Page 124 of The Reaping Rose

“Who said that?” Callum walks into the room, shrugging off his cloak.

Human clothes are a bit tight on his large frame, hugging his arms to the point the fabric is fighting at the seams.

“You’re saying vampires are real?” My interest piques.

“Stories are rarely rooted in nothing. Although, I doubt you’ll find truth in the books you’re reading.” He chuckles.

“There’s nothing wrong with wishing for sweet endings,” I argue.

“There’s nothing sweet when it comes to vampires. I once visited a realm where they wandered in secret until something killed a majority of the humans, and the vampires took control. It was brutal, and we were closed off from visiting after that.”

I roll my eyes, tossing my book down on the bed. “Well, now that you’re clearly back to ruin all our fun, please tell us you at least learned something from your visit to the tavern.”

He drops onto the end of Perame’s bed, grinning at me. “I did, and I have a plan.”

“Finally.” I lean forward, anxious to hear it.

With each passing day, the hope of returning with what we need diminishes. And that’s if we manage to return at all.

The distance between me and Wilder grows. Somewhere deep in the thread, I sense his struggle in Quietus, but it’s a fleeting emotion that worries more than it soothes. The longer I’m in the Mortal Realm, the duller the connection becomes, like he’s drifting away.

Any thoughts sent through the thread are unanswered. Which has me wondering if he’s receiving anything I send him.

I lie awake at night worrying about it. Staring out the window at the sliver of moon peeking through dead tree branches. It hangs differently here than back home, like a mocking smile in the night. Red stains the edge as if it’s been dipped in blood.

Searching the stars from here is different from how it was in Vaelier because I can’t help but wonder where my home might be in the darkness. Home has never felt so far.

Callum shifts his legs, pulling my attention. “Overlord Farseth is paranoid. He believes the queen is trying to summon the Fae to protect her throne and heal whatever is destroying their forests. It’s why he keeps Esen close. He must know how her magic voids others because he believes she protects him from whatever magic the queen wields.”

“Interesting, considering he uses magic to his advantage as well.” I huff, unsurprised at the hypocrisy.

Callum nods. “Things are easily justified in the name of right and wrong.”

“When those same people tend to be on the side of that which they crucify.” I shake my head. “What’s the plan?”

“We use his paranoia against him,” Callum suggests. “If the Fae returning is what he’s trying to prevent, then we can use that to our advantage. He’ll have no choice but to investigate if he thinks the queen is making a move. Except it won’t be the queen.”

“It will be us,” I guess, and Callum nods. “So you want to spread rumors of Fae in town to draw him out?”

“Not quite. That might start a riot given the opinions about the Fae I’ve overheard at the tavern.” His expression turns grim. “We need to keep this quiet.”

“While getting his attention? How?” I quirk an eyebrow.

“We go to him.”

“At the manor? It’s heavily guarded.”

“It’s safer than risking a confrontation out in the open.” His gaze drifts off, jaw tense. “We need to keep this contained. Lure the overlord away so we can get to Esen and convince her to leave with us. It’s our only shot. We can’t stay here much longer. It’s barely better than it is back home.”

“We’re not going to be able to send the villagers here when we return, are we?” I frown.

Callum shakes his head. “Maybe once we take care of the orb… the realms—we can reevaluate then.”

If Letia survives.

If any of them do.

We’re running out of time.