Aether Bound: A contemporary women's paranormal fantasy (The Rise of Lilith Book 1) by Megan Haskell

Author:Megan Haskell [Haskell, Megan]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Trabuco Ridge Press
Published: 2022-05-02T18:30:00+00:00

Chapter 23

Abdulbaith didn’t drop me in the center of Aegir’s Hall, as the incorporeal demons had done. He took me straight to his master’s suite and threw me at the feet of his god.

“Abdulbaith! Well done!” Aegir’s booming voice filled the room. “And I see you are well fed. That is good. Good! The Feast of Renewal will be spectacular.”

I stood from the floor and dusted off my black work pants. Rán lounged on her couch in the same position as when I’d seen her last, but now she wouldn’t meet my gaze. She stared at her hands as they picked at the floral-patterned fabric, so feminine compared to Aegir’s leather chair.

I faced Aegir and lifted my chin. Whatever had happened, I was not responsible. It was not my job to fix her situation or make her feel better. I was here for one thing, and one thing only. To get Ezra and my friends back to our lives.

“Where is Ezra?” I demanded.

“Rest assured, he is safe and comfortable.”

“Where?”

“You may see him in time. If you give your allegiance to me.”

“Never.”

Aegir’s beard twitched in amusement.

“Oh, I like your spunk, girl. But all who are lost to the ocean’s depths come to serve me. Until their usefulness is complete, anyway.”

“Lil—”

I cut my mother—Rán—off with a brusque wave of my hand. I didn’t want to hear what she had to say. I wouldn’t allow her to sway me. The tiny bit of pity that had taken root in my heart would not be allowed to flower. Grams said I needed a teacher, that I needed to forgive her, but I couldn’t. I wouldn’t. She had destroyed our lives once and was trying to do it again.

“Ezra and I are not lost to the ocean. You have no dominion over us.”

The humor in Aegir’s eyes drained away. He pressed his hands into the armrests of his chair and rose from his seat. Standing at full height, he was a monster of a man. At least two heads taller than Bruce and twice as wide, he looked as if he could eat me whole without choking. The expression in his eyes said he was considering it.

“I am Aegir, jotun of the ocean, host of the gods of the Aether.” The room literally shook with his words. Dust rained down from the ceiling and the glasses on the tables clinked together. “Anyone who so much as dips a toe in my waters is under my dominion. You have insulted me once with your rejection of my great hospitality. Do so again and you will learn why the ancients feared my wrath.”

I understood already. My hands trembled. Still, I couldn’t leave without Ezra. When Silas played for me, I had to be ready. I had to be with my brother.

“Let me see my brother. Please.” I could be polite. There was no reason to further antagonize the giant. All I needed was to get to Ezra and I could get us both out of here. I hoped.

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