The blade ignites and the veil is torn.
The words from the prophecy reverberate in my mind.
Noticing the surprise on our faces, Zak continues, “Rhyven tracked it and has been watching it ever since.” He pauses, as if weighing whether he should continue. Cautiously, he says, “People from The Wastes have been walking through it. Confused, lost. They end up dying, of course—no water, no food. If there’s nothing keeping them in, or we can’t bring it down all together, they die. Bit of a problem.”
Merrik drags his hand through his hair, understanding the gravity of the situation.
“Fuck,” is all I can think to say.
“Yes, fuck.” Zak agrees sarcastically. “Admit it, Kael,” he says, voice dripping with arrogance. “You need me.”
I loathe to see any value whatsoever in Zak, but this is why he’s here. He’s strategically fucking brilliant. His brother, Rhyven, is anAetherstride, and Zak is a Bloodbond. Together, they are precise, intelligent, and lethal. Zak’s loyalty, on the other hand, is questionable at best.
“For the moment,” I allow, and I mean it. He’s one lingering gaze at Elyssara away from being kindling for the fire.
I help Elyssara onto Nyx and swiftly swing myself behind her. I brush my hand over her waist, grounding her, grounding myself. A silent promise:I’ve got you.
“Let’s go,” I say quickly. I’ve had enough of this conversation. “Seren, Rowan,” I say, eyeing the scholars, “I need you to work on the next relic and have answers by the time we return.” They nod stoically. “With the rip in The Decay, our timeline just collapsed. We don’t have the luxury of time anymore.”
CHAPTER SIXTY-EIGHT
ELYSSARA
The jungle is still,too still, as if it’s watching us. The further we get from Thornewood, the more palpable its sentience. Even the air shifts—heavier, quieter, expectant. The trees’ bioluminescence brightens with our presence and dims as we move past, confirming what I’ve known in my bones since arriving—it senses us. It sensesme.
No one speaks. No one dares to.
We simply ride, watching, waiting, alert.
I look down at my chest and see the compass dangling between my breasts. The dial of the compass points straight ahead, never deviating from our destination. Itwantsme to go there. The compass drives me forward, urging me to keep going.
Ronyn surges his chestnut mare forward in line with us, “So, what’s the plan, El?” His roguish grin kicks up the corners of his mouth, and he adds, “Aside from not dying, of course.”
I huff a laugh, “That’s about as far as I’ve got when it comes to the plan.” I pause for a heartbeat, reminiscing on the sheer recklessness of all the raids, stealing and brawls we encountered—or incited—in Virellin. “But you know I don’t need one. Blind stupidity is as good a plan as any, right?”
“That’s my girl,” Ronyn agrees. “It’s worked for us all these years. Why stop now?” Throwing me a wink over his shoulder, he trots ahead to catch up to Therion. Kael stiffens behind me, his hands clenching around the reins in front of me.
What is it?I ask through the tether.
He doesn’t respond, and just as I go to probe him again, his voice rumbles back down the tether:you’re not his girl.
Kael, don’t be ridiculous. You know he doesn’t mean it like that.
The tether quiets, but his jealousy buzzes like static under my skin.
Kael’s possessiveness has become more intense over the last few days. It coils tighter every time someone else even utters my name. I don’t know if it’s just Zak’s presence that’s setting him on edge or something deeper.
“I know,” he finally says out loud with an audible exhale, releasing the tension from his posture. “But I want the world to know you’remine.” He presses a hand to my thigh, infusing his strokes with hot need, “And you know I don’t share.”
Before I can reply, the air thickens, and the steady hum of insects ceases instantly.
Therion turns and gives Kael a sharp nod.
We’re here.
The trees part, the vibrant canopy gives way to an unnatural darkness, where obsidian trees rise like monoliths. Too tall. Too dark. Too oppressive.
The trees reach skyward, and loom downward.Watching.
