Night trotted away.Let’s go.
“Are you sure?” Tate called, setting out after him. “Don’t you have an Obsidian Lord to stalk?”
No need. Mia will report if he does anything suspicious.
Tate sucked in a breath and jogged to catch up, abandoning her lazy walk. “Mia? When I told you to stop following him, I didn’t mean to hand the job off to someone else. He knows you’re watching him. You realize surveillance only works if they don’t know you’re watching, right?”
Night’s head lifted as he trotted in the direction of the temple district.Nonsense. I know what I’m doing.
Tate scoffed. “Yes, that’s why the Obsidian Lord told me curiosity killed the cat.”
Night sent her a look that asked if she was an idiot.I’m not a cat.
“That’s what I said.”
They shared a conspiring look as Tate fought against a grin. She shouldn’t encourage him—
even if it was kind of funny to hear Archie’s frustration every time he mentioned Night’s stalking.
Unable to fully hide her laughter, she pointed a no-nonsense finger at Night. “Alright, I won’t say anything more, but make sure you don’t take it too far.”
Night’s mouth parted in a feline smile.Would I do that?
Tate made a pained expression. He absolutely would.
“So, Mia, huh?” Tate said as they started walking again. “Is it something like Veles who stalk together, stay together? Some weird courtship ritual?”
Night shot her a disgusted glance before bounding ahead of her.
“What? Is it something I said?”
EIGHTEEN
Tate and Night moved silently through the cavern that housed the temple of the Saviors. For once, it was mostly empty. The pilgrims who visited gone for the day. Only a couple of guardians lurked around the edges, nearly unseen in the shadows.
At the sight of Tate and Night, one of them ducked through the hidden door that led into the main quarters.
They recognized you. Someone has a big mouth.
“He was expecting us. It makes sense that he would have informed his people beforehand.”
Though, from their quick reaction it seemed they knew what Tate looked like. Or at least the traits of her more distinctive companions, Tate conceded as her gaze fell on Night.
Tate left the guardians’ behavior and whether the grandmaster had spilled secrets he shouldn’t have for later. On silent feet she bypassed the rows of benches as she headed for the other side of the cavern where four statues waited next to an empty alcove.
There were some places that felt holy as soon as you entered them. A hushed reverence that enveloped you the moment you stepped inside. This cavern was one such place.
Tate didn’t know if this was the result of countless individuals over the years worshiping at the feet of their Saviors, or if this place had always contained the air of the divine.
The statues of the Saviors were an imposing presence. Carved into alcoves centuries ago, they resided over the cavern like silent observers. Each one of them carried the face of people Tate once knew almost as well as she knew herself. Candles flickered at their feet as they gazed out at the world with serious expressions.
The artist responsible for their creation had taken some liberties, capturing their essence before life and war had hardened them. They looked like heroes who would be easy to follow. Stern but caring.
The only discrepancy was the empty alcove to their left. It was set back from the rest and not easily visible unless you knew it was there. It represented the fifth and final Savior, someone lost to history who most considered a myth.
Only the most devout and well informed of the guardians knew the truth. That the fifth was a real person and the leader of all the rest. The one who’d led the charge against the Creators.
It should have been a sad comment on Tate’s life that she’d been so thoroughly forgotten after her disappearance. Tate didn’t look at it that way. She didn’t do the things she had to be remembered. In many ways, it was better her actions fall into obscurity. Some things should be forgotten. Maybe if Jax and all the rest had faded along with her, Aurelia wouldn’t now be facing the crisis of Creators being resurrected.
