Page 137 of Under Restless Skies

“Mayara!” Alayel stands at the door, his face troubled. “I looked everywhere for you.”

“I’m here.”

He approaches me in large strides, then wraps me in his arms. For a moment, I feel safe. For a moment, I can push aside what I saw, can even reconcile with the fact that my friend died. His presence grounds me, soothes my anxiety, and I lean on him.

He’s a thief, and maybe a murderer. Why am I recalling Mallor’s words? Why should I even care what that man thinks?

Maybe because it’s true?

“Come,” Alayel says as he breaks the hug and pulls me by the hand.

I resist his pull and turn to Nelly. “Will you be⁠—”

“Go, Mayara.” She gives me a tight smile. “You need more solace than I do.”

“Thanks,” I say, as Alayel draws me toward the corridor.

When we reach the stairs, he asks, “Where were you?”

A tremor runs through me as I recall that strange passage, that tunnel, and the body parts I saw in Auranius’ lair.

“I’ll tell you when we’re alone,” I whisper, hoping the words won’t reach any wrong ears, even if the staircase seems to be empty, even if in theory I’m not revealing anything.

But I am revealing something—to Alayel. It means I’ll have to tell him what I saw, or else find a good excuse for where I went.

No. He needs to know, and he has enough sense of self-preservation not to go around babbling.

Unless he already knows, and then all I’ll be revealing is that I saw something I wasn’t supposed to see.

We get to his room through the hidden passage and the back door leading to the closet, and he pulls me to his sofa, then gets me a glass of water.

“Here,” he says. “Drink a little, then take a deep breath. I was so worried when I realized who fell.” He swallows. “I’m sorry.”

I take a long sip of the water, which soothes my dry, hoarse throat. “I never thought she would die like that. She had plans. Dreams. She was smart. Kind.”

He sits beside me and caresses my arm in a comforting gesture. “Accidents can happen anywhere. In times like these, it’s better to believe that it was her time to go, and then you won’t keep wondering why. Won’t keep wondering if there was anything you could have done.”

He’s right. I need to stop torturing myself trying to figure out how I could have prevented this, since there’s no way to turn back time. I place the glass on a table beside the sofa, and he pulls me closer. His scent is calming, easing some of my anger, quieting the silent scream that keeps ringing in my throat.

“Where were you?” he asks again.

I don’t think I’ll have any choice other than spilling the truth. First, I’m in no mind to make up a convoluted story, and second, I need to share it, need to vent to someone I trust.

“Where I grew up, when someone died, their family remained by their side, watching the body burn. When Celine fell, the acolytes came and picked her up right away, and it felt wrong. Too soon. I wanted to honor her, remain by her side, wanted to witness her cremation.”

Alayel frowns. “Where did you go?”

“I found a passage that led me to Auranius’ lair.”

He blinks, confused, then stares at me. “Wasn’t it guarded?”

“The key worked. It wasn’t guarded, no, just secret.” My stomach twists. “Do you know what Auranius does with the bodies?”

He pauses and gives me a sideways look. “He burns them, does he not?”

“Nobody ever told you? Your father, someone in the academy, the Sky Guard? Have you ever heard about it?”

“No.” His brows furrow in confusion. “What happens? What did you see?”