Dread began to stir in her gut. Because she knew what he meant. Six glanced back, sensing her unease.
‘They burn the bodies,’ Kinlear said, so softly it was nearly carried by the wind. ‘It is a traitor’s death, to us, the fire so hot thatnot even a finger bone is left behind. Nothing for the gods to seek … so that they can’t even make the journey to the Ehver when they die.’
It was sick.
Shewas going to be sick.
For all the things the Citadel stood upon. For all the talk of the gods’ grace …
She wanted to scream.
‘I confronted her about it. I think she sensed that our hearts were already on opposite sides. Because she left that night. Arawn was on watch. It washisfault she got out,hisfault she got past him.’
His heart hammered against her back.
‘The thing I can’t figure out iswhereshe got the Shadow Tome from. We searched her belongings after she left. It wasn’t there. But I have a feeling it’s because she’d already passed it on to someone else.’
Ezer’s blood went cold. What if Soraya had given the book to Zey, and now that very book, the one that had ruined Kinlear’s betrothal … was inhercloak pocket?
‘I’m so sorry,’ she said and shifted her weight nervously.
He could never know. It was too risky.
He nodded against her shoulder. ‘So am I.’
And then the sky erupted.
The boom was enough to feel in her bones. The shadowstorm wasabovethem instead of before them.
‘We’re nearly there,’ Ezer breathed.
She pressed her hands to Six’s neck as the fear threatened to overtake her again.
‘Ezer,’ Kinlear said and suddenly reached for her hands as he held on to her waist. Inches from the black book. ‘I’ve known it from the moment I saw you with your hand on Six’s beak. Because of you, I won’t be forgotten when I die.’
She hated his inevitable end.
‘Because of you … I’ll slay the Acolyte,’ he said. ‘I’ll bring glory to Lordach. We’ll be remembered forever, the prince and the raphon rider.’
‘Thewarrior,’ Ezer corrected him. ‘Today, you are a warrior. Now let’s find the Black Door and the Acolyte.’
He nodded. ‘And drive in the blade.’
Three days before darkness returned. It had to be enough time.
His lips were inches from her ear. ‘Will you promise me one thing, Raphon Rider?’
She nodded.
‘When we make it back … save a dance formeat the next Absolution? I want every eye in the Citadel to see how victorious we are … together.’
Her heart did a nervous little leap.
But not in the way he would have wanted it to.
Because in the back of her mind, she still saw Arawn, how he’d looked as she flew away from him.
Broken.
