“To Everything.”Segrith lifted her palms, those eerie eyes boring into her again. She walked backwards into the shadows ofthe throne. “Return it to the pedestal and you will find the truth, child. Of whom you are… and the origin of the Sleeping Curse.”
Alora gasped. She rushed forward but Segrith was gone.
The ash vanished. The heat died. When Alora looked up, the ceiling was whole again, cold as a tomb.
A portal of shadows ripped open and Hadeon stepped through with a snarl, searching the vicinity. Seeing she was alone, his gaze fell on her disapprovingly. He gently took her arm without a word and led her back through the portal.
They entered her chambers.
Calla and Deimos were there, hovering around Rune seated at her table. When they stepped back, her mouth parted to find half his face and left arm covered in burns. His red eyes smoldered bright and furious.
Hadeon placed her hand in Rune’s like a ceremonial offering.
Or a toy being passed back to its master.
“Leave us.” His tone was soft, which made it worse.
The Harbingers bowed and departed in a plume of smoke.
Alora threaded her fingers together, guilt sinking in her stomach. “I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to hurt you.”
“I don’t care about that,” Rune snarled. “Do you have any idea what could have happened to you, Alora? You were alone with a Dominion!”
She exhaled a sharp breath and turned away towards her desk, removing her crown. “I’m fine, as you can see.” Lifting her leg onto a chair, she unbuckled the sheath and set it beside the folded journal page. “Don’t lecture me, Rune. Not tonight. Not when you’ve been lying to me.”
She set the knife down and faced him, crossing her arms. He had fully healed now, leaving his scorched clothing in tatters.
“Who is Vorak?”
Rune stilled under her glare and his chest halted with a stalled breath. “Where did you hear that name?” his voice was so faint, she hardly heard it.
Alora searched his eyes. “He’s a Primordial, isn’t he?”
He didn’t answer, so deadly still she swallowed.
“Segrith, she called him the?—”
Rune placed a finger lightly on her lips. “There are far more evil things in this world than I, Alora, and we don’t speak of them.”
She swallowed. Even with his cool composure, she could feel it. Hisfear. And it doubled hers.
“Then tell me about the spindle,” Alora whispered.
Something wavered across Rune’s face and he turned away, staring blankly at the wall as if something had occurred to him.
“Rune?” She came around to face him.
He clenched his jaw.
Alora scowled. “She was right. You are keeping secrets.”
“I don’t want to speak of this right now.”
Alora shuddered with ire at the confirmation that he was keeping things from her. “At least tell me about the spider lilies, Rune. Why did they grow within the hall?”
His red eyes slid to hers. “An unexpected event that’s for sure. A phenomenon of Samhain … perhaps.”
He winced, no doubt because his vow deterred him.
