Total pages in book: 124
Estimated words: 121534 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 608(@200wpm)___ 486(@250wpm)___ 405(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 121534 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 608(@200wpm)___ 486(@250wpm)___ 405(@300wpm)
She says it like it’s something taught in grammar school, but I have to admit I’ve never thought of it that way before. And she’s right. “Like how all sneakers are shoes, but not all shoes are sneakers.”
Her eyes catch mine and twinkle, a slow smile lifting her high cheekbones even higher. Not that I notice. “Exactly.”
I drag my gaze from Rey’s and fix it on the arch. A short guy with a cloud of black hair sprints through, shielding the flickering of his candle with one hand, like speed alone will keep something ancient from snuffing out the flame. He reaches the other side, and his friends erupt in cheers, slapping him on the back. He lifts the candle overhead, his grin as bright as the fire he managed to protect.
A blond girl steps up next. One foot under the arch, then another. She inches forward like every step might collapse the ground beneath her.
Behind her, a taller girl with a long black braid jogs past, offering an encouraging smile over her shoulder as she clears the threshold in a single breath.
More freshmen follow—some cautious, some confident—raising their candles like trophies once they make it to the other side.
I keep my focus there, pretending to track who makes it through and who falters. It’s easier than letting on that I’m hanging on every word of the conversation unfolding just a few feet to my left.
Reeve is giving Rey the full campus tour in lecture form—names, histories, rumors. I could probably recite it in my sleep. But hearing it from his mouth feels different with her standing beside him.
She listens like it matters. Like any of this—our legacy, our fractured past—is something she wants to understand.
Reeve gestures across campus toward the old stone path that disappears into the woods. “There’s a temple out that way. You’ll see it on the expanded tour…”
Rey leans in, curious. Enthralled.
Eventually, he brings the conversation back to the mystery of the arch, and she steps closer to the stone—one foot away, maybe less. She stays to the side, out of the path of the freshmen still rushing through, and lifts a hand toward the arch like she’s reaching for something precious. Her hand glides across the runes, moving up and down with the indentations.
She turns to Reeve and gives him a smile I’ve never seen before. It’s easy. Genuine. The kind of smile that warms people, that opens doors.
It pulls the air from my lungs. I don’t know why it hits so hard—only that it does.
“It’s one solid basalt arch,” she says, wonder tucked into the curve of her voice.
Reeve moves to stand beside her without hesitation. Like he belongs there.
I stay where I am. Because I don’t.
“Lots of ancient fishermen claimed it was here before they even settled the land, but who knows. Some say it’s a gateway, others say it’s a shrine to the Gods. Either way, it’s tradition to pass through with a candle.” He motions at the arch and tosses her a grin. “If the candle goes out, it means the Gods have forgotten you and misfortune will follow. If your candle stays lit, it means the Gods still remember and will favor you. It’s why students cheer when they go through.”
Rey laughs. “Ah, meaning the Gods remember them. Do they even realize who the Gods are?”
She freezes like she said something wrong and bites her lip.
I tilt my head, then catch myself. I do not need to hang on every single thing this woman says. As if to prove my point, I shove my hands in my pockets and grumble, “I’m headed to bed.”
I don’t wait for anyone to answer, just start walking off, and Reeve rushes to catch up to me. He grabs my arm, pulling me to a stop, a mischievous twinkle in his eyes, and says under his breath, “We should make her go through it and blow out her candle to scare her.”
“Yes,” I shake my head and mutter. “Because blowing out a candle will definitely scare the daughter of Satan. Not interested.”
Reeve rolls his eyes. “Bro, you didn’t see her expression.”
I roll my eyes right back. “Why do I have to participate, then?”
“Supervise.” He shrugs. “You’re supervising.”
“I’d rather not.”
“Hey, Rey!” Reeve calls back to where he left her beside the arch. “Aric wants to see you try!”
Great. Killing him later.
He’s wearing his most charming grin, which means she can’t really say no. Not that he gives her any time to do so. He’s already dragged me over and is leading us both to the back of the line of freshmen waiting to cross through.
Rey starts pulling away. “No, I’m good. I’m actually really tired.”
“Afraid?” I scoff, the word sharper than I mean it to be. Something tightens between my shoulders at the sight of her hesitating. “It’s just an old archway. I’ve done it a ton,” I say. Total lie.