Dante didn’t answer that, but I saw his frown from here. He didn’t take another step toward us, but I could feel his hesitation. And his mental fidgeting, despite his body remaining perfectly still.
What is it?I asked, somewhat impatiently.
We should go.
I glared at him over Dahlia’s head.
He sighed, shoulders slumping.There’s nothing more you can do for her, Adrian.
I shook my head in disbelief and looked away.
I can feel your fear,Dante continued, his internal voice barely a whisper against my mind.You forgot how dangerous these Trials were. You got complacent. You thought this was a game—
I know it’s not a game,I snapped.
He huffed.Adrian, if anything, this is a reminder. We need to train.
I didn’t respond. Instead, I made a conscious but futile effort to shut him out.
I’ll wait downstairs.He turned and left the hallway again.
“He’s telling you to go, isn’t he?” Dahlia’s voice came muffled from against my chest.
I closed my eyes and sighed before looking down at her. “How did you know?”
She sat up, wiping the tears from her eyes, and moved away as if embarrassed she’d ever needed the comfort in the first place. The distance carved a small hole in my chest where she’d rested a moment ago.
“You concentrate too much when you talk to him.” Dahlia looked away from me, toward the door that Cyrus lay beyond. “It isn’t easy for you yet. So I can tell when you’re doing it. But it won’t be that way forever. It’ll become second nature, eventually.”
I cringed. I didn’t necessarily want to get used to Dante living inside my head.
Dahlia cleared her throat and straightened, “He’s right. You should go.”
I wanted to argue, but one look at Dahlia’s newfound fortitude told me that my concern was no longer welcome. I sighed and stood. “If you need me, I will come.”
She gave me a curt nod, and I made my way down the hall toward the door Dante had vanished through.
Warren emerged from the other side of the hall, a sandwich and a glass of water in hand. We stopped next to each other.
“How is she?” he asked, voice low.
“Stay with her. She’ll tell you not to but…” I glanced back down the hall to where Dahlia sat, back rigid and eyes staringstraight ahead. There was a heaviness in her brow, a sorrow in her expression that strangled my heart.
“I’ve got it.” Warren slapped me on the back before continuing his stroll.
Dahlia didn’t look up as he settled in next to her and offered her the sandwich, pleading with her to eat something. But after only a few murmured attempts, she accepted it.
I stepped out of the hallway and down the stairs to where Dante waited, sending out an exasperating warning along the way.
I’m coming.
Chapter Eleven
“Moderation is the key to a happy life. Too much strength breeds weakness. Too much light calls dark. Too much love creates hate. But a life of moderation dispels excess and fills the soul with joy.”
-The Rite of the Acolyte, 1,280 Age of Sanctum
“Try not to hunch. Keep your back straight.”
