What Comes Before

[Nox]

Nox bristled at the word sweatheart. There was evil in the tone and it made him shiver. The emptiness gone, he felt the word more than heard it. She welcomed the queen into her. Welcomed whatever she had to offer. Perhaps if he'd been asked he might have given over the same, but he hadn't been asked. The ijiraq came and took and pulled beyond his capacity for the power. It burned and tormented his soul for months after, and it was only the darkness that made the pain of it ease. The only god send. But now the light beyond was covered in filth and it tainted his very soul with each use, but Nox couldn't stop. Whatever the bite had done, it had done the damage to the part of him that could touch the power.

The power slipped away from her, the chill disappeared and Nox nodded at the release of power. She didn't have proof he was not wielding but Nox kept his hands in plain view, though he rubbed at the connection of the new arm. It was starting to aggravate him as new as it was.

Nox answered the simple question with a simple answer. "I gave the same information to the Ascendancy several days ago." Nox didn't know if the Ascendancy intended to use it or not. But Nox had given it freely to him as well. He had no need of it, but he obviously knew people who wanted it.