“Raithe.” Felaf uttered the words from outside. “We need to leave!”
“Coming.”
The spine of one book stuck out to me. My finger ran over a set of lines embedded in gold.XIII.
Thirteen, my mind hummed, as if it recognized the symbol.
I flipped through the pages to find them blank. Despite its empty contents, the book was important enough for me to take. There was more to the Aritis than perhaps even Rahzlyn knew. The grandmother was gone, but if the grandfather lived, I was willing to bet he could reveal a thing or two.
“Raithe, come on!”
When I cleared the fiery building, my breaths were deep and exalting. I surveyed the outskirts of the panicked grounds for Felaf. Locals had rushed to the fiery scene.
A distinct scent tickled my senses, one I’d undoubtedly encountered before. I tracked it around to the side of the apothecary. The smell was buried beneath a layer of rubble, growing stronger as I dug. Until finally a familiar face appeared, dusted with soot and blood.
In disbelief, I crouched down to stare at the unconscious figure. “You have got to be fucking kidding me.”
Chapter 34
Rahzlyn
“They should be back by now.”
Letti dragged the curtains open to let in the morning light. “Worrying yourself silly won’t help you focus on your studies today. You need to eat.”
As enticing as the breakfast assortment smelled, I couldn’t stomach anything until Raithe returned with Nahn and Pahn. While the bed was certainly comfortable, I was only averaging a few hours of sleep each night. My body and mind were clearly desperate for more, otherwise I wouldn’t have blabbed the way I had to Raithe.
Except he’d been exactly what I’d needed: a distraction from the shattering truth of my brother. It was amusing to see his stoic composure crumble at the sight of my wet thighs. Addicting, even. I enjoyed watching him squirm a little too much.
We certainly weren’t allies, but something changed last night. Our animus dynamic had shifted, garnered by his impartial yet surprisingly attentive silence.
As if he cared about what I had to say, and not as a means to unravel my apostai loyalty. I knew nothing about him other than he had a dark past, hated the apostai, and trusted only himself.
“How long has Raithe been a guardian?” I asked Letti casually, picking apart an orange peel.
“Twelve years now.” Her purple head cocked in my direction. “Why?”
“He must have been?—”
“Eighteen,” she confirmed. “The youngest guardian in our recent history, if not ever. Most aren’t Chosen until their early twenties.”
“Well, that certainly explains the arrogance. He must have served under the last royal queen, then.”
“Auden, yes.” Letti struck what I assumed to be flint against steel near the fireplace. Sparks caught on the tinder, and shortly after the warmth rekindled the chamber. “As did I.”
“How’d she die?”
“In her sleep. Heart condition.”
I froze, peering down at the bed I sat in.
Letti swiped her sooty hands against her frock. “Sheets have been changed since then.” I could have sworn a smirk graced her ever-present scowl. “I think.”
“Comforting. How long have you been here?”
“Longer than Raithe,” she offered surprisingly. Though she was quick to steer the attention away from herself. “He’s fostered a reputation for himself after having won the Elemental Tournament the same year he was Chosen, usurping Hector’s reigning title as champion. Hector was Felaf’s predecessor,” Letti clarified upon seeing my raised brows. “The former solar guardian before Felaf was Chosen last year. The queendom took Hector’s death hard, particularly Raithe.”
“You and Raithe must be good friends then, having been here so long together?”
