“Nehvara didn’t say what would happen to the vessel, just that we’dknowwhen and how to do it when the time was right,” I offer.
“Well, that’s some cryptic shit if I’ve ever heard it,” Daelen shakes his head in disbelief or rejection. Either way, I can’t blame him.
“Fucking seers—always so dramatic,” Jax rolls her eyes, expression bored.
“And the rest?” Therion asks, ever the pragmatist.
Are you ready?I ask down the tether.
Elyssara looks at me, emerald-green eyes pinning me in place, and she nods.
“Elyssara and I are...,” the words catch in my throat, heavy with meaning that we haven’t figured out yet, “bonded.” I fumble over the words, but Elyssara sits up straighter, pulling her shoulders back.
“We’re Starbound—our bond is written in the Stars. A fated tether of mind, body and heart,” she explains, and the power in her words makes me think that perhaps she actually wants this.
“No Starbound tethers have been recorded for hundreds of years,” Seren says in awe. “I thought they were a myth,” she breathes.
“We’re still figuring it out,” I say, trying to give Elyssara time and space to process everything.
“What does this mean, Your High— I mean, Kael?” Rhyven asks. “How exactly does this work, especially if you are to take back the throne?”
His question hangs in the air. Not because I haven’t thought about Elyssara ruling by my side, but because she’s the Dravari heir—she has her own throne to take back. And because there is so much more at play here than solely whatIwant.
Despite the tangled emotions in my chest, I keep my answer simple, direct. “I don’t know. The tether has not been... fully chosen yet. Nehvara described it asan invitation,” I explain.
“I see,” Rhyven says, his expression furrowed in thought. “And how do you...acceptthe invitation?” He posits the question carefully.
“We don’t exactly know that either,” I say truthfully.
Rhyven nods, accepting my answer.
“That actually sounds right,” Ronyn says, and I look at him, confused. “Not knowing anything is kind of ourthing.”
“It actuallyisour thing,” Therion agrees.
“In that case, it’s probably a good time to let you know that there’s one more thing that we didn’t know,” I say, pulling out the parchment from Nehvara with the complete prophecy.
I smooth the parchment out on the stone floor, the firelight catching the ink like it's burning.
I read the last lines aloud.
“But light unbound can blind the land,
A ruin born from an open hand.
The heavens will break, the Stars shall weep,
A blow must strike, or darkness keep.
The Lightborne shall rise, and truth shall ignite,
Unless the Sky destroys her light.
One truth must break, one vow be severed,
Or silence and shadow shall reign forever.”
“We were missing the final two verses,” Therion murmurs, voice low with shock.
