“Fine.” She lifted her chin. “Then yes, I choose this. Because Kol cannot win, and I cannot defeat him without my magic.”
Andrian gently tugged her forward, her chest meeting his. He bent down, breath ghosting over her lips.
“There’s my girl,” he murmured. “Don’t lose that fire. You’re so beautiful when you want to burn the world to cinders.”
That’s what she felt like now: like she was on fire. Energy buzzed through every vein, ignited on every inch of her skin. When his lips finally met hers in a grazing, ghost of a kiss, she felt ready to combust.
Her magic stayed quiet, but she could almost feel it watching. Curious.
Waiting.
Andrian pulled back far too soon. She bit back her whine of protest just as her stomach rumbled with hunger.
“Let’s eat some breakfast,” he said with a chuckle, grabbing her hand and pulling her toward camp. Rich, savory aromas spilled out from the small clearing, Matheo and Signe’s soft murmuring drifting with it.
She was ready. She could do this. Shewouldget her magic back today.
After breakfast, of course.
Mariah hissedas the cold water wrapped around her ankles. A shiver raked through her, working up her spine.
“I think going slow is arguably the worst way to do it.”
Matheo squatted on the shoreline, balancing on his toes. Mariah shot him a glare and opened her mouth, readying a retort. A hand whacked him across the back of his head.
“Ow,” Matheo grumbled.
“Next time, I’ll push you in.” Andrian scowled at the younger Armature. He crossed his arms and lifted his gaze to Mariah, expression softening. “But seriously, princess. It’ll be easier if you just get in.”
Callamus huffed a chuckle.
Mariah shook out her arms. “Fine.” The unnaturally still water swirled over her feet like indigo ink, hardly a ripple disturbing the surface. She’d left her leather breeches on shore, wearing only a long tunic that reached the middle of her thighs. The mountain air was still crisp, despite the clear summer day and rising sun.
She drew in a breath, holding it in her lungs, and splashed deeper into the frigid water. All the way in, until the pool grew so deep she had to swim, hair floating on the surface. Swallowing the icy sting beading around her skin, Mariah paddled slowly through the strange, still pool, trying not to think about what might be lurking beneath her.
Theaberrantin the middle of the pool wasn’t as large as she’d first thought. What had looked like an entire island ofaberrantwas really made mostly of black sand and tiny chunks of silver stone that caught the sunlight. Theaberrantitself sat just above the surface of the water, as if on a pedestal above the reflective liquid.
Mariah was close now. Her bare feet touched the bottom, toes digging into the strange, smooth sand. She pulled herself closer to the island ofaberrant, lungs tight against the lingering chill. She perched on a sandy shelf, hauling herself as close to the monolith as she could.
She glanced over her shoulder one more time. Matheo was still crouched, his eyes wide, Signe standing stoically at his side. Callamus’s indigo hair was tied back, his power tasting the air as he gave her a subtle nod.
Mariah looked last at Andrian. His arms hung at his side, his posture relaxed, but she could see the barest hint of shadows pushing from his shoulders—the only sign of his distress.
She gave him a tight smile, toying with the silver ring on her finger.I’ll see you on the other side of this, Rhoi.
She knew he couldn’t hear it. But his eyes widened ever so slightly, as if he could.
A figment of a wishful imagination. A motivation, nonetheless.
Mariah faced the onyx stone. It did not reflect the sunlight; it was as dark as a void. Like it consumed any light that touched it. Even with her magic silent, she could sense the way its power thrummed in the still air, whispering secrets in an incomprehensible language.
She steeled her spine. Dragged in a great breath.I can do this.
She extended a hand toward the stone.
The moment her skin met the smooth, cold surface, her world plunged into darkness.
Chapter 64
