ARIANA
With a sigh, I rolled over, glaring at the moonlight seeping in through the window. It reached across the floor, not quite touching the far wall. All I could do was stare at it. My thoughts were trapped by the walls in my mind.
The night claimed the sky a long while ago, yet every minute that passed, I only got more and more lost in the darkness of my thoughts. There was no way out, no escape. Worries loomed, spanning the concerns of the future to events of the past. Round and round the fears went, slowly closing in until the pressure of them constricted my chest.
I could not avoid Landin’s death. Could not change the outcome, for it already occurred. So then, why did my mind always lead me down a path ofwhat if’sthat may have led to more favorable outcomes? The thoughts were pointless. Yet they consumed me as if they were the most significant thing.
It was torture, all of it.
I released another countless sigh, turning onto my back.Torture came in many forms, and my brain was doing a splendid job of it.
A slight knock tugged at my attention. The sound came not from the main door but from the secret one.
I sat up, head-turning to where the passage hid behind a large tapestry.Erik.
The wooden floor pressed cold against my feet as I stood. Grabbing a robe, I put it on over my silky mid-thigh nightgown before padding over to the door. It creaked, slightly opening.
I could hardly make out the dark figure in the shadows before me, but I didn’t need to see well to know who stood there. The air buzzed with his strength. Ifelthis presence.
Taking a step back, my head angled towards my room in silent invitation.
With a predatory grace, Erik entered, finding his way to the moonlight, which highlighted the strong features of his face. There was a faint glow around the fabric of his shirt, drawing the eye to the physical strength hidden beneath. He was breathtakingly masculine and clearly favored by the moon.
My gaze locked with his. “Couldn’t sleep?” I asked.
His lips pulled to the side. “It appears neither of us could.”
I nodded, glancing at my bed and the mess of sheets. Evidence of the wreckage also within my mind. With a deep breath, I forced my attention back to him. “Look, I’m sorry about earlier. I shouldn’t have used my conjuring on you in that way.”
He shrugged a single shoulder. “It isn’t like I left you much choice to do otherwise. I cornered you.”
“You were trying to help me see reason. Everything you said was correct. I just didn’t want to hear it.”
Erik stepped out of the moonlight, closing the space between us. Raising his hand, the backs of his fingers grazed mycheek. Warmth spread through me. My eyes involuntarily slid shut, face leaning towards the comforting touch. “You have been through so much. Still going through so much. Anyone in such a position would find it difficult.”
I moved out of his touch. Though his sentiment was kind, it did not help. “I am the Leader Superior. I do not have the luxury of letting struggles affect my judgment.”
He shook his head. “You’re-”
I held up my hand as if to stop his words while interrupting. “No. I do not wish to discuss me. Not tonight.”
A silence spilled between us, and I wondered whether he would ignore my request.
He didn’t.
“Do you wish to talk about anything else?” The Lysian King asked, his voice gentle.
“Actually, yes.” I hesitated, wondering what he would make of what I was about to share with him. “When I saw the Spirit at my ascension, it told me that I would meet a conjuror of illumination who would be helpful to me. At the time, I thought the Spirit meant you. Illumination meaning a conjuror of fire, something to see by. But now, I think it may mean a conjuror who can explain and understand. Someone who can illuminate.”
His head tilted in thought. “You think it could be Iver?”
“I have never seen or heard of anyone having his gifts before.”
His gaze cooled. “I’d have to say that I agree. He is certainly unique.”
My attention turned to the window, and I made my way across the room towards it. “I suppose in the end, it doesn’t truly matter. We would benefit from his help either way. Whether he is the one the Spirit meant or not.”
Dark eyes followed my movement. “That is certainly true.”
