“But it’s not the other way around,” he says in a low voice that makes me toss my head back.
“I’m already being selfish as it is. The least I can do is try to be respectful.”
He lets out a deep sigh. “Fine. I guess I’ll just have to dream of you instead.”
Chapter 56
Ryder
“Come, Prince. We have much to discuss.”
It must be the middle of the night when I wake up with a racing heart. One minute I was dreaming of her and the next, I’m standing in front of the Oracle. That last part wasn’t a dream, though. I’m not sure how I know that, but I do. Without a second thought, I spring from the bed and get dressed.
When I land in the Dread Woods a couple of minutes later, it’s completely silent. The lack of monstrous sounds should put me at ease, but instead, the forest feels just as unsettling as it did when the deadly beasts lived here. Despite knowing they’re all back in the Shadow Lands or in the realms, I stillscan the fog for good measure.
By now, I know the path to the portal well enough to not get lost. Once I reach the blue ring buzzing with magic, I hesitate for just a moment before stepping through the threshold.
“I knew you would come.”
The iridescent figure floats underneath the inverted, star-filled dome just as it had before.
“What am I doing here?”
“Much has changed since you last visited.”
“It has,” I agree. “But you already knew it would. That’s why you said that immortality was one hell of a loophole for death. You knew Reign was going to die and be reborn. Why couldn’t you just tell us that?” I do my best to keep a steady voice but there’s still a bite behind it that I’m sure the Oracle won’t appreciate.
“That’s not how this works, Prince. And it was you who I said that to.”
“Me? Her? What’s it matter?”
“Come on now… I know you’re smarter than that.”
“How about you stop with the tricks?” My patience is growing thin, and it’s getting harder to play along.
“It’s not a trick. You’re just not connecting the dots.” I clench my fists, holding back my power that I want to let tear through this room. “Would you like a hint?”
“Sure,” I say through gritted teeth.
“Her immortality is the loophole.”
It takes every ounce of control for me to not lash my shadows out.
“You’ve already said that.”
“No, I said immortality is a loophole for death.”
I scoff. “What’s the difference?”
“Think about it, Prince. I know you’ve grown used to the idea of your curse, but really think about it.”
All of a sudden, I go still. My thundering heartbeat pounds against my head as the pieces come together.
“What are you saying? The curse won’t affect her because she’s immortal?”
“Seems kind of obvious, doesn’t it?”
“But she’ll still die,” I argue. “Even if she’s reborn, it took over a month for her to come back last time.”
