Gathering my resolve, I veered left, coming dangerously close to the looming Abyss. Belekoroz’s confused outcry echoed in my mind as he instinctively slowed to see my next move. The maelstrom’s untamed power surged against me, and I used the boost to sail effortlessly to our entry point in the Other, leaving him behind. The sensation of the chaotic energy propelling me forward was exhilarating, a wild rush through my veins.
I shifted back to my corporeal form, heart racing with the thrill of my stunt, a satisfied smile on my face as Belekoroz followed moments later. “Ah, there you are,” I remarked cheekily.
Belekoroz didn’t share my enjoyment of our little race. I should have known he’d be a sore loser.
“Are you completely and utterly insane?” he growled, something fierce flashing in his eyes. “I told you not to go too close to the Abyss.”
If I hadn’t known better, I would have thought I detected a strange note of unease in his voice. Perhaps he hadn’t yet figured out how to explain my disappearance if he got rid of me now.
“I won,” I said defensively. “That’s what counts.” I raised my chin boldly, meeting his gaze. “It seems I was right, and I can take you on.”
He stared at me for a long moment, breathing deeply, his expression unreadable. I became acutely aware of my tangled hair, a few strands plastered against my skin, flushed with excitement.
And then he laughed.
Not the cold, condescending laugh I had heard so often. No, a real laugh. Head thrown back, eyes closed, the sound scratchy and rough as if he wasn’t used to it. I had never seen him laugh like this. I hadn’t even known he could.
He abruptly trailed off with a choked cough, his gaze almost shy as it met mine. His face was utterly transformed, a tantalizing softness in his expression that made something tight and hot coil in my belly. What, I wondered, would it take to make him laugh like that again?
“Little cheater,” he commented, but there was no bite in his words. On the contrary. That hungry curiosity was back in his dark, glittering eyes as he watched me.
I could not help but feel the same.
This was all part of my plan. I needed to find out more about the Other, needed to lure him in to prove his guilt.
My actions had nothing to do with the fact that Belekoroz, my intended’s brother, the Dark One, had a surprisingly pleasant laugh.
Ignoring the way back to Lyrheim, just one single step away, I turned toward the depths of the Other again and threw a challenging look over my shoulder.
“Do you want arematch?”
CHAPTER
15
Rada
The tendays following Vultaron’s attack were a nightmare, even if Noctis did his part. Despite being unaccustomed to farm work, he never complained. I knew he was struggling, though. Exhaustion weighed heavily on him when he dragged himself back into the house in the evening. He seemed too tired even to provoke me, and our dinner conversations were surprisingly free of the barbs and insinuations I had been mentally prepared for. I convinced myself it was my own tiredness that made me stop fretting over his presence, not the odd domesticity of those evenings spent together in the warm glow of the fireplace. I prepared dinner for him, and he recounted the hardships he had faced throughout the day, his voice a low, oddly soothing murmur.
This morning, we had decided the weather was good enough to let the araks back onto the field. I watched as they eagerly grazed on the dark green stalks of winter grass, their hooves leaving imprints on the soft earth. When we had herded the horned beasts out of the barn earlier, vicious curses in sharp Aurean had rung out over thecourtyard as Selma and Itzi nearly ran Noctis over in their eagerness. Those two were my youngest araks, and troublemakers, clearly testing the mettle of the strange new Human on our farm. When they raced toward the section of the fence that needed reinforcing and scraped their horns against the wood, I urged Noctis to examine the weakened posts. He grunted, a resigned expression on his face, and walked to the barn to gather tools.
Knowing he would be engrossed in his work for a while, I seized the opportunity and silently slipped away. I hurried into the kitchen and opened the secret compartment containing mylyr-stones. Bypassing the red and blue stones, my fingers closed around the third one. It glowed with swirling white strands of magic, flecked with burnt umber and forest green.
I filled a clay jug with water and stepped into the small corridor of the house, unlocking the door at the end with a key from my pocket. The room, once designed for guests, had become a cluttered storage area after my friend Briseis and her son Varien had moved to their hut on Milford Ridge. Squeezing past the boxes, I reached the cupboard against the outer wall. Inside was a chest inlaid with fragments of unhallowedlyr-stones, emitting a constant hum that disrupted any tracking spells. The light reflected off the metal bowl I used to bridge distances with magic as I lifted it out of the chest, where I kept it hidden next to the wrapped Chaosdagger. I had reluctantly agreed to take the scrying bowl with me upon Tanez’s tearful insistence, yet I remained wary. Although I had some level of trust in my friend, she was still one of the Ten, and I was loath to give the other Aurea any means to locate me.
I had only called on her thrice since arriving in Lasgallen, the last time being over three years ago. For a moment, I hesitated, questioning the wisdom of contacting her now. But what choice did I have ifI wanted to uncover the truth? Dalath was a remote outpost, with Rasga nearly a tenday away. Any news here was just rumors.
Resolutely, I positioned thelyr-stone at the bowl’s center and beckoned the strands of Air to come forward, skillfully weaving them into the spell. As I completed the incantation, I reached for the final element, Earth, and gracefully poured the water from the jug, infusing it with radiant magic.
“Tanez,” I whispered, my gaze fixed on the gently swirling surface that no longer reflected the room but instead fragmented into a kaleidoscope of brilliant, dancing lights. “Heed my summons.”
Silence followed.
Gradually, the liquid calmed, transforming into a clear pool that revealed the Aurea of Earth. Tanez, resplendent in her full regalia, wore an intricate golden floral crown crafted by M’tar in her ebony locks. Her silky green gown highlighted the vibrant hue of her eyes, while additional gems adorned her neck and fingers, catching the light with every movement.
“Baradaz.” My friend’s face lit up at the sight of me, her voice trembling with emotion. “Thank the stars. It has been years.”
The stark relief on her face sent a stab of guilt through me. I should have contacted her more often. “I am sorry.”
