“I need to be seen, if I’m to bear the weight of the crime,” she said. “I’ll be fine. Go.”
“Good luck,” Seth said, pushing through the doors. Seraphim darted away, and I lost sight of her.
The music ceased. Though it had seemed faint, distant, I could instantly tell Percy’s spell had faded—the tug on my heart vanished, and the ensuing silence felt deafening.
Seth set me down, and the world spun for a moment. We stood in the gardens Eleos and I had passed through earlier, their lanterns barely beating back the depths of night.
“Why’d you put me down?” I asked, following him across the grass.
“To take you on a romantic stroll before I roughly shove you into a carriage,” he said.
“I didn’t take you for a gentleman.”
“All the best thieves are,” he said with a smile, moments before stalking toward me like a hungry wolf.
“Seth?” I managed to get out.
He pushed me against the temple wall, slamming a hand beside my head. “What were youthinking?” He growled, cupping my chin and lifting my face.
Eyes widening, I met his gaze. His dark brows wrinkled in anger, and his black waves hung like curtains around his face.
“What are you talking about?” I asked.
“I told you not to reveal your magic, and you went and told the bloodyGrand Cleric.”
“What was I supposed to do? We were about to be thrown in the dungeons!”
“We could have escaped, with the world none the wiser to your predicament.”
“Or we wouldn’t have.” I set my jaw, reading between his words. “What do you mean ‘predicament?’”
Seth’s red eyes darted around my face. “Your magic is not a blessing. It’s acurse.” Shifting closer, he lowered his voice. “I knew someone with your magic. Do you know why you’ve never heard of her?” His fingers dug into the stone wall. “Because she’sgone. Torn apart by the very thing she was supposed to wield.”
He spoke of someone he loved. A family member, or a lover. Grief had fractured his voice when he’d asked me to keep my magic secret—he’d buried someone who hadn’t. No wonder he’d been horrified, the day I’d discovered my abilities.
Seth feared the same fate would befall me.
Touching his cheek, I forced him to meet my eyes. “I’m sorry. But I can’t shy away from my magic just because of whatmighthappen.”
Relaxing, Seth’s hand slipped from the wall. “We’ll be in Duath Nun soon, and it won’t matter that they know. Godsdammit,” he cursed. “Why did it have to beyou?”
“Why not? Better a nobody like me than someone of worth.”
“Someone ofworth? Aethra, you’re—” He bit his lip, cutting himself off.
Pressing a hand into his chest, I pushed him away. “We’re fleeing a temple full of knights, remember? We can argue about this later.”
Snapping to attention, Seth looked around. “Percy’s song . . .”
“You only just noticed?” I picked up my skirt and darted around him.
“Oh, no, you don’t.” Seth stalked after me. “This is a kidnapping, not a romantic stroll.”
“Youjustsaid itwasa romantic—” I turned and gasped, managing only to take a single step back before he grabbed me and threw me over his shoulder again.
“Seth!” I hissed, curling my fingers into his cloak.
Ignoring me, he ducked between two trees, and I flinched as branches swung past my face.
