“Where’s the heart?” Zorwal is clearly exasperated, almost furious. “Why did you cut the bonds?”
“You’ll soon find out. Be patient.” Otavio then looks straight in my direction, as if seeing me.
Zorwal glances at my direction, then stares at Otavio again. “What if you were to be imprisoned? Kept in a comfortable cage from where nobody could hurt you?”
“I wonder who would be capable or foolish enough to do it. Not you, of course, since you wouldn’t want to commit treason, especially right now, when our king will need our support.”
“You say it as if you were enthusiastic to give him any support.”
Otavio laces his hands behind his back and takes back and forth steps. “You’re here, as powerful as a king, controlling the Crystal Court. Don’t tell me that having to adapt will be easy for you either. I’m sure it ruins your plans.”
Zorwal clenches his fists. “The bonds being cut is what ruined my plans. With no lower fae serving us, this kingdom will plunge into chaos.”
“I thought chaos was a good thing.”
“Don’t play with me.” He points a finger at Otavio. “What’s your game? Our deal was that you’d live on the human side, while I was to gain control of the fae side. That was our deal.”
“I do control Krastel, my dear brother. It’s in the palm of my hand. Soon I could control all the human kingdoms. I saycouldbecause now I might have to adjust my plans.”
“So why mess with the fae?”
Otavio sighs, the way he does when he’s lost his patience. “I did not cut the bonds. Nor have I found the heart. It was another Tiurian.”
“My bloodpuppets would have brought me any Tiurian in fae lands.”
“But not in human lands,” Otavio says.
Zorwal narrows his eyes. “The heart is not there.”
“Then I do not know. What I can tell you is that I can find this Tiurian—and the heart. And soon I won’t be able to keep any secrets from you even if I wanted to. So my findings will be yours and our king’s. If I’m free to search, of course.”
“Why wouldn’t you be free?” Zorwal asks. “Do you need any help to find this heart?” His tone is conciliatory, friendly, and yet even I can notice that his cordiality is a fake veneer.
“Not at all. I have my… trail.”
“Then I’m looking forward to seeing it in the shared space in our minds.” His words sound like a threat.
“Indeed.”
Otavio leaves in confident steps while I’m quite sure Zorwal will have him followed or something. But Otavio certainly knows that too, and I’m pretty sure he would rather not share the location of this heart while he can. If he can even find it.
The heart. What is it? It’s something extremely important. Then it hits me— and my heart responds with a jump.
Astramust have found this heart. Another Tiurian. It’s why Otavio was so desperate looking for her. I need to tell her all of this, and yet I don’t know how.
As I’m making my way slowly to the entrance, I’m greeted with a bright bluish glow from a lightstone. I retreat, even if it’s useless. There’s nowhere for me to hide. No way to run.
I’m caught.
12
ASTRA
My body is still feeling light, still buzzing from Marlak’s touch, my skin still tingling. If I close my eyes, I can still feel him pulsing inside me like a magnificent flame, igniting a long-buried fire. He made me forget all the troubles looming upon us, made me even forget the constant dread in my chest, and yet now it returns like a persistent shadow.
But how can I ignore that he’s about to face the Witch King alone, having to use the magic he hates the most?
We walk to the edge of the island, hand in hand, our steps light, even if my heart feels heavy, and stop by the rocky shoreline.
