I ran a hand through my hair, anything to give myself something to do. My fingers tangled through my long brown locks, which Betsee had left loose and hanging down my back. “We should, uh, get Ree. She was planning to meet us at the Whiteolf Academic Library this morning. We’ll have to tell her there’s been a change of plan, and we’re going to the Isle of Song instead.”
He nodded. “I’ll mistphase all of us there, unless you want to?”
But I didn’t trust myself to mistphase. I didn’t trust myself at all anymore. Kole was my mate, yet he’d avoided completing our bond last night, all because of how I’d betrayed him.
Even though we’d both apologized to one another, I didn’t want to think of the new, ugly reality between us. A wall born of betrayal and pain had formed, and I didn’t know if either of us would be able to scale it.
My shoulders sagged. “You do it, please.”
He held his hand out and clasped hold of my cool dead skin, and then the realm dropped out from beneath us.
Ree was my saving grace.My best friend was so excited to go to the Isle of Song that it helped distract me from the new tension strumming between Kole and me.
At her home, I glued myself to her side, hanging on her every word in order to keep my mind occupied. Siam helped too. My galaxy-nephew was all coos and giggles, and his constantpointing and excitement every time their neighbor’s “mox” appeared through the window pulled genuine laughs from me.
And when we at last waved goodbye to the toddler and Ree’s husband, Bennif, and mistphased to the Isle of Song, some of my optimism had returned. Even though things between Kole and me felt strained, it wasn’t like that with Ree.
When the mistphase ended, and the Isle of Song appeared around us in a dazzling display of swaying grasses and distant crashing waves, Ree’s dropping jaw had another laugh escaping me.
“Stars, moons, and all the galaxies. How incredible is this place!” She gaped.
The university and library on the Isle of Song had been carved from the natural rock that rose from the top of the island, and since it sat at the highest point, in the distance the Adriastic Sea glimmered in the morning sunshine in all directions.
Distant waves curled onto the shores below, and salty wind blew around us. Kole’s expression didn’t falter, and I could feel him studying me, but I focused on my best friend’s wonder, and laughed in joy with her.
“I’m so glad you get to experience this too.” I squeezed her hand.
I didn’t realize what I’d done until her eyebrows slanted together. “Goodness, Prim, you’re so cold.” She took both of my hands between hers and began to rub them, as if friction could warm my dead skin.
Mouth pinching together, I quickly withdrew my hands from hers and said awkwardly, “It’s fine. I don’t feel cold.”
I didn’t dare look at Kole, but the warrior’s gaze was practically burning a hole into the side of my head.
“Anyway, let’s get inside. Master Fistideeous is expecting us.” I rushed up the stone steps, Ree following just as fast.
Kole kept pace, but his aura was still palpable. But I focused again on Ree’s wonder as she gushed over the impressive library, stating again and again how she couldn’t believe she was seeing the most revered library in our land, where our continent’s greatest scholars lived.
“It’s so incredible,” she finished.
I laughed again and nodded. “I agree. It’s absolutely magnificent.”
We stepped closer to the library’s huge entry doors. Magic pulsed from the huge monolith as we approached them.
As before, pillars etched in mystical engravings rose above us, and the double doors swung open silently the second we neared them.
Ree’s eyes blew wide open. “Stars, is it supposed to do that?” She stared at the dark hallway that stretched into an endless cavern within.
“Yes, the magic will take us where we need to go.”
I almost took her hand again but stopped myself at the last second. At my side, Kole waited, his aura filled with so much energy it was like a rising beast.
Avoiding direct eye contact, I looped my clothed forearms around both of theirs, letting my dress save me from true touch. “Follow me.”
I pulled Ree and Kole forward and shoved my vampiric nature down since it instantly latched onto the sound of their heartbeats.
The second we stepped over the library’s threshold, a wall of magic encased us. Powerful enchantments tingled along my skin, and the realm dropped out from beneath us, but in the next second, a small room lined with bookshelves appeared, and we were standing on solid footing once more.
Ree started, teetering unsteadily beside me. “Goddess, that was disarming.” She swirled around, taking it all in, just as a male’s voice carried to us from across the chambers.
