I reached out to link hands with my friends, not daring to point out the constellation that drifted above us forebodingly, shaped like a beautiful spiderweb, stars dotting each corner like gleaming strands of silver silk. Azrael, the God of Death.
We stood like that for a while, until the door cracked open behind us.
Septimus stood at the threshold, his eyes only on Lana. “It’s time, sunshine.”
I grasped my friends’ fingers, squeezing tight. I turned to Moric first. I refused to cry as I looked up into his handsome face, hazel eyes dark in the moonlight. “Be safe. Keep watch. Come back.”
He pulled me in for a quick embrace and pressed a kiss to the top of my head before pulling away to hug Lana. “I won’t say goodbye,” he said. “But… if something happens to me…”
“Don’t,” I said.
He gave me a stern look. “If something happens, will you make sure my brother’s taken care of?”
I nodded, my lip wobbling. Something about this last Trial felt so… final.
Moric turned before the tears welling in his eyes could spill. He brushed past Septimus and hurried back through the mess hall.
Lana took a step toward me, and I held out a hand. She clasped it, pulling me close to her. She wrapped her arms around my neck.
“I love you,” she whispered.
“I love you too.”
We broke apart, and she wiped a hand across her glistening cheek. I bit my lip hard enough to draw blood.I will not cry.
I slipped through the door, leaving her and Septimus on the balcony. When I glanced back, his hands were on her waist, no amusement in his eyes, only gentle yearning and desperate sadness. He stroked a thumb across her cheek, lips brushing softly against hers as fine summit snow wreathed them. The door softly shut behind me. I moved sluggishly through the now deserted mess hall and downstairs.
Kilian waited for me in the courtyard, Calendula perched on his forearm. Silver snow coated his dark hair. He looked like a fallen angel.
The scry had been set up at the arch. It was a wide doorway with a solid base, and was big enough for two people to step though at once. It glowed blue, its insides swirling with brilliant streams of light and gossamer threads. The other candidates stood with their instructors and sprites nearby, but I paid them no attention as I crossed to Kilian. I stared up at him, a wordless conversation passing between us.
Calendula flitted off him as he drew his arms tightly around me. My hands went to his neck. His lips pressed against mine tenderly, like we had all the time in the universe. Trust Kilian Valhan to kiss me like my entire world wasn’t about to end.
He kissed me so thoroughly, so languidly, it left me breathless. But I needed his lips on mine more than I needed air. When he eventually broke away, he stared down at me, fierce intent in his eyes.
“Come back to me. Promise it.” There was urgency in his voice. Terror too.
I swallowed. “I can’t promise that.”
His eyes shuttered. He dropped his forehead to mine, breathing hard. “Remember everything I told you. Keep your eyes sharp. And you make sure you’re out of there before the hour is up, Lirah. I mean it.”
I nodded. “I’ll remember.”
“There’s still so much you need to know. Come back so I cantell you.”
I looked across the courtyard, to where Moric and Keila now stood directly before the scry. It hummed gently, a dazzling aquamarine glow pulsing from it. It was time.
“I have to go,” I told him.
He pressed his lips feverishly to my forehead before clutching my hand and leading me to the scry. Calendula soared ahead, her wings tucked close to her body as she flew in a tight line.
I watched as Moric and Keila stepped through together, the light twisting and undulating around them with a milky haze. And then they were gone. Caleb stood a few feet from the scry, a sour look on his face. A woodland sprite sat on his shoulder, her entire body trembling.
“Are you ready, Aldhur?” Caleb asked.
“As I’ll ever be.”
He gave me a sharp nod and strode forward.
