“It’s the biggest library in all the land. If any place held books regarding runes, it would be there.”
“You seek the wrong book, Titus.” An aura curls around her, one of knowledge and authority. “The library will house thousands of books regarding runes. They have been woven into fables and tales for far too long to be of value.”
“What are you not telling me?”
“Before this war escalated, Everett did not lead the army. He spent two years in Ishmor as a dignitary scholar. When he returned, he had a book with him. Before you jump like a child grabbing a toy, it was not the Vitalis.”
“Removing items from Ishmor is illegal,” I point out, voice sour.
“Everett was a prince; they do not pause for laws, Titus.”
“Nor do they hesitate to ask if you will accept their magic,” I spit. “What book?”
Her eyes lose their green as recollections surface. “The Great Curse of Caldara.” Her voice slinks away until it’s nothing more than a hushed whisper.
“What’s that?”
“Precisely,” she replies.“That is where we start, Titus. The runes shall follow suit.”
Chapter
Twenty-Three
Selene
The past.
I crash into Everett, my arms coiling around him. The sand embraces my feet as I rise on my toes. The portal’s magical scent clings to his clothes.
He’s here, alive and safe.
But for how long? The only reason he returned was because of the war. I close my eyes, resting my cheek on his chest as he embraces me, his fingers combing through my hair. I sense him creating a time bubble, isolating us from the shore, granting us privacy from the escort.
Tipping my chin up, I study him. His eyes, a blend of brown and green, resemble the forests that guard the mountains known as The Cradle of Darkness.
“When’s the last time you stepped into the sun?” I glide my knuckles along his jaw, feeling the sharp prickle of freshly shaven hair. His skin tone, once similar to mine, has become gray. He looks like a rubber band pulled too far, forced to blanch a lighter tone.
My touch makes him close his eyes. He’s been in Ishmor, studying and working as a spy for our father. But I know my brother; he has his agenda.
“Light does not always save us, sister. Sometimes darkness does,” he mutters as his shoulders relax.
Cool sand surges through my toes, grounding me as I take a step back.“Is the price you’re paying worth the deal with this darkness?” I grab his hand and squeeze hard.“Look at you. You’re flesh and bone. You need to be solid muscle, callus hands, and a stony heart for the war that is to come.”
He flips his wrist, trapping my hands in his,“The wars of our past and present will be child’s play compared to what I have seen. I’d pay any price to stop what is coming.”
“It is not your sole duty to vanquish evil, Everett,” I stress.“Remove the weight from your shoulders.” Ask for help! I’ll help.
My gulp forces those words down, trapping them in my belly. They raised us to be vaults. Keyless; nothing can crack us open except the correct combination. Everett will never reveal his code, for he doesn’t know it. His magic of foresight has jumbled his mind, like a child coloring outside the lines. The original picture is lost. It’s merely scribbles now.
“I do not wish to rid the world of evil. That is an impossible task. I just need to create a symmetry. Balance.”
Not this again. Mindless babbling. I want words. Yes or no. Yes, I am fine. No, I’m not deteriorating.
I hug him again, but my fingers dig into something hard at his back.“What’s that?” Those are not ribs.
Instead of replying, he drops the time shield and addresses the guards.“I’ll change before I see my father.” He grabs my hand and walks quickly, not allowing them to reply.
The guards create a formation as we walk through the port village, up the winding wall that leads to our castle. The waterreflecting off the ocean bounces off the polished sandstone, making the castle appear to be one giant gem. Everett and I know the flaws hidden within the light.
