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I wish Edgar was coming with us since he knows that place pretty well, but we’ll just have to take our chances alone. An ache throbs deep inside my chest for the lost kinship, but Raine’s blight is more important at the moment.
I zip up my tactical vest and let my eyes linger on the bottom drawer of the wardrobe. The thrum of the two hearts still softly flutters inside, and my lips firm with guilt. I want to tell Arthur that I’ve found his heart—to hand it to him and see his face light up with hope. But Elias made it clear we can’t speak of it until after the exam. Emerai is watching, listening everywhere.
Raine raises a brow at me as I shut my wardrobe.
“Having second thoughts?” he asks as he slowly moves up behind me, letting his hands glide smoothly over my waist. I shake my head and turn to face him. He grins at me and presses a soft kiss to my lips. “This has to be a match.”
I want to believe that too—I desperately want to.
As we leave my room we bump into Ash passing my door.
“Where are you two headed?” he asks with a small raise of his brow. His silver hair is mussed with sleep and he looks just as reserved as he does daily. At least he’s not filled with malice like Edgar is.
Raine looks at me with an expectant stare. You’re better with words than I am, his eyes tell me with a flicker.
“Just to explore the south tower.” I shove the note deep into my pocket and spare a quick glance down the hallway to make sure no one else is going to question us. The Nova House has been oddly quiet this evening. I wonder where everyone is.
Ash stares at me for a few moments before furrowing his brows. “I don’t believe you.”
Shit. I still can’t tell if he’s their little lapdog already or not. He’s always with a professor or the headmaster—they like to keep Ash very close. If they consider him that precious, he must be special. The portal keeper. That gives me an unsettling thought: if he dies, do the portals close? That would almost certainly bring a huge advantage to Heirah.
I try to bury the disturbing idea of killing him just to find out.
Raine steps forward and backs Ash against the wall, bumping a few frames that tilt like they're about to fall. “What do you want, huh? Stay the fuck out of our business.” Raine’s voice is low and sharp.
Okay, so it looks like we are going straight for the rip cord then.
Ash keeps his face smooth and unfazed as he presses his palm against Raine’s chest. “Now I’m really curious. What are you two hiding?”
I huff and level Raine with a disapproving look. He just flexes his jaw to let me know he doesn’t care.
“Okay, listen.” I tug on Raine’s arm so he lets go of Ash and we can de-escalate this situation. “We’re trying to find a way to break the blight curse,” I say in a low whisper.
Ash’s eyes widen and he considers me for a moment. His dark gray hair looks almost black in the hallway and he stands only a few inches taller than me. “There is no cure,” he says firmly, but there’s hope in his eyes. For his comrade Lucina, I’m sure.
I pull the note from my pocket and show him. “We found this in the library and think the handwriting belongs to Arthur. If he’s the one that wrote it, I think he knows how to stop the blight.”
Raine gives me a dirty look for giving our secret up so easily, but I truly believe Ash can help us. He spent a lot of time at Za’Afiel too.
Ash looks over the note for a few moments, then looks back up to us, handing the piece of paper to me.
“Okay. Follow me,” he mutters before turning and making his way down the stairs to the homeroom. Raine and I trail behind him.
Ash glances around the room swiftly as if he fears we’re being watched and then draws a circle with his finger on the coffee table. A dark hole appears and I stare wildly at him.
“Is that?—”
Ash cuts me off. “Go quickly. Only Terra—Arthur will sense Raine’s blight if he goes with you. When you're ready to leave, just head to the gardens and you’ll find a wall of greenery. Walk through it and you’ll return here.”
I don’t want to go alone, but Raine’s eyes are already so gray and I don’t think he has much time left. I swallow hard and nod. “Okay, I’ll be quick. Thank you, Ash.” I hug him and he gives a surprised exhale. Raine grunts and rolls his eyes, but I kiss him on the cheek anyway.
“Be careful—I’ll be waiting for you,” Raine murmurs as he caresses the edge of my jaw. His black hair is side-swept with a few strands hanging over his forehead. I nod and slip into the dark hole before my anxiety and fear get the best of me.
It feels like falling slowly, suspended as if the air is thick like water. My feet land on solid ground after a few moments and the darkness lifts. I’m standing in the familiar long corridor with brilliant windows that allow the moonlight to illuminate the walls.
It’s as silent as it was a few weeks ago. Not a soul stirs here.
I look to my right; the large ebony door is shut but moonlight shines dimly beneath the crack. This must be Arthur’s study. Why else would Ash put the portal here? I send him a silent thanks as I reach for the handle and turn it. Darkness drifts from the study in wisps of dread around my feet.
