I was still trying to figure out the growing attraction between Thyros and me when new glyphs began to shimmer intoexistence beneath the main prophecy, smaller, sharper script that hadn’t been there before. The wall was still reacting to us.
Thyros’ hand remained on my hip, warm and steady. The golden thread between us kept thrumming, sending slow waves of heat through my body. I was acutely aware of how close he stood, how his bare chest brushed my shoulder, how my own body was responding with slick, aching need despite everything happening around us.
Ella leaned closer to the new text, reading aloud:
The glowing prophecy still pulsed on the wall, its words hanging heavy in the air like an accusation. The chamber felt smaller, the golden light almost oppressive now.
Ella’s eyes were wide with wonder and confusion. “The bonded three… the maps aligning… it all points to us. But what is theKey? What is theShard of Echoes?”
Zapharos went very still. His golden aura flickered once, then settled.
“I think I know,” he said quietly. “The Globe.”
All eyes turned to him.
“I still have it,” Zapharos continued. “It’s safe at my home, locked away in my private vault. I took it from the humans after we rescued Ella. They had found it in the belongings of an Ohrur, one of the ones we killed during the raid. I have no idea how the Ohrur got their hands on it. I assumed they stole it from some ancient ruin… but now…”
He looked at the completed Starmap, then at the new text beneath the prophecy. Nadine’s sharp mind caught on instantly. “That doesn’t make any sense. Nobody has been in this chamber for two and a half million years. The dust, the seals, the way the ruins are fused with the mountain, this place has been untouched. So how could the Ohrur have stolen the Globe fromhere?”
The implication settled over all of us like a cold weight.
Ashley voiced what we were all thinking. “Does it really matter right now? Isn't the important part to get this…vesseland see what you're supposed to do with it?”
Thyros’ hand tightened on my hip, his thumb unconsciously stroking the bare skin there.
I forced myself to focus.
“So the Ohrur found something we haven’t,” I ventured. “A second location. Maybe even the true resting place of theShard of Echoes.”
Zapharos nodded grimly. “We need to get it. Before the Harrowed One does.”
The completed Starmap pulsed once more, as if in agreement, its golden light flaring across the ancient walls.
We had the prophecy.
We had the map.
We needed to get the globe, or vessel, or whatever.
Xandros exhaled heavily, rubbing a hand over his face. The weight of everything we had just uncovered seemed to press down on all of us. “Alright,” he decided. “That’s enough for today. We still need to make our way back through the tunnel. Let’s get back to the ship and reconvene in the morning after we’ve all had time to think this through.”
Ella looked devastated. Her glowing skin still lit up the ruins as she turned in a slow circle, her eyes lingering on the ancient structures, the glowing wall, the ghost of a civilization that had waited millions of years for us. “But… but… but…”
Zapharos stepped behind her and wrapped his powerful arms around her waist, pulling her gently back against his chest. His voice was low, soothing, full of love. “Don’t worry, my heart. I’ll bring you back here. I swear it.”
Ella leaned into him, reluctant but comforted. After a long moment, she nodded. I felt Thyros’ arm slide around my waist, warm and solid. I could have pulled away. Ishouldhave pulled away.
Instead, I allowed it.
We started making our way back toward the submerged tunnel in silence. The guardians remained motionless now, watching us leave like ancient sentinels who had decided we were no longer a threat. Or perhaps they knew we would be back.
As we walked, Thyros’ fingers flexed lightly on my hip. I didn’t shrug him off. For the first time in longer than I could remember, I let someone stay close without fighting it.
The tunnels were… grueling. I had never swum before, other than in an oversized bathtub, and submerging myself into deep water felt… intimidating, even to me. I could fight, I could shoot, I could do a lot of things, but enclosed spaces… they tore at my nerves, calling for all my willpower not to tear my hair out. And now I was supposed to walk into a body of water, where the men told us we would emerge on the other side deep underneath the ocean. I hated the idea. Hated it with all my being, but there was no point in making a fuss.
Somehow Thyros felt my apprehension and stayed close. I even allowed him to take the lead and my hand.
The tunnels were just like the Arkhevari had described and more. The men had a much harder time getting through some of the tight spaces, but the rocks still formed a large clump in my stomach that didn't want to dissolve.
