He blinked, unsure whether he’d heard right.
“And I don’t even like you that much,” David added.
Unable to stop the laughter, Sean let his tired brain revel in it. There was so little to find amusement in lately. He could at least laugh at himself.
Eventually, silence fell as they sat side by side, an invisible cord connecting them.
“I can’t believe no one told me,” David said. “I thought they hated me because of my blood, but I’m named in this prophecy?”
“I don’t know.” He hesitated. “Can I ask a favor?” David turned to him, but Sean couldn’t meet his eyes. “Will you wait just a little bit to read it?”
“You’re kidding,” David said, full of disbelief.
“They’ve finally decided to send me—us—to Viterra in a few days. I was going to talk to you about it today, but then…”
“I was almost lynched by an angry mob?”
Sean groaned. “I just don’t want our minds muddied by whatever the Sending says when we need to stay focused.”
“They…they’ll let me go with you?”
“I don’t plan to ask permission.”
David nodded, slow and thoughtful, then finally, “Alright. I’ll wait for you.”
“Thanks.” Sean dug the heels of his hands into his eyes. “I need sleep.”
“I hope you don’t get any,” David said. “Can you leave? We’ll talk more tomorrow.”
With a bitter laugh, he rolled his eyes. “Yeah, yeah. See you bright and early.”
Back in his bed—alone, thanks to his current fight with Isobel—Sean stared at the ceiling, reliving everything he’d just read.
Soul bound.
Irreversible.
Sentient alignment.
All at once, a new memory flooded him.
“You—You have betrayed us?” Galadaine said, staring wide-eyed at Meléan.
“This is what my mistress desires,” she replied.
“Your mistress? Who?—”
“The Exorcism must die,” Meléan interrupted, “and it never will while its leader lives. There are no other choices.”
“Lhynion,” Galadaine said, moving his dire gaze toward Sean, “you must leave now.Now, brother.”
“I cannot leave you,” Lhynion said, sounding broken. “Either of you. Meléan, please see reason. This is madness you have fallen in with.”
“’Tis not madness. She is a visionary. This is how we win the fight for Viterra.”
“By laying down our swords?” he asked. “Indigo will decimate us.”
“Those are the Queen’s words. Your Exorcism is nothing more than a bid for power and territory. Peace?—”
