“Impossible. Even for you. Your cruelty would not go so far.”
Shu’Khan approached her again. “The last time you underestimated Us, We broke the Skyglass and shattered Ennea.” He leaned in, cupping a hand over her cheek. The moment he touched her, her fire burned through him. He shuddered. And smiled again.
“Will you still underestimate what you are facing? Will you give yourself to the inevitable? Or will you lash out before Our curiosity burns your vessel from within?”
One hand braced beside her head, he knelt down. Again, he inhaled. And again, he released mana into his breath.
But the Numen did not move. Did not speak. She simply lay still, her hands shaking and tears welling at the corners of her eyes as her mouth opened on a scream of pain.
And far away—unseen inthe Axis Hall—Kailorien doubled over, hand to his chest.
Hefeltit.
The moment Shu’Khan’s mana touched her.
The moment her lungs caught fire.
***
Auryn came back to awareness mid-step.
Her limbs were trembling. Her skin was clammy, hot with fever. And yet, her body moved without her consent, drifting through the quiet marble halls of the upper Lattice like smoke curling on the air.
The world dimmed around the edges, and her vision rimmed with gold light.
It was not sleepwalking. Not quite. Her feet carried her on a purposeful path—unseen, unchosen. Somewhere distant, she could hear her name echoing across the Bond.
A sudden shape blocked her path.
Lu’ma.
The Attendant was pale, her hands trembling, eyes hard as sharpened steel.
'Your Radiance, can you see this Nameless?'she signed, fingers and arms frantic. 'Please…please answer.'
“Lu’ma?” Auryn blinked, the haze receding. “What… what happened?”
'Your Radiance walked,'Lu’ma signed, 'not like in sleep. Your Radiance spoke in a strange tongue. Your eyes—gold.'
Auryn looked down at her hand. She was gripping a rolled scroll so tightly that the end had punctured the soft flesh of her palm. Silver blood welled around the edge. It was the Writ from Shu’Khan.
Memories flashed. The Vesper Seat. The cloying scent of Sahtra wrapped around her like chains. Heavy. Mind-numbing. And his eyes. Those eyes closing in, pressing closer. His vile breath against her skin.
She shuddered.
What had happened after that?
She couldn’t recall moving, leaving, running.
Beneath her skin, her fever still burned, festering and itching like a rash.
“I was with…” Her voice faded. She licked her dry lips. “The Sovereign Flame.”
A pang of dizziness assailed her.
Something deeper stirred, worming its way out, trying to twist and break free. Auryn dropped the scroll, wrapping her arms around herself.
Kail…can you hear me? I need you…
