“Enlighten me.”
There was a long pause.
“I don’t know what’s going to happen when we return to Banesteppe. None of us know how King Zelrus is going to take the news of Lephas and Lori and now I am heavily implicated in all this too. Lephas could land usallin hot water.”
Faye paused. She hadn’t considered it like that.
“He really is risking everything for her, isn’t he? How…” Faye trailed off.
“Stupid?”
“I was going to say wonderful, actually. You think Lephas is being foolish?”
“He’s my commanding officer and a grown man, he can do as he pleases. I think this whole thing has been wholly out of character for him and I’m not sure he’s thought it through.” Raxx reasoned. He paced to the bottom of the bed and leant forward, resting both hands against the baseboard.
“You think it was a mistake?” Faye asked.
“Yes and no.”
Faye rolled her eyes. “Elaborate, please?”
“Yes, I think it was a mistake, but given the information I have gleaned about their relationship, I’m not sure if I would have done anything differently if I had been in the commander’s position.” Raxx shrugged.
“What information?”
“I’m sure your sister will fill you in on the details, but I believe whatever they have for one another is real. It doesn’t appear to be a superficial, fleeting attraction.”
“Like they’re soulmates?” Faye asked quietly.
Raxx rolled his eyes and shot her an embarrassed grimace. “Soulmates aren’t a real thing, Faye.”
“If you believe that, then you’ll never find yours,” Faye scoffed.
She had always been so in love with the idea of two people, two souls, lost in the world and looking for one another. A special bond that went deeper than any physical attraction. Two halves of the same whole, two sides of the same coin… she sighed. Had Lori found that in Lephas? Now she was even more envious.
A bright light caught her attention. Raxx appeared beside the bed. From his fist hung a chain with the most beautiful shining gem Faye had ever seen. It sparkled, bright like the sun, shimmering and casting pretty rainbows around the dim room.
“What is that?” she asked quietly.
“A gift from a friend.” Raxx paused. When Faye tore her gaze away from the beautiful crystal, she found his dark eyes looking at her with an intense curiosity.
“What?”
“Hold out your palm.” He instructed.
Faye obeyed and Raxx slowly lowered the crystal until it was hanging just above her outstretched hand. The demon hesitated before releasing his hold on the chain. The piece of jewellery fell into Faye’s grasp.
No sooner had the gem touched her skin, but the pretty shining light extinguished. The surface of the gemstone grew dark and black, shining purple swirled just beneath the surface. It felt cold, colder than anything Faye could ever remember, and stung against her warm palm.
“What is this thing?” she asked, gazing into the crystal’s depths. She couldn’t take her eyes off it.
“How does it feel?” Raxx’s voice was low and rough.
“Cold. Really cold.”
“Does it hurt to touch it?” The shadow demon sat carefully on the side of the bed. It creaked beneath his weight.
“A little. It’s stinging, like holding a block of ice.” Faye raised her other hand to stroke her fingertips gently over the shimmering surface of the crystal. Purple sparks greeted her touch, sending tingles down her arm. She shivered.
