She hummed and kept reading. Each chapter described the different beings and their magical powers. One focused on Supay, the god of death, and his attempt to take over the mortal world millennia ago. The image on his page featured a black moth with a skull inlaid into the center. There were pages on guardians and mystical beings, with one chapter devoted to the Vatte and their earthen magic. A passage describing magical beings cursed for their greed and condemned to live as golden trees caught her attention. Unfortunately, most of the text lacked accompanying pictures.
She paused when she flipped the page, and the familiar image of a black snake appeared.
Seda gasped. “It was him!” She pointed to the picture on the page, and Cahir leaned over to look as she read aloud.
Somnium, the Guardian of The Last Sleep, was once considered a myth. Now, he rules over Noctyra, a land in the distant eastern regions of Xyberus. There are a few accounts of his encounters, and he is hard to locate. As a result, little is understood about his complete magical powers. What is known is that he can read minds and induce terrifying dreams, resulting in pain and death. The most divine creation of Supay, he has snake familiars but appears as a demonic, armored figure. Somnium is seen as cruel and selfish, thriving on inspiring fear and horror in the sleeping realm of beings.
While other chapters of this book spanned multiple pages, Somnium’s chapter was just a single page featuring a detailed image of a large, black-scaled snake with elongated fangs. The same fangs Seda remembered when she passed out in the rose garden.
“What does he want from me? I thought all the gods fled?” she asked.
“Apparently not all of them,” Cahir replied. She looked up at him and watched as he bit his lower lip.
“There’s something else, Cahir…” Seda started.
Cahir’s emerald eyes locked onto hers, and she inhaled sharply. Should she tell him her assumption? He didn’t catch her reference to the eye color back in his bedroom, and trust went both ways. She wastryingto tread down that path with him again.
“I believe this is Kalon.” She pointed at the image.
Cahir froze, going deathly quiet, and his face shadowed under the light.
Silence lingered for a moment before he finally spoke. “He said he had something you wanted. It’s the Stone of Protection he stole from you.”
A clock chimed in the room three times, causing Seda to jump, but Cahir remained unaffected by the sudden noise.
“We should probably head to bed. I have some things I need to take care of tomorrow and am expecting Praxis back with the trade crew,” Cahir responded while anger radiated off of him.
Seda went to place the book back on the shelf when Cahir gently took it from her hand. “I’d like to read more about this.”
Cahir’s anger was palpable, and she could feel his heat of fury like a simmering woodstove warming an already hot house.
“What should I say to him the next time he comes to me in my dreams? My magic didn’t affect him,” she asked nervously. She wasn’t sure why he was so upset. Yes, Kalon had stolen her moonstone and provoked Cahir on their journey to the Wisps, but this sudden change of demeanor was… unexpected. Perhaps telling him was the wrong choice, after all.
“You can stay in my room. I’ll wake you up if you start tossing and turning.”
She hesitated to accept his offer because of his emotions, but she didn’t want to be alone. She also feared it would be too apparent that the idea of lying next to him, feeling safe in his arms, and possibly kissing him again, excited her. But was it really so wrong to feel excited about something like that? She genuinely wanted to experience it again.
She looked up at him and smiled. “I’d love that.”
He tucked the book under his arm and blew out the candles, bathing the room in darkness once more.
Chapter 19
Ael
Ael took steadying breaths as they walked back to his room. His mind was racing. She mentioned having dreams of snakes all her life, and Kalon had been especially interested in her from the moment he saw her arrive in the dunes. He also spoke of Seda as if he had known her for a much longer time than he actually had.
Kalon had to be Somnium.
The image of the Gnashing Flora writhing in pain flashed through his mind. That was so sudden, and no one had done anything to stop the monstrous plant from its attack. It had to have been Kalon’s magic. Also, Kalon didn’t have the same dragon tattoo as the other Rising members.
It all made sense.
Well, mostly. How did he know Seda before meeting her? Had he sensed she was special from the moment her beautiful soul entered this world? Or was it something else?
One thing was sure, though: Kalon couldn’t have her. Seda belonged to him.
They entered his dimly lit room, where Seda sat on the silken sheets, fidgeting with her fingers. He could tell she was nervous. Hopefully, it wasn’t because of his reaction to Kalon and his anger that he couldn’t swallow down in the library.
