That was why he needed to find Meridian.He had to find out what happened exactly when a necromancer crossed the Threshold and what he needed to be ready for when it happened.He had to know how he could make sure he wouldn’t lose himself.
Asher turned his attention back to Cyril.“You’re close.”
Cyril told himself not to react, but Vale did.Of course he did.He always did when it came to Cyril.
“Either explain what you’re saying or keep your mouth shut,” he barked.
Cyril reached for him, squeezing his arm.He didn’t want Vale to do something he’d regret, and he definitely would regret hurting Asher before they got answers.
“Don’t worry about me,” Cyril told Asher.“No matter how close I come to the Threshold, I’m not planning on crossing it.”
“That’s what you all say, but then you get too curious.You want more power.”
“I’m not your parents.I’m sorry that you got hurt and that they didn’t think of the consequences their actions would have on you, but you shouldn’t put that on me.I had nothing to do with their decision or what they did.I’m me, and I know what I’m ready for.I willnotcross the Threshold, no matter how appealing it might seem.”Because it would mean possibly losing himself and Vale, and that wasn’t something Cyril was willing to risk.He understood why Asher thought that he would, though.If Asher’s own parents hadn’t felt that he was enough reason not to cross the Threshold, he wouldn’t have much faith in other people making a different choice.
“It doesn’t matter who you are.Eventually, you’ll cross over, and you’ll destroy everyone you love and everyone who loves you.There’s nothing you can do to avoid it.You’re a necromancer.It’s in you.”
Cyril told himself not to listen.His ability was in him, something he couldn’t and didn’t want to get rid of, but that didn’t mean he would be as reckless as Asher’s parents.He knew what he stood to lose if he wasn’t careful, and he wasn’t willing to risk it.Asher was hurt, but he didn’t know Cyril.If Cyril had to stop using his ability in order to keep his sanity and be with Vale, he would.It wasn’t his preferred solution, and he hoped they’d find another way to deal with it, but he wouldn’t hesitate.Vale and their happiness together were more important than his ability, and they were definitely more important than whatever knowledge the Threshold might give him.
That didn’t mean that Cyril was going to bury his head in the sand when it came to the Threshold.He needed to know more about it, and the only way to find out was through Meridian.That meant he needed to get answers out of Asher.
He wasn’t sure he could.
* * * *
VALE WAS READY TO PUNCHAsher, but he doubted it would get them any more answers than Cyril’s questions had.Still, after half an hour, they had nothing, so he dragged Cyril out of the van.They both needed some fresh air and to be away from Asher for a moment.It could only do them good.
“Well?”Russell asked from where he was leaning against a tree.“Can we kill him now?”
“No one is killing anyone,” Cyril declared, looking from Russell to Vale.He hesitated, then looked at Rachel, too.She didn’t pay him any attention.She was doing something on her computer, sitting in her car.She probably wanted to kill Asher as much as Vale did, but she was smarter about it.She always was.
Robbie was in the backseat, doing something on his phone and looking bored.Vale supposed it was better than him freaking out, which he’d half-expected.
“He’s not talking,” Vale told Russell.
“Do we really need him to?”Russell asked.“I mean, I know you’re determined to find this person you’re looking for, Cyril, but surely it’s not worth leaving the guy alive.He killed a bunch of people.”
“So did you and Vale,” Cyril pointed out.
There was no heat in his words, and Russell didn’t look offended.Vale wasn’t either.Cyril was right.Vale and Russell had killed people, and even though they’d done so because they were being paid, it didn’t make them any better than Asher.In a way, it was probably worse.Asher was doing something he felt was right.Vale and Russell had just been after a paycheck.
“I need to know about Meridian,” Cyril continued.“It’s the only way for me to find out about the Threshold and how to avoid getting lost in it.As far as I know, Meridian is the only person who’s crossed it and come back.”
“But everything we know about him tells us that he didn’t come back as himself,” Vale pointed out.“He might not want to help you.”
“But he might decide to, and even if he doesn’t, he might still talk to me.”Cyril turned to face Vale.“Look, I’m not planning on willingly crossing the Threshold.Everything I’ve heard about it terrifies me, and if I have to, I’ll stop using my ability.I won’t be happy about it, but I will.I need to know, though.I need to be prepared in case I do cross it.I need to know what will happen when I do and how I can come back and still be myself.”
Vale hated that Cyril was right.“We’ll go together,” he promised.It was more like an order, really.He wanted Cyril to know he wasn’t doing this on his own.
“We will, but we’re not going anywhere until we know where to find Meridian.”
“And that won’t be a problem,” Rachel called out from the car.“I’m pretty sure I found him.Or her.Or whatever.”
Vale frowned.“Asher useshimwhen he talked about Meridian, so I’m pretty sure it’s a guy.What do you mean, you found him?”
“I never stopped looking for him, and now that we have Asher, I have a few more pieces of the puzzle.”
“What does Asher have to do with this?”Surely, if he knew where to find Meridian, he’d have killed him.Vale hadn’t actually expected to get a location from him, but Asher might still know something that could be useful.
