These Wicked Stars: A Romantic Fantasy (The Nightfall Bazaar Series Book 1) by Catelyn Wilson

Author:Catelyn Wilson [Wilson, Catelyn]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Published: 2022-10-31T05:00:00+00:00

Fourteen

“A mortal,” a booming voice spoke, jarring the cavern. “We have not had a living human wander to the gates in eons.”

Stone scraped together. Dust rained over our heads. I scrambled backward, scuttling until my back hit a wall that hadn’t been there a moment ago. We were trapped.

The pair of statues pulled themselves from their pedestals, towering at least two stories above us. Their bull tails flicked as they lowered their human heads to inspect Cassian and I closer.

“What do you want?” Cassian stepped further between me and the statues, sword point raised. It looked pitiful against the towering giants of stone. I reached out and grabbed his hand, shocked at how instinctual the desire was. He squeezed my fingers once.

“We would ask the same of you,” the left statue spoke, a grating sound tumbling from his lips. I realized it was laughter.

The right statue leaned down further, its head clearing Cassian easily. Stone ground and popped with its movements. I froze, my neck cramping as I looked up at the beast hewn from dark obsidian.

“This is the girl that the master seeks,” the statue said, stone eyes blank and cold as he swiveled his head to Cassian. “The man is a servant of Zaire. Lord Arae will not appreciate his presence.”

The left statue made a sound of agreement. “I suppose Lord Arae will not kill him. Perhaps if he puts that irksome scimitar down, we will have a civil conversation.”

Cassian grit his teeth. “You serve Arae?”

The left statue released a rumbling sigh and returned to his pedestal. “Yes, child. He longs to speak with the girl. He will not kill you if you do not provoke him further.”

Cassian paled, his hand crushing mine. “She will go nowhere without me.”

The other statue joined its twin and settled back against the stone. It watched me with blank grey eyes, ignoring Cassian’s spitting words. “Our lord comes now from the gates he guards so well. He is curious about you, human. Do nothing foolish.”

And with that warning, the statues froze again. I stayed perfectly still; my eyes glued to the figures carved into the wall.

“What were they?” I sputtered.

Cassian cursed and lowered his scimitar. “Lamassu. They are servants of Arae, the God of the Dead.”

“God of the dead?” I gaped. “He wants to speak to me?”

A cold breath of air curled around my shoulders and licked up my spine. The empty archway between the two guardian lamassu grew darker. Shadow accumulated around it, so black it was an endless void.

“Indeed, Hazel. I ask a favor of you.” A silky voice emerged from the arch, along with a man. Darkness and shadow cloaked him like a robe, moving and spinning with the breeze in the air. His skin was dark blue, like midnight. Long black hair tumbled down a set of broad but lithe shoulders.

It reminded me a little of the shadows that clung to Cassian.

“Arae,” Cassian said through gritted teeth. “What business do you have with her? She is on a mission from Zaire.

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