“Don’t make promises you can’t keep,” she whispers, her eyes sad. “He’s myhusbandnow, Lu. Even if you could help me, what would you have done? Wyman is powerful—in more ways than you could imagine.”
My blood boils at the images that assault my mind—of the possibilities of him using his dark magic against her. Opal isn’t like me—she’s strong, but in a softer way. Her edges aren’t as sharp as mine.
Fire coils in my chest, sparking along my veins as it spreads across my shoulders and down my arms.
I want Opal to feel safe, to realize how much stronger I am now—that Icanhelp her. The worry of Moros finding out I can harness my magic tugs at my mind, but I know now I can’t let her go back to him.
If she stays with me, even if hecanaccess her thoughts somehow, it won’t matter. I can keep her safe.
“Things are different now,” I explain, holding my right hand up between us. With a deep breath, I tug on my fire—praying that it answers me this time.
A flame flickers to life in the center of my palm, smaller than that of the candle on the table. I have to reunite the shard with Nightfall.
“How?” Opal gasps and leans in closer, the fire dancing in her gaze as she examines it. “I always knew there was something special about you, but…magic? You have magic?”
A shy smile spreads across my face. “I have a lot to tell you, but what matters right now is that you stick with me. Okay?”
She nods absentmindedly, her eyes fixed on my hand as the flame dies out. My magic already feels empty again, as if that small burst of energy took all that was left. But it’sthere. And that’s what matters.
Opal takes a steadying breath and looks up at me. “You’ll keep it hidden?” she asks, reaching for the dagger to toy with it.
“It won’t leave my side,” I promise. “And we’re getting you out of this room.”
She swallows, but stands taller. “Promise me one last thing,” she says sharply.
I nod, knowing that I would do anything for my best friend.
“Make him pay, Lu.” Her eyes are hard, her jaw set.
With a quick dip of my chin, the promise is made. She has no idea just how much he has to answer for.
Opal takes off the necklace, holding the handle of Nightfall, the chain dangling between us. Without a second thought, she shoves it toward me as if she can’t wait to be rid of it.
She drops it into my open palm, my fingers curling around the hilt instantly.
The pearly white blade gleams in my grip, a small chunk missing from the bottom left-hand side where the shard goes. It feels like a normal blade in my hand—no rushing of power or visionslike the shard gave me—but looking down at it, I can practicallyseethe darkness surrounding it.
It is beautiful, but somehow…haunted. Dark.
Suddenly, a sharp pain pierces my chest, and I cry out.
“Lu?” Opal asks nervously. “What is it?”
The pain increases. The shard in my vest—it’shot. Searingly hot. It’s heating up by the second—as if it can sense the closeness to its missing home. My hand wanders to my vest of its own accord, my vision growing black aside from the bone-like blade of the dagger.
“Lu?” Opal repeats, louder this time, jerking my attention away from Nightfall.
I blink, forcing my hand back to my side. We don’t know what putting it back together will do. There could be a ripple effect, burning everything around it. Or it could scorch anyone who isn’t holding the blade within a hundred paces. I can’t connect it here—in front of Opal and without Graylen.
Graylen.
Why isn’t he here yet?
The sound of a book crashing to the ground startles both me and Opal, the echo bouncing around the room.
Adrian’s signal—someone’s here.
“Out for some late-night reading, Adrian?” An amused and muffled voice turns my blood cold.
