“To save my people. You have no idea what it is like to live near the Bloodmist Void. I have lost so many. The rest of the Realm uses my people like a shield. They let us die, promising aid that never comes and leaving us to fight the darkness alone. But with your power, I’d be able to protect my home. Protect my people from the Void and the creatures that dwell within it. We have lost so many, Anna. And your sacrifice will save an entire city.”
It felt like I was talking to Caelan again. The Caelan from before. His passion, his love, his dedication—it was all there but being driven into something foul. It was there, lurking within, poisoning him against his true self.
“I do know. I was there. I saw the wraiths that broke free from the bloodmist. Why not ask me for my help?” I asked. “Why do all of this to steal it from me? I want to help.”
His face twisted with anger.
“No one keeps their word,” he said. “Not even Derrick. I pledged my allegiance to him in exchange for his help to protect my people and he never came.”
“All of this, Cody, Skylar, Reece, Isaac—was Malakai helping you?” I asked.
Caelan scoffed. “Malakai was too easy to frame. Of course, it was a little unfair. My mind affinity far surpasses his. He still does not realize I made him attack Saryna and Isabella. He practically asked for it. I thought I was going to have to take Blake down because Malakai was starting to put the pieces together, but instead, he turned on him—so convenient. Everson was supposed to have cleared my path, but when he took Reece,there was no time to cover up her disappearance. Far too many already knew.”
“It was you; you made everyone forget them,” I whispered. “Why focus on me? Why train me when you were just going to kill me?”
“I am sorry, Anna,” he said. “But I needed you to awaken your everi. I needed you to summon it from the depths of your soul because I am running out of time.”
Caelan pulled a dagger from his bracer.
“Why me?” I asked, staring into his crystal-like eyes.
“You are special,” he said. “All of the Aurkai know it but we do not understand it. It is greater than we are. Are you sure you will not take the serum?”
I turned my head away from him.
I looked at Skylar, her face hidden behind her soft brown hair.
“Just get on with it,” I growled.
Chapter 47
Betrayal Bone Deep
BLAKE
The last blood mage hit the ground, mask shattered, eyes already glazing. My sword arm dropped. I was nearly depleted of everi. The ballroom was unrecognizable—bodies lay in dark heaps across shattered, blood-stained glass.
It reminded me of the day I fully awakened my everi.
Isabella, unable to look away from the carnage, was panting hard, her blade still dripping with fresh blood. She was far more of a warrior than I had expected.
“Come on,” I said. “We need to catch up to Anna and Caelan.”
She nodded but then her expression hardened abruptly.
The same moment, an intense pressure closed around me. It was like I was near the rift all of a sudden. What was this? My body was thrumming as if liquid fire were rushing through my veins even as the temperature around us dropped.
Neither of us moved, trying to sense where they were. Everi was flooding my veins when something moved in the shadows. He was like a wraith—tall, masked, and cloaked in black.
I could not believe the pressure of the everi radiating from him.
Who was this?
He was nothing like the rest of them.
And it wasn’t good.
“Isabella, get out of here,” I muttered.
