I don’t want to speak about the words in the book. They’ve been imprinted in my mind day and night and at every waking moment. I don’t want to discuss them until I meet with King Zander, and I definitely don’t want to delve too deep into my suspicions, for fear that they may be true.
“There is nothing to fear,” Hirovale shakes his head.
“And yet I don’t know what to do with them,” I whisper.
“Because you choose not to,” the Ancient grimaces and moves closer, his tall figure so near to hovering over me now, “you choose to ignore your own natural curiosity. Which is extremely surprising, Alex, as I’ve watched where that curiosity has led you in life so far.”
“And just how often are you watching me?” I scowl up at him, taking another small step back as he takes another forward.
“Whenever I want,Lady,” his golden eyes crinkle in humor.
Not okay!
“I don’t care,” he laughs, “your life interests me. It holds a very big stake in the outcome of the Old World to come. Plus,you’reinteresting, Alex. Far more interesting than I could have ever envisioned my Human Reborn to be.”
Those fucking wordsagain.
“Holis and Mana?” I implore, taking yet another step back from him and his amused seriousness.
“Believers,” he grins at me, “protectors. They will continue to watch over you in ways that I cannot.”
The Ancient is too close for my liking now. When did he get so close? His body is towering over mine, his golden eyes darting to my forehead as his lips turn down in a small frown.
“I saw the moment when they took your scar away,” he says quietly, shaking his head, “you looked better with it.”
He lifts up a hand and reaches towards my temple, my breath hitching in my chest just as his fingertips brush against my skin. A sudden coolness rushes through my body that is equal parts foreign and familiar, the feeling so strong that it makes me take a hasty step away in confusion. I clumsily trip on my feet and fall straight on my back, cursing at the soft earth below.
Hirovale looks down at me like he wants to laugh at my expense, but instead he takes a strong step forward so that both of his boots are straddling either side of my legs. I glare at him in warning and then look over to Stormfall still sitting atop the boulder, my eyes pleading to Bird of Ash for help while knowing I’ll get none.
“You do not need to fear me either, Alex,” he says.
He holds out a hand with a look of determination on his face, one that I ignore as I push up to stand on my feet. Hirovale does laugh at my expense now, the amused sound sending another shiver down my spine.
I probablyshouldbe fearful of him. I’m standing in front of the most powerful of the Ancient Ten, a being so strong that a simple touch from him can claim my soul.
But for some reason I can’t find that fear, only the feeling of mild disdain.
“I don’t care for you,” I cross my arms over my chest, “I don’t care for the way you speak to me as if you know me better than I know myself. This isn’t fear, Hirovale, just a bit of anger. You can’t watch someone without their knowledge and then casually own up to it as if it isn’t a big deal.It is.And I also don’t like how you allude to the people and Old World around me. Just tell me what you came here to say and get on with it.”
The Ancient’s brows raise at my tirade, his lips grinning in mock laughter. “Don’t care for me? But we haven’t even gotten to know eachother yet.”
“Do we need to?”
“Yes,” he nods, “more than you know…”
The Ancient stands proud in front of me, both of our eyes narrowed on the other as we measure the person in front of us.
“What do you want, Hirovale?” I glare at him, “truly, this time. No more vague answers.”
Hirovale nods his head as a look of approval flashes behind his golden eyes, “I want to wake my brothers and sisters from their sleep in this Old World, Alex. I want you to become my human reborn and stand alongside me as we work to restore magic toallbeings and lands.”
My heart drops in my chest, his last words so near to mimicking the text in Storm’s book. Hirovale grins at me again and nods his head in affirmation.
No,I let out a nervous breath.
“Yes,” the Ancient replies.
The call to run in the opposite direction pulls at me again.
