“The small task force is ready for you. Fo just returned with some . . . interesting developments.”
I went to interject, but Peytor held up a hand. “When you join us, I’ll fill you in on everything.”
“I’m not coming with, Peytor,” I snarked, and his face went blank before turning back to Torin.
“Then, in that case, we are ready to go, Torin. Just waiting on your word.”
Torin embraced my brother quickly before turning to me. He folded me into his embrace and I buried my head in his chest, inhaling the scent of sunshine and spice, plus something that smelled like us together. It brought tears to my eyes, and I let them fall down my cheeks.
“I’m going to miss you,” I admitted, and Torin pulled me tighter against him, kissing the top of my head.
“You’ll see me soon, I promise,” he said cryptically. As he released me, I felt a wave of power, of something—or someone—entering the Dreamscape. Torin turned wide, fear-filled eyes to me before motioning for me to go.
“Go, now. Before he sees us,” he urged. I reached for him one last time, but followed his direction, fading from the Dreamscape and reappearing back in my bed in Vespera.
Chapter 77
Kaos
Iwalked through Meru, my boots crushing in the dried dirt toward the portal that would take me to my descendant.
One last time.
One last warning.
I felt another presence here, but was too focused on warning Alois to care much about it. It was probably one of my father’s pesky acolytes, like the one Solace killed without so much as a thought earlier.
She was growing more crazed by the day, losing herself to the lust of power, and was no longer the sister I loved.
Thwarting her was nearly impossible, but I had to try.
I stepped through the portal, emerging in front of my descendant. For the first time in decades, he was dressed in something other than the Mage blacks he always wore. A cream tunic, the strings loose, fell to the top of his thighs, and he wore a pair of loose brown pants.
Sleepwear?
The change in attire rankled me.
What game is he playing?
“What is it you want, Kaos?” Alois called tiredly, not even turning to see me.
I shifted uncomfortably, suddenly unsure ofeverything.Something was not right with him, and I worried he would do something brash, even if that wasn’t necessarily his style.
“It is time,” I said, my voice snaking through the office. “She is here. She comes tonight.”
Alois sighed before knocking back the glass of his whiskey.
“I know,” was all he said in reply. Before I could ask him further, he strode from the office, a glass of whiskey and a cup of tea in his hands, the door closing with a finality behind him.
Chapter 78
The King
The clip of my boots bounced off the low ceiling and walls that created the small, hidden passageway beneath the manor. Except for the occasional sconce, the tunnel was dark, disguising my comings and goings and hiding the singular door at the end of the passage. It’d been months since I’d visited the final remaining Keeper, Jarius.
And today’s visit would be neither pleasant nor long.
A cup of tea rattled against its plate as I shifted it between my hands, allowing for my right to freely touch the softly glowing Mage Orb next to the handleless door. Recognizing my signature, the door popped open with a faintwhooshof air. I gently pushed the door further, the hinges squeaking from disuse, before entering through the small gap and pushing it shut. The magical lock re-engaged with an audibleclick, and my eyes slowly adjusted to the darkness of the room.
