“How did he hide that from the council?”A vivid goldenrod hood catches my eye in the crowd before it vanishes in the moving sea.
“It wasn’t without help. For the last five decades of his rule, Lilith led Erus,”Ryc answers.“She acted on his behalf, claiming him ill. I kept him alive, kept the Death Bringers at bay.”
My eyes widen.“There were others? Other Death Bringers who camefor Thalion?”
Thalion’s name appeared on my siblings’ reaping lists?
“Several over the last few years of his life,”Ryc says, flashing me a smile.“None capable of stopping me.”
I would laugh at his confidence were it not truth.
“When the Dividing War broke out, Thalion insisted on fighting alongside his men.”He gives my hand a small squeeze.“And we both know how that ended.”
Indeed.
I was sent to collect.
And I met the very fae beside me.
“Part of me believes Netharis knew,”he continues.“He knew what we were to one another. He knew I wouldn’t stand against you.”
“He wanted to keep me in the hells. If he knew, he would have found a way to end you,”I counter, shaking my head.
Defending Netharis, to Ryc of all people, sits heavily on my chest. It’s not something I would have seen myself doing in a thousand years.
“Perhaps he knew he couldn’t.”
My eyes swing to his. “Your confidence is truly astounding.” I laugh and he smiles.
“You’re just learning this?” Eve quips from behind and I peer over my shoulder.
I’m met with an arched brow and ice blue eyes. She walks beside Cyran, dressed in her usual black leathers, bandolier of knives strapped across her chest. Cyran provides quite the contrast in his gleaming silver armor. Both wear the same crimson cloaks as Ryc and I.
“It grows more evident by the day,” I tease and Ryc scoffs as Eve laughs.
“Not much farther now,” Ryc says, drawing my attention forward. “Are you ready, little love?”
Bracing myself for all nature of possible surprises, we round a bend in the street and the size of the crowd swells.
Peopleeverywhere.
Flowing in and out of the square at the end of the street—many forced to push through. Both Eve and Cyran step around us andquicken their pace to walk a few steps ahead, parting the crowd.
People stand in much too chatty lines waiting for their turn to purchase goods, food, or drink. Gathered in groups and gaggles before merchant stalls, their voices blend together to create a persistent din.
It wasn’t overwhelming before, but it is now.
Through the pressing mass, near the center of the square, there’s a bit more space—because dozens of pairsdance. It’s a captivating sight, the synchronized movements, the twirling and swirling cloaks and colors. And it holds the same kind of unbridled and unashamedjoyas the night of my induction into Celesta’s service.
But that had been an entire world tucked away, hidden within Ollora. It’s one that’ll never be seen again, and a strange touch of mourning settles against my heart at the thought.
“Dance with me,” Ryc says as he slips his arm from my grasp to take my hand.
“Ryc, I…” I stammer, struggling to find an excuse. Or lie.
“Dance with me, please?” he corrects himself, turning to backpedal behind Eve and Cyran.
“I… don’t dance,” I laugh weakly as he continues to draw me deeper into the square, toward the center.
