My sleep was fitful, if not fevered. Images accosted me like some sort of dam had burst. Some were clips of the horrors I’d witnessed, while others illustrated my mind finally putting together a pivotal piece of information—but fully understanding it was just out of reach.
One of the more intense dreams woke me up, and I could have sworn red sparks filled the room, but it was difficult to discern dreams from reality. I tried to stay in the land of the living to see if they were real, but exhaustion pulled me under.
Child of everything. Child of nothing, the familiar voice whispered to me, coaxing me from sleep.It’s time. It’s time. Daughter of all. Daughter of none.The voice now echoed, like more than one presence had called to me.
As if in a lucid dream, my body obeyed the whispered summons. Some segments of the journey were clear, while others were instantly forgotten, but each step took me closer to the palace room that’d witnessed generational power—the one where I’d destroyed the obelisk stone that had been brought there to protect me.
It’s time. It’s time, the voices chanted, getting quicker, louder, as I approached the doors.
As I stood in the center of the room, it felt both empty and full; the presence calling out to me filling every inch of the space.
“Why am I here?” I asked, the words echoing as if the room were a canyon.
You know why you’re here, child of stardust. Child of void.Open your eyes and see—see the truth. Some secrets have been told, but more have been withheld. You have the key, child of doors, child of locks, child of everything, child of nothing.
As if a veil had been lifted at the wordkey, I understood what the voice was telling me to do.
I’d learned something pivotal when Thaddeus had forced my powers to show him the map.
I held up my palms to the ceiling and called for the spark. I didn’t force her to show me what I wanted, like Thaddeus had—no, that wouldn’t work. Greater powers had already decided what I neededto learn. As I leaned into the part of me that knew what to do, the air around me stilled as if whatever whispered in my ears was holding their breath, waiting to see what would happen.
A heartbeat later, I was thrown into the scene as if I were there.
I recognized it instantly. Nevander carried me, while Tarrin readied for the blow that hit Thaddeus square on. I saw myself then. Frail. Broken. Injured. I could have wept for the pain I knew she held but hadn’t begun to feel.
The scene played out, and within seconds, Nevander disappeared with me through the doorway, following Ava.
“You son of a bitch,” Tarrin’s voice raged toward Thaddeus. Anger, hurt, and exhaustion ravaged his face as he threw everything he had into the next blow, not caring about his footing. His movements were reckless, and Tarrin’s blind fury would get him into trouble if he didn’t calm down.
The unbridled swing connected with Thaddeus’ block, both men now panting.
“You tried to kill me,” Tarrin yelled, throwing quick jabs toward Thaddeus’ ribs—one to accompany each word.
Thaddeus could have used a spell but didn’t; instead, he defended himself and took what Tarrin threw at him.
“I’m sorry. I didn’t know what I was doing. It was too much power. I’m sorry,” Thaddeus pled.
Tarrin wasn’t interested in an apology. There were no words that could break through until his anger was spent. Thaddeus realized it too. He dodged Tarrin’s right hook and connected with his left—the movement was so swift, I didn’t fault Tarrin for not seeing it. I flinched at the sound, now knowing where his black eye had come from.
Blow for blow, they continued on for longer than Tarrin should’ve been able to muster. We hadn’t slept or eaten properly in almost a week.
The fighting got sloppy until both men were spent, merely hugging each other in what looked like a stalemate. I’d somehowmissed how Tarrin got a bloody lip. It could have been the elbow he’d taken from Thaddeus, but I wasn’t at the right angle to see.
Thaddeus looked a little better than Tarrin, but not by much. Tarrin mustered the energy to push Thaddeus back.
“You should have told her,” Tarrin yelled, an arm outstretched as he pointed a finger at Thaddeus in accusation.
“You told her?” Shock and something like fear shot through Thaddeus.
“Not about that. I’m bound, and you fucken know it,” Tarrin spat.
“I wasn’t sure if the binding would still work now that we’re separated.” Thaddeus’ words were calm. Too calm. He thought for a moment, then added, “She knows about the connection, then.” It wasn’t a question, but Tarrin nodded in confirmation anyway. “But not about her parents? Her brother and sister?”
The world spun around me, and I thought I’d lose my footing.
No. No. No. No. No, no, no, no.This couldn’t be happening.
“You should have never done it, Thaddeus. There was no need to have the mercenaries slaughter her parents like that. Or kidnap the twins. You could have just asked her, told her. She would have helped. She’s made of something else. She could have handled it.”
