Total pages in book: 214
Estimated words: 195876 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 979(@200wpm)___ 784(@250wpm)___ 653(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 195876 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 979(@200wpm)___ 784(@250wpm)___ 653(@300wpm)
Before I can answer, the floor beneath us begins to glow, patterns of ancient runes illuminating one by one in concentric circles.
"What's happening?" I demand, feeling magic building around us.
"A necessary departure," Lorkan says, helping Milena to steady herself. "The ruin will collapse once the stasis chamber is fully deactivated. A failsafe I installed long ago."
The walls tremble, dust and small stones raining down as the runes glow brighter.
"You're just leaving me here?" I back away, looking for an exit.
Lorkan regards me with what seems like genuine sympathy. “I know this is confusing. But it’s not what you imagine, Nessa.”
"Why?" I ask. "Why all of this?"
"Because the world is broken," Milena answers, her silver eyes burning with conviction. "It has been since the Empire and the Red Kingdom tore it apart. Since they hunted our kind to the edge of extinction."
"We're going to fix it," Lorkan adds. "And when we do, there will be a place for you among us. Among your own kind. You may think us your enemy, but know the deception was a necessary one. We are not your enemies, Nessa."
“You certainly look like fucking enemies from where I’m standing,” I say between clenched teeth. My confusion is slowly turning to rage. Anger. Hurt.
“There are others like you, you know,” Lorkan says softly. “I’ve been monitoring the various primal academies for centuries now. Both here and in the Red Kingdom. There have been several others, but none quite like you. I could take you to meet them, if you like. They are all quite eager to meet you.”
I shake my head, still feeling dazed. Confused. “I don’t want to go anywhere with you.”
His smile is sad, but doesn’t seem surprised. “Yes. I imagined you would say that. It’s because of young Aurenciel, no?”
My chest goes tight. He knows who Raith is. How the hell does he know?
“It’s quite alright,” Lorkan continues. “You’ve done me a favor I cannot begin to repay. For this, I’ll allow you to see for yourself that the Aurenciels cannot be trusted—that their hatred of our kind runs through their very blood. So you may return to Confluence. You may go back to Raith. And when you’ve seen him for who he truly is, we will be waiting for you. Ready for you to join us.”
"Find us when you're ready," Milena says. "When you've seen the truth of what they are. What they've done. Find that you’re not as alone as you think. We can be a family for you, Nessa. A family of those who truly understand you. Who won’t fear you. Won’t try to cage or use you."
Lorkan gestures and I sense magic gathering in the air around me like prickles across my skin. I brace myself for destruction. For oblivion. When I think about what I just helped Lorkan do, part of me almost welcomes it. Part of me almost hopes I’m about to be destroyed.
The last thought in my mind before the magic hits is of Raith, of wishing we’d had more time together before it all came crashing down around us.
41
RAITH
I can’t even feel the fucking tether anymore. The absence is a black void in the center of my chest, an aching awareness of what was there. What was lost.
He got to her. I don’t know how I know it, but I do.
Voss.
I can feel it in my fucking bones.
I drag myself from the bed in the private healer’s area I’ve been confined to. I ready myself to challenge the guards at the door, to demand release.
But I try the handle and find it’s open.
Three days of confinement to this fucking room and the door is just… open?
I limp into the hallway, shirtless and bandaged, but knowing nothing is going to stand in my way until I find Nessa. I can feel fear, confusion, hurt, and betrayal through the tether. But it’s all so faint and distant. One moment, she was resting like she has been since we returned, and the next there was so much emotion.
The thought of her being in danger and not being able to help is unbearable, a knife twisting in my gut. If anything happens, I'll tear this entire fucking academy to the ground. I'll hunt whoever took her to the ends of the earth.
Students roam the halls, all smiles and relaxed laughter as they enjoy the brief weeks off before next year’s classes begin in earnest. They slow and stare as I pass, glaring at anyone who gets in my way.
Pyrin follows me, his concern mirroring my own.
She feels so godsdamned far away. But I’ll find her. I don’t know how. I don’t know where she is. I just know I won’t stop until I’ve found her.
I keep replaying those final moments together in her room before the Crucible. Seeing the look of hurt on her face when she learned who I really was. Feeling the slight withdrawal and the questions running through her mind. Did she really know me at all? Could she really trust me?