“She’s on her way,” I said, relaying Scarlet’s update through themarekemas I vaulted over the fallen bodies and rounded the corner at a sprint. Shayde was right behind me, his footsteps heavy but steady as we pressed forward.
We reached the entrance to the Eternal Tomb without encountering more Tyrians. Both of us were winded, our chests rising and falling as we kept scanning the corridor for any sign of movement. I rested my palms on top of my head, leaning my back against the cool stone wall, trying to catch my breath.
When I opened my eyes, Shayde was already at the bookshelf—the Tomb’s arcane gatekeeper—his fingers brushing over the spines like he was searching for a secret tucked in the pages.
I exhaled. “I didn’t have the chance to thank you.”
“For what?” Shayde asked, his back still to me.
“For the bow. And my mask.”
His hand paused mid-reach along the spines. He turned his head slightly, speaking over his shoulder. “Those were my form of a thank-you.”
“For what?” I asked softly.
He hesitated, then slowly pushed the spine he’d tugged forward back into place. His shoulders tensed, a quiet weight settling into the space between us. “For giving me something to fight for.”
The sound of quick-approaching footsteps snapped us back into position. We raised our weapons side by side, ready.
Rhodes slid to a stop, eyes wide and frantic as they landed on us. Shayde immediately lowered his sword and wrapped his arms around his brother in a tight embrace.
“Where is she?” I didn’t care to wait for pleasantries.
“She’s coming,” Rhodes said, slightly breathless.
I closed the distance as the brothers let each other go. “You two split up?” My tone was sharp, accusatory.
Rhodes’s nostrils flared. His jaw clenched.
Shayde stepped between us, palms out like a barrier. “We can’t do this right now,” he said firmly.
I rolled my eyes and turned back to the bookshelf. “Rhodes. Considering you’re wrapped up in this twisted prophecy too, have you tested if it lets you in?”
Without another word, they stepped forward and pressed their palms to the books. Shayde’s hand met physical resistance, but Rhodes’s slid through the magical barrier with ease.
“Hm,” I scoffed. “Guess you really are a part of it.”
“What part ofbeing curseddid you not understand?” Rhodes deadpanned.
I narrowed my eyes at him, a sharp retort already forming on my tongue—
“Go ahead and enter,” Shayde cut in, his voice firm, stepping between us again. “I’ll keep a scan on the hall. Tell Scarlet you two are behindthe barrier already.”
“Be careful, brother,” Rhodes said to Shayde, speaking over my head.
I glanced between them. Shayde’s lips pressed into a line as he gave a small nod. From the corner of my eye, I saw Rhodes step through the barrier and disappear into the Eternal Tomb—but I couldn’t look away from Shayde.
He stared after his brother for a beat before his warm brown eyes shifted down to meet mine. The tension in his jaw eased. I opened my mouth, but nothing came out. My heart ached to tell him the truth, but my fucked-up mind couldn’t even figure out what that truth was.
“You can hate me later,” Shayde said, jerking his head. “Go.”
I swallowed hard, my heart pounding like it was trying to tear its way out of my chest. I gave him one last look before pushing my hand through the shelf, the magic parting around my skin like mist.
Once my feet were inside the hidden corridor, I turned back toward Shayde. His eyes searched the space, darting around as if trying to find us, but they never landed. He ran a bloody hand along his jaw and sighed before jogging away.
The trepidation of what was coming clenched around my throat like a vise.
I shook it off and jogged toward the domed chamber where the Mareki rests. Rhodes was already inside, slowly turning as he took in the space. The magical barrier surrounding the Eternal Tomb sealed off all noise from the outside world. In the circular room, only our breathing and the soft scuff of boots against stone could be heard.
