Caius saw theAngelin a new light. He wasn’t speculating; heknew. Sam and Lauren were the only twoAngelsin the realms, and when they arrived, they claimed it was to help with the inmates but never stated why.
“It’s possible, then?” Caius felt the shadows move around him as his hope flared to life.
His friend chuckled. “It is for aSeraph. If aSeraphused their full power within the realms, it would destroy everything.”
“Even if they used them to create?” Caius was befuddled. They created the realms with their power; how would it destroy it?
“They created the realms while still in the aether,” Sam replied. “The capacity of power the aether can house is limitless, but these realms were not made for that.”
Caius’ hackles rose with suspicion. “Have you ever created anything?”Was Sam a fuckingSeraph?
TheAngel’sbrows furrowed. “Of course not, but I have seen it done.”
It made sense.Angelswere from the aether. While it was a resting place for the souls of mystics, it was also a realm. Caius wasn’t sure what happened to souls when they reached the aether, but different races ofAngelsresided there under theSeraphim’srule.
According to their history books, anyway.
“If I can manipulate the darkness,” Caius said, pressing forward. “Then, by logic, I can manipulate the realm itself.”
“If logic were the basis for magic and creation, then yes.” Samreached into his pocket and pulled out a chocolate bar. “But nothing about magic is logical.”
Caius visualized shoving the candy down Sam’s throat. “I have to try, with or without your help.”
Swallowing, Sam licked the chocolate from the corner of his mouth. “I will help, but do not put all of your eggs into a picnic basket.”
Caius barked out a laugh. The rapport around the palace had been dark since Rory left, and seeing his friend had not changed was nice. “It’s ‘in one basket,’” Caius told him. “Not a picnic basket.”
Sam threw the chocolate wrapper into a trashcan as they approached the palace gates. “Does the size of the basket matter?”
Caius continued to laugh on their way to his office. “When can we start?” he asked, circling back to what was important.
“Tomorrow. It will be taxing, and you need to be well-rested. We will meet at the arrowball field at sunrise.” Sam opened the office door. “I must check in with the enforcer in charge. Send for me if you need anything.”
“Wait,” Caius called out. “How is she?”
“She’s asking a lot of questions,” Sam replied, crossing his arms. “Because you are telling her things in the soulscape.”
Shit, Caius thought. Sam didn’t know of their plan to help Rory remember.
“I’ll explain everything before you return,” he promised theAngelas they parted ways.
After pouring himself a drink, he fell into his reading chair, opening the drawer of the side table out of habit. His favorite book was missing. He hadn’t read it in years, but Rory said it was Cora’s favorite, and he’d started to reread it before Rory went back to Erdikoa.
It was comforting to have something she held dear, but now it was gone.
Sighing, he pulled out another book and turned to the bookmarked page. His thoughts were loud, and today he hoped thecharacters could occupy his mind for a little while until the real world came crashing back in.
24
ERDIKOA
The next morning,Lauren stood at the bottom of the stairs with her arms crossed, stopping Rory in her tracks. “You said you wouldn’t leave.”
Rory didn’t bother lying. “It was an emergency, and how did you know, anyway?”
“You don’t look hurt,” Lauren accused, blocking her path to the kitchen. “And I know everything. Please do not make our jobs harder than they need to be. If there is somewhere you need to go, ask me.”
Rory threw her hands up. “Sam wouldn’t even tell me what anAeternumwas! He wouldn’t have taken me to buy an illegal memory recovery potion.”
