Hello,it seemed to whisper.We remember you.
“Gods,” I breathed, my feet carrying me forward without conscious thought.
The Veil itself was changing. Where before it had been static silver, now colours began to bleed through the surface. Deep violet that pulsed like a heartbeat. Threads of gold that twisted and writhed like living things. And underneath it all, the same impossible darkness that lived in my flames.
The barrier rippled, responding to my presence like water disturbed by a thrown stone. Each step closer made the distortion more pronounced, the colours more vivid, the music more insistent.
“Fascinating,” Varyth murmured, so close to my ear that I felt his breath against my skin.
A shiver raced down my spine at the way his tone had dropped, rough and hungry and utterly focused.
My hand lifted without permission, fingers reaching toward the rippling surface. The pull was magnetic, irresistible. Like calling to like. The black fire beneath my skin surged in response, eager to meet whatever waited on the other side of that barrier.
Touch it,something whispered.Remember what you are.
“Don’t.”
Varyth’s hand caught my wrist, firm enough to stop the forward motion. His fingers were warm against my pulse point, and I knew he could feel the way my heart had kicked into overdrive.
“Not today,” he added, gentler now. “Not until we understand what it wants from you.”
“Whatishappening?” I demanded, but I didn’t pull away from his grip. Couldn’t seem to make myself want to.
“I’m not sure,” he admitted. “But it’s connected to your magic. The way it responds to you, the way it remembers...” He trailed off, his thumb brushing absently against the inside of my wrist. “I’ve never seen anything like it.”
That wasn’t enough. Not nearly enough.
I spun to face him, ready to demand more than cryptic musings and half-formed theories?—
Fuck.
He was right there. Close enough that I could count the flecks of ice-blue in that pale silver gaze. Close enough that when he exhaled, I felt it ghost across my lips.
“You can’t just drag me out here, show me this, and then offer nothing but ‘fascinating’ and vague connections.”
“I meant it when I said I’m not certain,” he said, but he didn’t step back. Didn’t put distance between us. “But it’s connected to your magic. Somehow the Veil recognises what you are.”
“That’s not an answer,” I snapped, though the words came out breathless. “That’s a cryptic musing wrapped in vague statements and tied with a bow of ‘I’ll tell you when I feel like it.’”
His lips curved, not quite a smile, but close. “Would you prefer I lie and tell you I have all the answers?”
“I’d prefer you give me something more substantial than fascinating observations and ominous warnings.”
“Fair enough.” He tilted his head, studying me with that intensity that made me feel like he was cataloguing every detail. “The Veil responds to power. But not all power, only certain kinds. Ancient magic. Magic that predates the current order of things.”
“You’re doing it again,” I said, trying to summon some of my earlier irritation.
“Doing what?”
“Being cryptic and alluring about it.” The words escaped before I could stop them, and I wanted to bite my own tongue off.
His smile widened, absolutely lethal. “Alluring?”
“I meant infuriating,” I corrected quickly. “Cryptic and infuriating.”
“No, you didn’t.” He leaned closer, just a fraction, and the movement brought his mouth level with mine. “You said alluring first.” His eyes gleamed with what looked like triumph wrapped in starlight. “And now you’re backtracking.”
“I’m clarifying.”
