He said nothing as he let go of her hand and turned to me. He approached me, pausing at my side and said, “Get her out of here.”
He moved on, his everi flaring once more and the shrieking sounding across the city again.
My hands were shaking but I moved, lifting Anna into my arms and ran.
Chapter 35
Inconceivable
ANNA
The return journey to Nightfall was somber.
I wasn’t processing what happened, still in shock. Everything was numb and the echoes of that thing’s voice wouldn’t leave my mind.
Once we passed through the rift, the change in gravity felt like I was walking on air. It also revealed how exhausted I was. While I knew it was an illusion, I felt safe being at Nightfall.
I slept for hours and hours, my mind trying to make sense of what had happened but only managing to prey on my fears instead.
Images of the wraith and its victims haunted my sleep; nightmares of Derrick without a face and Blake telling me terrible things that couldn’t be true.
When I woke, I barely remembered that I’d gone to Blake’s tower before I fell asleep on his bed. Every part of me was stiff and in pain, as if I’d been asleep for days.
I found myself in a t-shirt and shorts, twisted in his black sheets. I took in the familiar red and black decor of his room but didn’t see him anywhere.
Slipping back the covers, I found the soft threads of the rug underfoot. A cold breeze flowed into the room and I found the balcony door ajar. Outside, Blake leaned on the rails, his forearms bearing his weight as he gazed out toward the horizon. He wore a black long-sleeved shirt, the bottom caught in the wind like it wasn’t buttoned all the way, and loose-fitting black trousers. It was dusk and the night sky was beginning to show the brightest stars.
I stepped beside him but he didn’t look at me right away.
“I am sorry,” he said.
I knew what he was apologizing for and it was ridiculous. Nothing that happened was his fault.
“You know it wasn’t because of you,” I said. “I wanted to go, Blake.”
“And I should not have let you,” he said.
I released a guttural sound of irritation and he looked at me, his features cast in shadow. His usually steel-colored eyes had deep red flecks bleeding into the irises. It was like that night in the Realm, but I thought I’d been imagining it.
“I will never regret last night,” he said, “but I must tell you the truth.”
My heart thudded like it was caught in a vice-grip. He moved past me and I followed him in.
“What are you talking about?” I said, circling him where he stood in the sitting room and rounding on him with a gaze so searing he lifted his brows in surprise.
I could tell by his silence that something was very wrong. Something that had to do with the ruby-like color in his eyes.
“It is my fault,” Blake said softly. “I would never be permitted to have you. Now I will pay the price.”
I shook my head. Confusion twisted into anger as I neared him.
“What are you talking about?” I asked, touching his arm.
He flinched, taking a step back.
“My line is cursed,” Blake said, his eyes glazed and narrowed as he looked away. “Descended from the gods and cursed to desire more than a mortal life, triggered by mortal desire.”
His words made no sense. Prophetic nonsense he’d read in a book. Was he delusional? I wanted to go to him but I was rooted to the floor. This couldn’t be happening. He was going through something. He’d get over it.
