Page 155 of The Reaping Rose

“It’s a full moon in two days,” Rior points out, and Elorie nods. “Yes, but if he knew back then that we were going to need him, doesn’t that make this a trap? He already told you he knew I was in the Mortal Realm. What if he knows we found the void?”

“We don’t know the void is what he’s after. He might want something else,” I argue.

Elorie grips my hand, her magic flooding through the threads and erasing the emptiness I felt only hours ago.

“It doesn’t matter what it is he wants; he’s right. We need him, and he told us exactly where he’ll be… I think?”

“He did.” I squeeze her hand. “Where Mal Remere meets the sea in Rohldova is as far as the Well reaches at the moment. At least, that’s what our scouts have reported. I doubt it’s changed much in the past few days if Malachi is as powerful as you say he is.”

“Especially if his magic is controlling where the Well splits.” Elorie hitches an eyebrow, remembering what I told her about the reports from Andare.

“Say he is as powerful as you think.” Aurora speaks up for the first time since entering the room. Her nails tap the stone table, scratching the surface as she curls them into a fist. “What then? We show up with the void—the one weapon in our arsenal that might strip his power—and hand her over. We could blow our only shot.”

“What else do you suggest?” Elorie lifts a brow.

They sit on opposite sides of the table, eyes narrowed. The caw of birds fills the silence as Aurora’s irritation wakes the forest surrounding the mountain. Aurora’s magic stems from an affinity for the creatures. She can hear their secrets, learn from them, ask for their help.

Whatever annoyance stirs in her thoughts now has them chittering. Just as Elorie’s magic sparks beside me. The room brightens with a cool glow. Bright in a way that only the night can be when a star draws near.

“We’ve come this far; we need to see the plan through. We’ll go to Lyrichia,” I decide, hating that we’re walking into a trap but knowing it’s our only option. “But we don’t give up the void immediately. Esen stays back until we know why Malachi wants you there.”

“Maybe I should go alone.”

“No.” I put my foot down. “That’s out of the question. We’ll go, but you’re not walking into this alone.”

Elorie swallows, nodding and thankfully not arguing with me for once.

“Official plans can wait until tomorrow.” Rior pushes to stand with Greer right behind him. “We could all use a night to wrap our minds around this.”

“And sleep,” Greer adds, although she doesn’t look the least bit tired as she quickly leaves the room.

Aurora stands, pausing when she reaches the doorway. “I assume this means tomorrow night’s festivities are still happening? Or are we pushing that off too?”

“Festivities?”

“I’ll tell you in a moment.” I caress Elorie’s thoughts through the thread.

“I’ve missed you in my mind.”

“Same, Starfire.”

“Yes” is all the response I give Aurora before she walks out of the room, shutting the door behind her when everyone else is gone.

“Aurora is colder since I left.” Elorie glances over at me. “I didn’t think that was possible.”

“I had to draw some lines while you were gone.”

“And?”

“They’re drawn.” I lift Elorie so she’s sitting on the table in front of me; a whoosh of air leaves her chest.

Elorie’s fingers grip my shoulders. “I feel like I could use another bath even after soaking as long as I did. Traveling settled in my bones.”

“You could be covered in ravager blood, and I wouldn’t mind. You know that.” My fingers drift up her thighs.

She grins as I reach her hips and tug her closer. “I forgot how charming you are, King Riven.”

“Speaking of…”