And that was one of Grim’s greatest regrets. Ever giving her the chance to love Oro. He blamed only himself for everything that happened after he had erased her memories. He had thought that he was helping her, but he had really taken away her choice. And even though she had forgiven him, he would never forgive himself.
“She’s a guiding star to the otherworld, then,” the thief, Zed, said. “Your...bond...is a map to her.”
Grim nodded. If he could only follow that thread across the universe to her. He had tried, of course, the moment he left the maze. But his portaling ability wasn’t strong enough. And Isla had taken the knowledge of how to create and close portals with her.
Grim sensed a flare of impatience from Oro, bright against the agonizing grief that echoed his own emotions. Oro seemed to understand that of course Grim had already tried to portal to her. His brows came together. “Your flair is our best shot at getting to her. So how do we amplify your power?”
Grim still wanted to kill the Sunling, but at least he wasn’t a complete idiot.
He shook his head. He didn’t have an answer.
Oro gripped the side of the table in frustration. “There isn’t anything here? Any relic? Anything like the heart of Lightlark?”
There was something—not that it would be much use to them. “Well, there is a stone. More powerful than anything else in this world...including your heart of Lightlark.”
Oro blinked. He clearly didn’t know what Grim was talking about.
Grim sighed. “According to myth, it’s the most powerful object in this universe, and even Cronan couldn’t claim it. Many of my other ancestors tried, over the centuries. My father included.” He frowned,picturing his father toward the end of his life, so frail that he could hardly keep himself upright on his throne. “The stone rejected him, cursing him instead.”
“Where is it?” Oro demanded, his words clipped and serious.
Grim leaned back in his chair. “It was on an island north of here, called Atlas.”
Enya’s fiery eyes narrowed. “Why did you saywas?”
“Because I claimed it.”
Silence. Grim could feel the emotions in the room eddying together—flashes of surprise, of concern...of hope, from Oro.
“And where is it now?” Zed finally said, the words spilling out of him, tinged in irritation.
Grim’s eyes met Oro’s as he said, very slowly, “Around her neck.”
The Sunling’s jaw tensed. His hope withered into a flash of hurt.
Zed’s hands slammed against the stone table. “You mean to tell me, the most powerful person we know of took the most powerful item in our world...intoanotherworld?”
His wife was certainly the strongest person in their history—possibly in the universe. She was the first to have access to all six realms’ powers. She was the ruler of both Wildling and Starling. Through Oro’s love bond, she had access to Sunling, Skyling, and Moonling abilities as well. Through Grim’s, she had access to Nightshade. Not that she needed it. Her own father was Nightshade. It was in her blood.
And with so much power had come so much pain. His wife had killed many, many people. She hadn’t had centuries to master her gifts. Not like the rest of them had.
It was part of why she left, he knew. The otherworld was rumored to be a place where the dead could be brought back as they once were. She wanted to reverse her mistakes. To right so many wrongs.
In a moment, Grim was overtaken with regret. He should have done more to comfort her after she had accidentally killed everyone in that village. Maybe...maybe she wouldn’t have left, if—
The irritating Skyling was speaking again. “Let me get this straight. You claimed the most powerful object in the universe...and put it around her neck? What were you thinking?” Zed asked, looking a breath from breaking what was left of the windows.
Slowly, Grim turned to him. “I was thinking that the most important person in the entire universe should wear it.”
Zed shook his head slowly before running his hands over his pale face and saying, “We’re so fucked.”
GRIM
Grim wouldn’t sleep until he found her. So late that night, in the silence of the castle that was once full of her voice, he sat at the table and remembered the night he had decided to claim that gemstone.
It was right after he had asked Isla to be his wife. He was the first in his line to ever get married, but he knew tradition called for a diamond to place around her neck. She deserved only the most powerful stone in the universe.
She deserved Infinite.
