“You have broken the first seal,” he said smoothly. “I can now reach beyond my prison.”
“The seal?”
“The rune under Drøthmar. The one you destroyed so beautifully.” He grinned wide, showing too many teeth. “Such destruction. I felt the cracks as it shattered. The palace folding in on itself. Stone and coral all collapsing. And the screaming—oh.” He shut his eyes as if savoring a fine wine. “Music.”
He’s crazy.
My throat closed. “I didn’t mean to do that.”
He waved a hand, dismissing me. There was a savage beauty to him that almost reminded me of Kairos.
“The fae cast us into this rotting world for two thousand years,” he snarled, flames billowing around his curled fingers. “Two thousand. Every moment stretched into eternity. Every breath a reminder of what was stolen from us.”
His form flickered, scales rippling beneath skin.
“They knelt tous,” he seethed. “Kings and peasants alike. They built temples in our names. Burned offerings. Sacrificed their finest just for theprivilegeof our attention.”
I shivered from his lethal tone.
“They crawled on their bellies and begged for our favor. We weregodsto them. We made the seas boil, and they existed because weallowedit. And then those ungrateful, treacherous beasts dared to bind us.”
His lip curled.
“They will remember what it means to be prey. To beg and plead and know that no mercy is coming. Oh yes. You will help me remind them.”
I struggled to stay still.
“Return to the shadow-wielder and help him destroy the other seal.”
“I-I still don’t understand.”
“He has served me well. As will you, runebreaker.” He stroked my hair, giving it a fatherly pat. “The time of exile ends. The age of dragons returns, and you will open the door.”
I attempted to speak, but the words died in my throat.
“Obey the shadow-wielder,” he growled. “Or taste my wrath again. Wake now.”
His palm struck my chest, and the world shattered.
38
THE CAVE
“Aelie, fuck, breathe.”
Someone pounded on my back. I rolled onto my side, retching seawater. My mind spun, the taste of salt thick on my tongue. Every breath felt like splinters in my lungs. Strong hands dragged me upright and I coughed, gulping in air.
I flinched, gripping my head.
Kairos crouched beside me. Saltwater dripped from his pale hair, streaking down the harsh lines of his face.
“I couldn’t wake you,” he said hoarsely.
I’d never heard his voice shake like that. His hair was plastered to his head, tunic clinging to his shoulders, but the blood was gone.
Relief crashed through me so hard it stole my breath.
“You’re healed,” I whispered.
