“Fated. I know.”He offers me a small smile.“Fated to restore life.”
My spine straightens.
Restore life?
And Nektos has paired him with a creature Fated to alter the realms?
He lifts a hand, placing it along my jaw.“The only life I care about right now is yours.”
My foolish little heart squeezes itself bloody and I nod.
No one has ever shown me such utter devotion.
Not like this.
Not something verging on the edge of consuming obsession.
Ryc turns his eyes to the necromancer as he robs me of his touch. “Is it possible to mend these souls?” he asks.
“Theoretically,” Cenviri answers and he leans a shoulder against the pillar of the Ferry Gate. “If you somehow find their other half. There’s no guarantee they’re living. I would also need—” He stops himself short, his gaze falling upon the black book cradled against my chest. “You sought the ritual in the archives.”
I nod.
Cenviri heaves a quiet but bewildered scoff. “And you found it?”
I nod again. “With the help of Illa Ysari’s archivists.”
Cenviri extends an open hand, careful not to pierce the translucent divider between us. “Give the crystal and ritual to me. I can ensure it’s returned to whom it belongs.”
My jaw clenches.
While I’m not entirely convinced I cantrustCenviri as much as I would like, his opposition of Vaelyn makes the situation easier to swallow. Even so, trust or not, I’m left with little other choice.
“I will not,” I answer, my tone firm and his brows raise as his hand lowers. “But I will ask you help me mend it.”
His surprise shifts to narrow-eyed concern.
“If he refuses and tries to take it from me, we fight.”I send the thought to Rycand his hand falls away from my back, discreetly swinging to rest upon the pommel of his sword.
“Do you know who holds the other half?” Cenviri asks. “I cannot mend missing pieces.”
I suck in a deep breath.
There’s no going back after this.
Once Cenviri knows, he either helps or goes running to Vaelyn. And gods I hope it’s the former.
“It’s me, Cenviri.I’mthe other half,” I say, somehow managing to sound resolute.
Sharp surprise flashes across his features and his wide, mossy-green eyes dart from me to Ryc.
“Which means… you too,” he trails off, shaking the thought from his head. “Never in a thousand lifetimes would I have ever thought Netharis capable ofthiskind ofbinding.”
Binding?
Shoving the urge to question aside—I can ask later, once we’re finished with the mending—I remain still. Waiting for Cenviri to continue. Instead, he studies me, giving me a stern glare as his head tilts.
“You’resurethe crystal is yours?” he asks.
