Peter ran to the window, peering out. Nothing. No one.
He stared at the mark on his wrist, recalling the priest’s words:Listen to your heart.
Chapter Thirty-four
Martinlayonthebed in his new room, mind too full for sleep. Here, beneath the city in the Father’s temple, magic lived. Ethereal creatures laughed and joked over dinner.
Had given him a set of enchanted leather armor like they wore. Had treated him like their own.
And yet, he saw the runes. Long lines of glowing text the others said nonmagicals weren’t meant to see. When he studied the markings, really focused, whispers reached his ears, murmurings and not-quite-words. What were they trying to tell him?
Fourteen priests and priestesses to teach the fifteen elements of life, by the Father’s teachings:
Fire
Water
Earth
Air
Heart
Soul
Mind
Body
Peace
Love
Future
Past
Present
Joy
Sorrow
He hadn’t bothered asking why fifteen skills and fourteen priests and priestesses. He probably wouldn’t have understood the answer. Or, in Dmitri’s words,“Not now, but you will.”
So much, too much, too fast. Where was Cere? What was he doing tonight? And…
Where was Peter? Was he okay? Dmitri forbade Martin to leave the sanctuary until he grew stronger but swore to Peter’s safety. Unfortunately, the master of demons had upped the game, sending fiercer followers. Why? Martin was nothing. A farm boy from a poor community tucked into the mountains.
But mage-born.
Would he, in time, look like the other guardians?
A dear image flashed through his mind. Peter. If Martin’s skin faded to milk-white, his eyes appeared nearly colorless… In his conjured image, the desire in Peter’s eyes turned to horror, the arms that once held tight pushed away.
Peter screamed. Martin gave chase.
But no. If Peter’s very existence hinged on the guardians, Martin lost the option of turning back the moment he’d left his family’s home.
