What is he referring to? Then it dawns on me—what we almost did, what I almost let happen. Horror washes over me. Have I lost all common sense? Was I honestly a hairbreadth away from giving myself to him, a stranger, right here and now? I scurry away from him.You still don’t really know him, Laïna.What was I thinking? And inside a sacred space nonetheless.
Wrapping his cloak around me, I keep my distance as I look around. The cave is less dim than I remember it. And his arousal.I can smell it.It makes the less sensible part of me want to climb him all over again. That’s the real danger: He leaves me with zero control over myself.
“Your senses,” he says. “The glamour blocked them, but they should come back to full strength now that you have fed. It may be a little... overwhelming to begin with. There is no access to elen inside this cave, but once you get out...”
I reach an arm out in front of me, studying the many glyphs. There’resomany. Vilder said a moonborn never has more thantwenty-seven, but even without counting, I’m quite sure I have more than that.
“You should get going,” Aster says. “Seniia, Vilder. You have to release them. If something happens and they move while you are still here, Zerex will show no mercy. I am positive he relied on me stopping you when he agreed to let you in, but now... As long as your contract holds, he is bound. He cannot break that.”
“You’re not coming?”
He shakes his head. “You have to leave alone.”
I should be relieved, but I’m not. A large part of me wants him close. Too close.And that’s why you should stay far away from him, a small voice whispers.
Letting his cloak drop to my feet, I step back into the dark tunnel. Casting one last glance over my shoulder, I see him kneeling on the cave floor. Eyes closed, his voice is barely audible as he whispers, “Dear Mah, I hope you know what you have done.”
chapter thirty
I HEAR THEM LONG BEFORE I see them, and it isn’t until now I realize that not only do I see perfectly fine in the dark, but I can also smell Seniia’s and Vilder’s distinctive scents as I approach. I shudder to think what I must have smelled like to them before, if this heightened sense of smell is a Rean’s reality. My physical strength and agility, though, seem to be about the same.
Is this why Vilder would throw things at me when I was unaware? To see if I would catch them? Did he know? Although I’m fairly certain he is not a god who can see through glamours, he’s always looked at me like I’m a puzzle he’s trying to figure out.
“She’s coming,” Seniia says, her voice eager. “I can feel her. Can you feel her? And do you think she made it, Vilder?” Without waiting for an answer, she continues, “Oh, dear Mah, I hope she did. I hope she got what she was searching for.”
Despite the seriousness of the situation, I have to stifle a laugh. I can scarcely begin to imagine Vilder’s frustration at having to listen to her rant for bells. At least I think it’s been bells.
With a glance up toward the statues of Mah and Zerex, I pass through before I have time to debate whether it’s safe or not. Knowing that Zerex didn’t want this particular outcome, I wouldn’t put it past him to burn me to ashes on my way out. On the other hand, Aster said he’s bound by our contract.
A wave of relief washes over me as I make it to the other side unharmed.
“Well, you’ve certainly changed.”
I turn at the dry remark to find Vilder leaning against the pillar. Seniia, for once, is shocked into silence. Her gaze lingers on me, processing.
“Itisyou,” she finally says. “I canfeelthat it is you. The bond is the same.” Her gaze glides across my features—the ones that are visible with the many layers of skins I’m wearing, anyway. “But I have to agree with Vilder for once. You have certainly changed.”
“For the better, I hope?” I say with a sheepish smile. At least my voice sounds the same.
And then we’re all laughing, and they both run toward me, pulling me into their embrace.
Gods, does it feel good to finally belong somewhere.
“I was so worried!” Seniia wipes her tears. “And now look at you.” She steps back to take me in all over again, then reaches forward to lift my long pearlescent hair to reveal my ears. “Look! Look, Vilder!” She’s practically dancing as she smiles from ear to ear. “She’s Rean!”
“Thought so.” Vilder steps back, his expression unreadable.
Seniia’s head whips toward Vilder.
“Youknew?” the two of us say in unison.
Vilder flips his dagger as he moves farther back with casual ease.“Come on, Seniia. Are you that blind?” Keeping his gaze locked on Seniia, he flicks his wrist, sending his dagger spinning toward me with skilled precision.
Pure instinct has me grabbing it by its hilt a fraction of a heartbeat later. Hehasbeen testing me.
“See?” Vilder’s eyes are fixed on Seniia.
Pulling myself together, I shoot him a furious glare. “Are you out of your mind? You could have killed me!”
