“Again, I think it has something to do with the uniqueness of your ellixen—which is also why I assume he never felt the same hunger for it that all reapers do. Your magic is too different.”
“Was,”Viri said. “Past tense. My magic is gone—I Imparted it, but even if that didn’t go as planned, Reeve took the rest fromme.”
“And yet, you’re standing here, which means you must havesome ellixen in you,” Braedan pointed out. “You also just admitted that you saw Reeve’s veins change color, and that’s something only hunters, reapers, and mages can see.”
Viri jolted. She’d already known about hunters and reapers,but—
“Mages can see reaper veins?”
Braedan nodded. “Or anyone with comparable levels of ellixen, which is what I think you must have.” Before she could object, he went on, “I’ve had a lot of time to consider this, and everything circles back to you being connected to the magic of the isle, since my guess is, you’re still able to tap into that power, consciously or unconsciously. That’s what flows in you now, keeping you alive, while also keeping you from burning out.”
Viri stared at him. “I think I would know if I could ‘tap into’ a magic source like that.”
Braedan tilted his head to the side, rousting a glowmoth from his hair. “When we were kids, you always felt ellixen more strongly than others. You hid it well, but I could tell. Has that changed?”
“No,” she admitted reluctantly. “I’m still sensitive to it.” Even more so than when she was younger.
Braedan looked troubled. “I was afraid you’d say that.” He scrubbed a hand over his face, then explained, “I told you before that I think the Reaper Lord wants you for your magic. It’s the only thing that makes sense. And if I’m right about all this, if you really are able to access the raw magic of the isle…” He visibly shuddered. “Elders know what he might want to use that for. Useyoufor.”
A chill snaked down Viri’s spine. She wished Wynter were here, not just for comfort, but because her friend—who wassupposedly amageand could thereforesee reapers—would dive straight into researching Viri’s hypothetical magic. If they knew why the Reaper Lord wanted it, then they could figure out how to keep him from using her.
…Assuming she was even alive beyond the next two days. His intentions for her wouldn’t matter if he succeeded in destroying the obelisks, since her chances of surviving after that would diminish by the second.
“Whoisthe Reaper Lord?” Viri asked, still struggling to believe she possessed some mysterious power that appealed to him. She wasn’t like Reeve—she couldn’t perform magic with a wave of her hand. All she had was a heightened sensitivity to ellixen, with the closest she’d come to using it being when she’d located the warded chest in the Summit storage room. It was hardly an awe-inspiring skill.
“No idea.” Braedan shook his head. “In seven years, I’ve never met anyone who has seen beyond the shadows hiding his features. He could be a wraith, for all I know.”
Viri shivered as she recalled the one she and Reeve had encountered in the forest, her memories of the Reaper Lord making her confident that he, at least, was flesh and blood.
“I hate this,” Braedan croaked out suddenly, covering his face with his hands. “I hate that I did this to you. I hate that you’re in danger because of me. I hate that Mom and Dad died because of me. That you diedtwicebecause of me. I hate that Reeve suffered—”
“Brae—stop.” Viri’s heart clenched as she pulled his hands away to reveal his guilt-ravaged expression. “What are you talking about? None of those things are your fault.”
“You’re wrong—everythingis my fault,” he cried, tears lininghis eyes. “You crawled into the blackmist because ofme. I promised I’d watch you, and Ididn’t. Everything that’s happened since then was because I failed you. The magewish, your magic, the obelisk reacting, Mom and Dad dying, the Reaper Lord wanting you—everything.”
Tears welled in Viri’s own eyes at the devastation she saw in her brother’s features, making her realize this was something that had haunted him for seven years. Longer, even.
“Brae, listen to me.” She tightened her grip, forcing him to meet her eyes. “You werefour years old. There’s no one in the world who would blame you for not noticing me crawl away.”
“But I—”
“No.” Viri’s voice was unyielding. “You told me I’m not responsible for what happened to Mom and Dad, so hear me when I say the same is true for you. You were barely old enough toread, let alone babysit. You need to stop carrying guilt that doesn’t belong to you. If anything—” She inhaled deeply, then made herself continue, “If anything, the fault lies with Mom and Dad. Not just for leaving you to watch me, but for knowing what they did about me and still wanting me to Impart early. Even the Reaper Lord said they knew better than to meddle with magic they didn’t understand, and he was right. We both know he was.”
Braedan looked down, refusing to accept her words.
“Please, Brae,” Viri whispered. “You once told me Mom and Dad would want me to be happy—don’t you think they’d want the same for you? You’ve suffered enough in the last seven years. It’s time to let this go.” She squeezed his hands and begged, “If you can’t do it for you, then do it for me.”
A ragged breath left him. Then another. Finally, he looked up again, his voice rough as he said, “I’ll try.”
“That’s all I ask.” She offered him a small, encouraging smile. “And I’ll be here to remind you whenever you need it, because I’m not forgetting anything this time, and you’re not leaving me again.”
His eyes were still sad, but they were lighter than before, like a weight had been lifted, bringing a sense of healing, of hope. That light deepened when his lips tipped upward the slightest fraction and he said, “I know you meant for that to be reassuring, but it sounded more like a threat.”
Viri’s smile grew. “Then maybe you should take it as one.” With a pointed look, she said, “No more self-sacrificial rubbish. I’m not ten years old anymore. Whatever comes next, we face it together. Agreed?”
He hesitated, but at the tightening of her fingers, he gave in. “Agreed.”
“Good,” she said. “Now, can I finally hug you without either of us bursting into tears?”
