I paused mid-sentence and lifted a finger to Malik, signaling silence. My full attention was on her now.
She extended her hands as if holding something sacred.
“They’re that powerful. Capable of tearing open the seams of reality itself—of undoing the very threads that bind us. I believe the only way to destroy darkness is to harness that power. To use it for good.”
“You believe that?” Alina asked softly, her voice dipped in sugar and shadows.
Layla nodded, eyes glassy with emotion. A single tear slipped down her cheek.
“I do.”
I smiled at her—pleasantly, thoughtfully.
“That’s quite the tale,” I said. “Fascinating.”
Her spine straightened with renewed resolve.
“My family has spent generations trying to unlock the mysteries of those blades. But if they fall into the wrong hands—especially the Timehunters?—”
Her words faltered. A visible tremor coursed through her body.
She swallowed.
“My father… wanted to kill Malik. That’s why we ran.”
The fear in Layla’s voice was raw—too honest to be rehearsed. Malik turned toward her with a soft, protective glance. Their eyes locked, and momentarily, the room seemed to vanish around them. A fragile bubble of intimacy formed between them, and something inside me twisted, tight, and venomous.
Then Malik spoke, his voice weighted and deliberate.
“Yes, the daggers are powerful. Not to be underestimated. They’re not just weapons—they’re ancient conduits. But not everyone can find them. It takes a… certain kind of person who can solve the puzzle and open the scrolls. There’s a process. And I admit…” He hesitated. “Some of the details are still unclear to me.”
I leaned in slightly, my throat suddenly bone-dry.
“Do you know where they are?”
Layla answered. “No. But we heard someone—someone from a different period—knows.”
Her words faded like breath on glass. Desperation bled into her expression, replacing the fear with hope.
“Do you have a name? A location?” I asked, my tone deceptively calm.
Layla and Malik exchanged a look. The silence stretched.
“Yes,” Layla said.
“Splendid,” I replied smoothly. “Then we’ll all go find them—together.”
My eyes flicked to Alina’s. One glance was all it took. Her stare met mine with cold understanding.
Without ceremony, I seized her by the arm. “Come with me. Now.”
Our tension rose as we stepped away from prying ears.
“They must die,” I hissed, my grip tightening around her arm.
Alina’s eyes gleamed with resolve. “Before they turn us into prey.”
In that moment, without a vow or ritual, we made a pact.
