’t we do for those we love?

“What favor do you ask of me?”

I heaved a sigh of relief. I hadn’t been entirely sure he’d be agreeable, being so… righteous and all.

“I need you to alter a few memories.”

“You’ve dosed them with the River Oblivion, I’m not a fucking miracle worker.”

“Just a drop! It’ll be easy for you to rearrange things and erase a few… people.”

Somnus remained silent for several moments, burning a hole through my face with his judgemental gaze that.

“You’re a sick fuck, you know that?”

“Mmmm, yes… And you’re going to do my bidding so you can unite with your own soulbound. What does that make you?”

“Guilty.”

I gave him a saccharine smile. “I’m so happy we’re on the same page, darling.”

“You realize the River Oblivion’s effects are only temporary for a god, don’t you?”

“Which is precisely why I’ve summoned you. You’re going to make her forget all about her soulbound and that meddling drakonati she’s chosen as a mate so she can live in fucking peace for once in her Aka sh-forsaken life.”

Somnus quirked a bitter brow at me. “Projecting, are we?”

I heaved a sigh, rolling my eyes. The male was infuriatingly astute.

“Projecting, are we?” I parroted in a mocking tone.

Somnus stared at me, unsmiling.

“As you already know, our niece is sound asleep, as is Asterion, making them ripe for all your mental tinkering and altering so that I can get back to finding my soulbound.”

Somnus’ glare hardened further.

“You’re putting her at risk. It could fracture her mind. There are too many traumatic memories embedded within her subconscious and inextricably tied to other people. If she’d been living under a rock, then it might be a simple task—but you’re asking me to alter the last hundred years of her history, in addition to major events not only in her life but in the world at large. Anyone could come along and reveal the truth. Like overthrowing Zurie ? —

I groaned my frustration, waving a dismissive through the air. This male was one of the most powerful gods in existence.

“Can’t you just… remove her from the equation?”

“As in, she wasn’t the one who usurped her?”

“No one here even knows anything about Atratusian politics. When she came here, Nakoa hadn’t even taken the throne. Wouldn’t it make sense to just… erase all of it? Alter her memories so that she reunited with her father after all these years and was finally able to abandon her duties with Zurie, stayed in Avernus with her father and mother after meeting them?”

Somnus scowled. “Keres killed her mother, remember?”

“All the better to make it so that it never happened! She no longer has to mourn her!”

“And if she has no mates to protect, why would she even agree to go with you?”

“First of all, she suggested it. And it wasn’t merely to protect her mates but all of Bellorum and Avernus. She’s proven to be quite the martyr.”

Somnus shook his head at me, wearing a look of damning disappointment. “Do you honestly intend on keeping her in hell? Forever? I know you Azrael. Not even you are that cruel. ”

I swallow back the guilt burning in my chest like fucking bile.

“You’re gravely mistaken if you think so highly of me because that’s exactly what I intend to do. It may have been her idea initially, but her power is breathtaking. Even with her slaughtering my denizens in droves, I can feel my realm healing. The very fabric holding together my realms grows strong by the day. I’m afraid I can’t let her leave.”

Somnus’ expression remained so blank that I couldn’t help but wonder if he’d even heard me. If his mind had drifted back off to wherever his physical body was.

“You’re making a mistake, Azrael.”

“Well, it’s not too late for me to pour a cupful of the River Oblivion down her throat and make her forget everything. I was trying to do this the compassionate way. I could have done what Keres did to your brother and just dump her body on a beach somewhere.”

Somnus frowned, finally giving me a reaction. “You’re also forgetting the fact that Avernus will fall apart without her or Mors there.”

Massaging my temples between thumb and forefinger, I heaved a longsuffering sigh. “ So, find Mors. You’re boring me with this minutiae, Somnus. Congratulations. I’m fucking bored. Now, do you want your soulbound or not? If I were you, I’d hurry the fuck up because her life may or may not depend on it.”

Somnus growled. The male was normally so well-mannered and self-restrained that I couldn’t recall having ever heard him growl.

“If you lay a single one of your filthy, degenerate, fucking fingers on her, I swear to Akash that I will turn your mind into fucking soup and burn all your realms to the fucking ground.”

I laid a friendly hand on his shoulder. “You know how much I love soup, darling. Don’t tempt me.”

Somnus’ gaze slid to the offending hand as if I’d flung shit on his shoulder, turning his back on me and striding into the darkness.“Meet me here tonight. By the time you go to sleep, it’ll be done. And I expect my soulbound to be happy, healthy, and safe. ”

Oh my dear, sweet, sweet, Somnus. You’re much too late for that.

I blew out a helpless breath, recalling his words.

“I’m not a miracle worker,” I shouted to his back as his form began to fade. Somnus tossed me one last glance, filled with promised vengeance, before he disappeared entirely.