Care to share where ‘here’ is?
Nya waited, leaning her hip against the wall. A few minutes had passed by the time she heard Morgen say,It’s a bit of a climb. You don’t need to bother.
Nya sighed loudly.Varax, would you be so kind as to give me directions?
Just down the hall from his chambers, there is a set of stairs set into the stone that leads out to the side of the mountain. After that, you’ll just have to hike.
Nya didn’t bother replying, instead hurrying towards the direction of his room. She was surprised to realize she had already started learning her way around the tunnel systems.
When she reached Morgen’s room, she found the stairway with little trouble, though by the time she climbed it to the top, she was panting. She swore softly when she emerged and saw the worn footpath that wrapped around the side of the mountain. It was less steep than most of the peaks surrounding them, but still, she had no idea how far up Morgen was. He had probably portaled there, but she was too stubborn to ask for him to come get her.
The sun was setting by the time she reached the outcropping where he sat against a large boulder, Varax curled behind him. The clouds had cleared enough to let some of the orange-red light seep through at the horizon, casting an eerie glow over the valley.
Nya wondered if, sometimes, he came up here, watching the clouds and deadened valley below, and considered sending one enormous strike of that lightning she’d seen him wield across the mountains, turning all of it to ash.
Perhaps there was something wrong with her, for even after seeing Carus and her parents meet today, she still thought turning all the terrible, wonderful pain of the world into nothing wouldn’t be so bad.
Chapter
Seventeen
I pray they will forgive me for what I have done, but he must see the truth of their connection. It may be the only way to save us all.
—Ana, Priestess to the Usurper King, Arcadia
“I told you—youdidn’t need to bother,” Morgen said when she sat down next to him. “You should probably be with Carus and your parents.”
She shook her head. “They need some time alone to figure things out.”
Morgen blew out a breath, hanging his head between his bent knees. “Carus has been searching for so long, I don’t think he ever stopped to imagine what would happen if he found what he was looking for.”
She didn’t know what to say to that. The wind howled through the mountains, and she remained silent next to Morgen for a while. Eventually, she asked, “How did you meet Carus?”
He glanced sidelong at her. “I suppose he won’t mind me telling you now, given you’re technically his sister.”
She shrugged, though her stomach whooshed. Hearing the words spoken aloud felt odd.
“Varax was hunting in a small forest just west of here, and when she dove for a sheep, it turned out to be a boy wearing a sheepskin who, according to her, screamed very loudly and then set himself on fire trying to fend her off.”
Nya’s brows rose. “Are you serious?”
Morgen nodded, the ghost of a smirk on his face. “Completely, unless Varax is lying. Besides, Carus has yet to come up with a believable story.”
I am not lying. He shrieked like a very young female child.
Nya glanced over at Varax, who was already closing the single amber eye she had opened and evidently going back to her nap.
“Varax called for me, and by the time I got there, Veeron—Carus’ dragon—had shown up too and claimed Carus. I portaled all four of us back here, and then you can imagine what happened after that.”
A surprised laugh bubbled up before she could stop it. “So, you ‘rescued’ him, and then he took care of you while you were magic-drunk.” She shook her head. “No wonder he was so grumpy when it happened the other day.”
“It was a memorable start to our friendship,” Morgen said dryly.
“And Imeria? How did you meet her?”
His hand twitched where it was resting against the cold ground, and she resisted the urge to take it. Despite their marriage, neither of them wore bands, and she wondered briefly if it was a way for him to keep it from feeling real. She knew she should be relieved, but it only made her feel a hollow pang of disappointment.
“Do you remember I told you some of my friends had known me for a long time?”
