“You’ve always seemed special to me,” she said.“Your memory, the way you can climb, all of that.And sometimes it’s like I can feel an energy flowing through me, especially when I’m doing physical things like sword fighting.”
“Let me try something,” I said.I closed my eyes and cleared my mind.Only the crackling of the fire broke the silence.And then I felt it.Without all the background noise, I could very subtly feel Elena’s Ember flowing through her, detecting just the faintest hint of ozone and citrus.
“Dust, I can sense it!”I said.
“Sense what?”
“That energy you mentioned.It’s called Ember.”
“And you can sense it in me?”
“Yeah.There’s a glow and an odd smell.It’s called Veilsense, and it’smyEmber.Sentinels have Veilsense, too.It’s how they hunt Emberborn down.”
Elena looked scared, and I was glad.She needed to be.
“You mean Sentinels are Emberborn who hunt their own kind?”Elena asked.“That’s horrible.”
“It is.”
“Well, what are we going to do now?”
“I really don’t know,” I said.“We can’t sell our herbs in the market anymore.Not for a while, anyway.I’m worried about The Butcher spotting us.I’m not sure I should do the Emberlight Trials anymore, either.The whole thing feels like a fantasy now, and to be honest, I’m upset with Darion for keeping this from me.”
“What?!”Elena nearly screamed.“You have to keep doing the Trials!You’ve already come so far, and if there’s anything we can do to stop The Butcher, it’s that.”
Hearing her say those words with such certainty was a surprise and a shot of confidence.She was right.I had to keep going, and having her support made the decision much easier.All this time, I’d been so worried about keeping her from knowing too much, but in doing so, I’d ignored what keeping these secrets was doing tome.That profound sense of relief at revealing the truth continued to flood through me.I’d had no idea just how much this burden weighed until I had someone else to confide in who could help carry the load.
“Okay,” I said.“You’re right.I have to keep doing it.”
“Of course I’m right,” she said with a sly smile.“I always am.The sooner you realize that, the better off we’ll be.”
For the rest of the day and well into the night, I was lost in thought, planning how I might infiltrate both the Citadel Library and the Citadel Clock Tower.Entering the library seemed doable, but I knew next to nothing about how to get into the tower.What I really needed to do was visit Garrick again.He’d said I had to wait since he was worried about attention from the Sentinels.But what if nobody saw me enter the tavern?
Late in the evening, as I was preparing potions that could help with stealth, I reached into my pocket and discovered something flat and soft.I pulled out an oval-shaped pale green leaf.
My breath hitched.This was the very leaf I had given to Darion when we’d kissed under the night willow.Markings had been scratched into the flesh: six hash marks and a bell.
Sixth bell, under the night willow?
I had no idea how Darion had slipped it into my pocket, nor was I sure if I had interpreted the message correctly, but either way, sixth bell was not far off.I shouted to Elena that I’d be back later and headed into the night.
Chapter eighteen
A Second Chance
IrushedasfastasI could.Six bells signaling the middle of the night gonged steadily, barely audible in the Underworld but making its way through air vents and cracked foundations.I quickened my pace.
Conflicting thoughts banged around in my mind.I was desperate to see Darion but also angry and hurt by his deceptions.Had any of his affection been real, or had he simply been manipulating me?
As I ran along the tunnel leading to the massive cavern, chest heaving, I was sure he wouldn’t be there, certain that I had misinterpreted the message on the leaf.
But those worries evaporated when I spotted a figure sitting under the tree, patiently waiting.
Darion stood as I approached.I wanted to run up and shove him, force him to explain himself.I had so many questions that needed answering and too many swirling emotions.I didn’t plan on hugging him.And yet I ran right into his warm embrace, feeling an instant torrent of relief and comfort.
“I’m so sorry, Cas,” he whispered softly in my ear.“And I’m so happy you’re safe.”
“I’m happy you’re safe, too,” I said, clutching him tight.I wanted to stay that way forever and ignore the pricklier feelings building in me.But then hurt and anger punched their way through, and I pulled away from the hug.
