Octavian chuckles, slamming his hand on the book as soon as he hears the floor shift.
“Not so fast.” His lip tugs. “I could take you to the Queen. Once the Royals hear about your arrival, they will flood this place with their warriors to find you.”
“What do you want?” I say through clenched teeth, gripping the wooden headboard.
His head shifts towards me, as if he can see exactly where I am. “I want to leave with you.”
I lean forward, my stomach pressing into the frame. “I’m sorry, did I hear you correctly?”
The scars along his face shift as he grins. “Yes. You did.”
“Why would you leave with us?”
“Because that day you touched this book, I saw the hues of light flashing in the darkness. Those words came alive to you, didn’t they?” His finger brushes over the cover. “I might only see darkness now due to the dragon's claw, but I can see light. And light has never lifted from that book before until you touched it. No man or woman has ever survived putting their hand through the fire. Butyou did.”
“How did you know we were leaving?” My shoulders rise, staring into his silver eyes.
“Death told me it was time to leave.” He clears his throat. “Klayra brought you the book. The stones are impossible to grab without you.”
“Where is Klayra now?”
“She is safe, with the others. Zake, Ivker, they are all waiting with their horses. We are ready to leave the Kingdom with you.”
My heart drops, shuttering a deep breath with the thought of everyone dropping their lives to follow me to the sea. I hope I can be who they want me to be.
“Don’t let us down.” He straightens his back and starts to walk out the door. “We don’t have much time, so grab your things and let's go.”
I hear his boots beat against the staircase as he leaves the wing.
My hands wrap around the thick book after sliding the note inside of it, feeling the heat radiate from it and the ash-like presence still thick against the cover. As if it was scorched.
Without hesitation, I pick it and shove it under my arm. My boots beat against the ground, creating clouds of ash as I sprint down the stairs. The rest of the chosen are setting up their horses, tossing brown satchels across their saddles to prepare for the journey to the sea. We must leave soon, even with the heat of this day. The sun is still high, casting strong shadows against the buildings as I race toward where Koen is packing.
The shuffling in his room echoes down the hallway, and my boots thud loudly against the flooring as I reach his door. I swing the door open, catching Koen removing his shirt. His arms are trembling as if he is using all the strength he has left to remove his clothes.
The fresh wounds now cover most of his old scars, a torturing remembrance of pain etched into his skin that will forever haunt me.
It’s as if time will freeze for eternity as I look upon these scars on his skin.
I could have lost him.
And I will always be reminded of it.
Dried black blood crusts along the edges, mingling with the bright crimson red of re-opened wounds with his movements. Deep, violent slashes crisscross his body, and with the sight of them all, my eyes sting with tears that threaten to fall.
But I force them to stay hidden.
He grips the window sill, his knuckles cracking as he lets his head drop forward, allowing his dark curls to obscure his face. His muscles ripple beneath his skin as he clenches the wood tightly.
He slams his fist against the rocks with a force that makes me jump, and the book slips from my arm. It lands on the floor with a loud thud, sending a cloud of dust and ash swirling into the air.
Shit.
He turns his head with a quick, deliberate motion, glancing over his shoulder in my direction. “I’m sorry.” My voice cracks as I clear my throat. “I thought you’d be ready to leave.”
In an instant, he pushes himself away, his eyes fixed on mine with an intensity that makes my pulse quicken. My heart freezes. I suck in a trembling breath as he strides toward me without saying a word. His movement sends me stumbling backward until my back presses against the chilly wall.
“Koen?” I whisper, eyebrows pulling deeply in.
