I take it, and we are whisked away into the darkness.
When the world rematerializes, we stand before what I know without doubt is the academy. Even if Ruvan hadn’t pointed it out to me in the miniature of the city, I would know its architecture anywhere. From the pointed archway over the entry, to the four bell towers, it has been embossed onto the landscape of my dreams, tied to this impossible circumstance I’ve been woven into.
“This way.” Ruvan’s movements have a solemn reverence as we head inside. I try and follow his lead, not quite sure what to expect as we ascend the stairs. He halts without warning. “This place… You won’t pass a word on it to those of Hunter’s Hamlet?”
“I swear it.”
“No matter what happens?” Ruvan’s golden eyes are piercing. Intense. Probing.
“No matter what happens,” I echo with a nod. “Callos promised to destroy the information I gave him about Hunter’s Hamlet if we fail in breaking the curse. I promise the same with whatever you’re about to show me.”
The intensity melts from his face and he reaches for my hand, giving it a squeeze. The motion is familiar and reassuring. It’s friendly, but also somehow more intimate.
We trust each other, deeply and truly. When did that happen?
He leads me under the main archway.
The immediate entry of the academy is a small room. There’s a stone desk, with a symbol emblazoned on the wall behind that I’ve never seen before. I can tell it’s another blood mark, but I have no idea whose it is. We continue through the halls of the academy, heading straight back toward where the mountains are, and then descending.
At first, the hallway is well formed, but after two more rooms, and through another door, it becomes rough and misshapen. This is not a well-planned passage; its construction reeks of haste. Desperation. Inexplicable worry worms its way up my throat. I swallow hard and try to banish the sensation to mild success.
We come to a stop before an iron door. I know something is wrong from how Ruvan comes to an abrupt halt, an arm outstretched to hold me back. Protect me. He inhales deeply and his demeanor changes. His muscles are tense. The air around him seems to vibrate with power.
He’s readying himself for battle.
I grab my sickle and slowly creep alongside him. Ruvan swings the door open and I’m ready to pounce. Motion almost has me swinging but I stop at the last second.
A snarled question cuts through the silence. “What’reyoudoing here?”
CHAPTER29
I should have swungwhen I had the chance. I should have sunk my sickle right into Ventos’s smart mouth. I ease out of my stance; Ruvan does as well.
“I wanted to show her the cavern,” Ruvan answers, even though I’m the one Ventos is staring down.
“She has no business here.”
“She does if I say so.”
“I don’t mind leaving,” I interject. Both of their attention is on me. “Despite what you might think, Ventos, my goal isn’t to make you uncomfortable.”
“No, your goal is to kill us.”
“I’m not trying to kill any of you.”Not anymore, at least. Though Ventos keeps testing my resolve.
“No more.” Ruvan rests a firm palm on Ventos’s shoulder, giving the hulking man a shake. “She is not your enemy.”
Ventos looks from Ruvan to me. “If you step out of line in here, even just a toe, Iwillkill you. I don’t care if you’re the bloodsworn of the current lord. I wouldn’t care if you were the queen of the vampir herself. I will kill you.” This isn’t an idle threat. He’s not trying to make me feel strong or bolster himself. This is a firm and resolute promise. Calm and assured in its deadliness.
“Vento—”
Before Ruvan can finish, Ventos has already stomped away, his form becoming hazy among the chill that curls in the air almost like frost, illuminated unnaturally by the jagged points of crystal. The vampir lord turns to me. “I’m sorry.”
“For what? I don’t begrudge him his skepticism.”
“You don’t?”
I shrug. “I had been planning on finding a way to kill you the second the oath was over.”
