“It was nothing,” I begin, but she holds up a hand.
“It was everything,” she says. “And I will owe you a favor for repayment. Tell me what it is you want most, little goddess.”
“My aunt Aerina is missing, and while it’s obvious you didn’t take her, I could use some help getting her back.”
“Aerina?” Nicnevin frowns. “The Goddess of the Morning? I haven’t seen or spoken to her in a hundred years at least. I’m not sure how much help I can be.”
My shoulders slump, and I look away. “I understand.”
“Though I could ask The Silenci to search for her,” she adds.
My eyes snap back to hers. “You don’t know?” I ask.
“Know what?”
“Your army takes orders from someone else now.”
Her eyes widen, and her hand reaches for her throat, her fingers brushing over her smooth collarbone. “What?” She frowns then looks down. “My bloodstone amulet. It’s gone.”
She looks back at me, her expression urgent now. “Do you know who did this?”
I shake my head. “I only know someone has been using The Silenci to hunt me.”
Nicnevin blows out a shaky breath and closes her eyes as if concentrating.
Finally, she murmurs, “The Silenci belong to the night now. That’s who came for me.” Her eyes open once again, and her gaze lands firmly on me as she adds, “That is who comes for you.”
“I don’t understand.”
But Nicnevin goes on as if talking to herself. “I will hunt them,” she says, and her caramel eyes harden. “I will find them and regain their loyalty.” Her tone is filled with an unspoken promise of war and death.
She throws the sheet back and swings her long legs to the floor. “I must find Iynx. She’ll help me recover my strength.”
Heat seeps slowly up my throat and into my face as I realize what she means. Grim wasn’t lying then about sex strengthening our gifts.
I shoot to my feet, desperate to clear the room before any of that gets going.
“I’ll, uh, I’ll just go get her,” I say and then dart toward the door.
“Elidi,” Nicnevin calls, and I whirl to find her standing beside the bed, her gown brushing the floor. Her head is up, and her shoulders are back, and she’s regally lethal now with her sharp, cool eyes and her terrifying beauty.
“Yeah?”
“You have death inside you,” she says, and I freeze. Her words strike something in me that I can’t quite identify just yet.
“What do you . . .” I trail off, not sure what I’m asking—or whether I even want to know the answer.
“Your question,” she says. “I can feel your uncertainty about your gifts, and I know what it’s like not to know what you have.” Her expression softens—or I can see that she’s attempting to soften. But her eyes still hold the threat of murder inside them. I remind myself it’s not me she wants to kill.
“Your powers are unique,” she goes on quietly. “Especially for a light goddess.”
“Unique how?” I ask and brace myself.
“I sense darkness in you too. I sense death.”
I bite my lip, pretending her words aren’t legit the scariest I’ve ever heard, and that includes Kol telling me, “You are immortal,” and my favorite bakery once telling me, “We’re out of chocolate eclairs.”
“Do you think it’s the curse?” I ask. “The night I was attacked, I was hit with something. It didn’t hurt, but it feels heavier inside me than it did before.”
She nods. “Perhaps. But even if someone cursed you, that magic belongs to you now, Elidi. Own it. Embrace it.”
The silence stretches, and I turn to go. Her soft words follow me out.
“What’s light without a little darkness?”
Chapter Sixteen
“She’s awake,” I say, entering the kitchen.
Iynx stops looking through cupboards and whirls to face me.
“Awake?”
“Yeah. I sort of unbound her, I guess. She sent me to find you to help her regain her strength.”
Iynx beams and rushes from the room. I look at Grim who straightens from his squatted search of a lower cupboard.
“Aren’t you supposed to be keeping an eye on Helix?” I ask.
“He’s safely showering in the guest house. Hungry?”
I nod, gripping the counter because I am way past hungry. Despite that, I do another quick check of the room, my lips parting to form the question.
Grim answers before I can ask.
“Kol’s showering back there.”
I glance down the hall where he’s pointing and can’t help but picture a naked Kol standing underneath a stream of hot water. By the time I look back at Grim, he’s smiling knowingly.
My cheeks heat, and I look away, eyeing the pasta Iynx made earlier, but Grim shakes his head.
“You need a sugar bump first, trust me.”
He digs through the pantry and comes away with two candy bars—both of which I promptly eat.
“One of those was supposed to be for me, you know,” Grim says. He watches me with an amused smile as I lick my fingers clean.
“Oh.” I offer a guilty smile that elicits a laugh from him.
“You can owe me.”
“No one told me how easily favors are traded around here,” I say.
Grim’s smile curls into something flirty, and I find myself leaning in. Before he can meet me, the front door opens, and Helix walks in. He’s wearing a pair of sweats that look suspiciously like the ones I slept in last night, and I flush over how tight they are on him.
“What?” he demands when he catches Grim and me staring.
“Nothing.” I hide a smile. “Feel better?”
Helix grunts unintelligibly just as Kol emerges from the guest bedroom off the kitchen, also freshly showered. His longer hair is still dripping at the ends, and he’s shirtless—which makes me want to lick things that have nothing to do with chocolate. On second thought, keep the chocolate. There’s room for both in that scenario.
Kol’s gaze swings toward me. I look away but not before Grim winks at me.
“How’s the patient?” Kol asks.
Right on cue, a low moan sounds from the direction of Iynx’s bedroom. We all exchange a look.
Grim jumps up first. “Let’s take this to the guest house, shall we?”
He leads the way, and we all silently follow him out the door and over to my own living quarters.
I note that Kol’s demeanor is different now than it was before he went to shower. Stiffer. More closed off. In the short time I’ve known him, I’m already beginning to see that when he shuts down like this, nothing good follows.
Sure enough, the moment we’re all assembled in my living room, Kol whirls on Helix, his dark eyes swirling with aggression.
“Now that we’re all here and everyone’s alive, I think it’s about time you gave us an explanation. What the hell were you doing in the Chamber of the Dead anyway?” Kol asks, and the accusation in his voice is clear.
Helix’s gaze swings to me. “I was looking for Aerina.”
I blink, and my heart stutters. “You were?”
“Of course.” He shrugs like it’s no big deal. “She’s important to you.”
My insides warm, but Kol snarls.
“Not to mention, whoever took her is a threat to Elidi’s safety,” he says. “Just call it what it is and stop sucking up. You were trying to neutralize the threat. You were doing your job.”
Helix’s eyes narrow. “Can’t I do both?”
Kol’s reply is instant and absolute. “No.”
Helix scowls, and I step forward before the tension can bring them to physical blows. Again.
“What exactly is the Chamber of the Dead?” I ask.
“It’s a place for mortal souls that are awaiting transportation to the underworld,” Grim explains.
“Like a waystation for dead people?” I ask. I can’t help but picture zombies a
nd mummies wandering around bumping into each other. The idea of Aerina being there makes me shiver.
“But, wait. Why would Aerina be there if she’s immortal?” I ask.
“At the time, I suspected Nicnevin was behind The Silenci’s attacks on you,” Helix says. “And the Chamber is Nicnevin’s territory.”
“The Chamber of the Dead is also a sort of holding cell for trapped souls,” Grim explains quietly.
“Specifically, trapped immortals,” Kol adds. But he’s too busy glaring at Helix to see the fear that’s undoubtedly registering in my expression.
“You think she’s—”
“She wasn’t there,” Helix says.
“That’s good news, right?” I ask.
“It is,” Helix assures me. “She’s definitely alive. I just can’t get a sense for where to look for her.” He frowns like he’s not used to being so stumped. “I think,” he says slowly, “someone is hiding her. Maybe using some sort of loophole like they did with Nicnevin’s binding.”
“And we’re supposed to just take your word for it?” Kol challenges.
“Not mine,” Helix says pointedly.
Everyone turns to Grim, the God of Secrets.
“Is he hiding something?” Kol demands.
Grim shakes his head. “No. Though, whoever’s behind this is being careful to work around all of us. They’re hiding behind Nicnevin and The Silenci. And they’ve even managed to hide from Vayda, which is a first. This is big.”
I bite my lip. “Like, on a scale of one to ten, one being ‘the dog ate my homework’ and ten being the ‘Justin Bieber is a reptile’ conspiracy, what are we talking here?”
Grim doesn’t even hesitate. “Eleven.” Then his brows crease, and he adds almost to himself, “Justin Bieber’s reptile secret is a weight I could do without.” Then, louder, he says, “Tell them what Nicnevin told you.”
My eyes widen as all heads turn toward me.
“Thanks a lot, Grim,” I mutter.
His lips twist. “What can I say? I’m a sucker for a secret.”
I sigh. “She said something about The Silenci belonging to the night, and that’s who’s after me now.”
Kol and Helix are both quiet. It’s Grim who looks interested in solving the riddle.
“What are you thinking?” I ask Grim.
“The night,” he says thoughtfully. “The night comes for you. There’s some truth in those words. I just can’t quite put my finger on it.”
“Aren’t you supposed to know all the secrets?” Helix asks, and Grim’s expression hardens.
“It’s not a secret. It’s just the way she talks,” he says in a sharp voice. “I only sense things kept from the rest of the world. Like the fact that your last chosen—”
“Don’t you fucking dare,” Helix says, surging forward until I step between them.
“Civil, remember?” I say. “Grim, no more oversharing.”
Helix seethes but backs down at Grim’s curt nod.
I can’t help but wonder what Grim was about to divulge that had Helix so ready to fight.
“Look, the fact is we don’t know who is after me,” I say. “But we have Nicnevin now, and I think she’ll help us track down The Silenci and break the blood bond with whoever stole them.”
“And how long do you think that will take?” Kol asks angrily.
I blink at the sharpness in his voice, but he doesn’t show any sign that he regrets his tone.
“I don’t know,” I say. “A few days, maybe? You’re the goddess experts, not me.”
“We don’t have days. Not if some of The Silenci were following Helix here,” he practically growls.
Helix grunts his agreement, and I’m struck by the fact that they’ve both finally agreed on something.
“I hate to say it,” Grim says, “but this is bigger than the usual protection detail. We might need to think about reinforcements or a bigger strategy—”
“Reinforcements won’t help against The Silenci,” Helix says. “Not unless you have an army.” His brows lift pointedly. “Which I have.”
“Don’t go there,” Kol warns.
Helix’s brows lift at Kol, but it’s Grim who answers.
“Man, you need to chill out,” he says to Kol, which only makes a vein in Kol’s neck bulge. “You don’t have to like him, but you do have to keep a clear head. Because he’s right. The only way we’ll stand a chance against The Silenci is with backup.”
“Finally, someone sees the truth,” Helix mutters, and then more loudly, “This is why Elidi needs to come back to Tegwood with me. We don’t even know the threat against her, and until we do, the only place she’ll be safe is under the protection of the Eggther. If you’d just give up this stubborn idea that you’ve somehow been called to protect her, you’d see she’s safer with us. Her rightful chosen—”
“Stop talking!” Kol’s words are so loud that they rattle the artwork on the walls. “Elidi isn’t going anywhere with you,” he says in a low voice that’s more threatening than his loud one. His fisted hands shake at his sides, and I can see evidence of his wolf emerging despite his very clear effort to contain it.
No one speaks, and the silence stretches until Kol turns to me, his dark eyes blazing with a barely contained storm.
“I need some air,” he says in a strained voice that’s low and deep and scraping over my nerves. “And I need you to come with me.”
Need.
If he’d said it any other way.
But he said need, and before he’s even done speaking, I’m nodding yes and then taking his hand gently in mine and letting him lead me out the door.
In the darkness, Kol continues to walk, his steps longer now. Hurried. I nearly run to keep up with him, but I don’t let go of his hand. His skin is hot with temper, and I know better than to let him lose contact with me when he obviously needs something to keep him grounded. Even with my firm hold on his hand, he trembles, and his form slips a little around the edges.
He smells like an animal.
“Kol,” I say gently. Because damn if I want to be the one he decides to take his temper out on. But he only turns and stares at me with something like a question in his eyes.
The moonlight reflects back to me in his darkened irises until his gaze all but glows at me.
“He’s probably right,” he says, his low voice pained.
My eyes go wide at that. “What?”
“Helix. That asshole is right, and he knows it. It’s why I’ve been ready to rip off his arms from the moment he showed up. I can’t protect you out here, Elidi. Not on this side of the veil. Not without some idea about who is after you or why. And not with The Silenci breathing down our necks every three steps.”
Not when I haven’t ascended.
He doesn’t say the words, but I hear them in the empty space after he falls silent.
Something inside my chest twists. “Kol, I’m still here. I think that means you’ve done a pretty good job of it so far.”
But he shakes his head sharply. “We’ve gotten lucky. But I can’t predict how long that luck will last.”
“What are you saying?” I ask. “You can’t just leave me now. You promised—”
“I’m not leaving.” He closes the distance, and instead of reaching for my hand again, his rough palm slides up and over my cheek to cup my face. His other hand grabs my hip, resting there like a weight of reassurance. A reminder I’m not alone.
His stormy eyes bore into mine like he can convince me with nothing but his stare. And he’s not wrong.
“Elidi, I’m not leaving. I swear it. The oath to my people and to the gods is already done. I won’t go back on it. I won’t abandon you. But I want you alive, first and foremost. And that means doing things I don’t like.”
“What kinds of things?”
“You should go,” he says, and his eyes close as if he can’t stand to say the words. His forehead touches mine, and he goes still as he says, “To Tegwood. With Helix. You should
go. You’ll be safe there, and that’s all that matters.”
“What?” I pull back far enough that he drops his hand from my cheek. His eyes open, and now they’re desolate. Resigned.
“I’m not leaving you,” I tell him.
He shakes his head. “I don’t like it either, but what am I supposed to—”
“Come with me,” I say.
But his expression only hardens more. “I can’t. I’m not welcome there.”
“What about the veil?” I ask. “You know veil jumping makes me sick. Remember Black Peak?”
He shakes his head. “Tegwood is in the Bailiwick. It’s the closest to the Earth realm, and you’re stronger now. You’ll be fine.”
I bite my lip, knowing I’m out of excuses.
“What if there’s a third option?”
The idea is crazy and sudden and probably the last thing I’ll get him to agree to, but I have to try. Especially if it means staying with Kol.
“What is it?” His tone is guarded, and his brows are creased warily.
“Finn,” I say, my chest aching as I say his name. “The guy in the woods the night I left with you. He knows something. It could be important. It could help us—”
“The Eggther? No way. We can’t trust him. He burned your house down.”
I freeze, a cold sort of awareness washing over me so hard that I’m rocked backward on my heels.
“What did you just say?”
“I don’t trust an Eggther without a chosen,” Kol says through clenched teeth. Then his irritation slowly lifts, and understanding dawns. His head tilts. “You didn’t know?”
I shake my head, my hands fisted, my arms trembling at my sides. “Finn is a guardian,” I say quietly, but it’s not a question because now that Kol’s said it, too many things finally make sense. “He never told me.”
“I’m sorry. I thought you knew. You said he was your friend.”
“He is my friend,” I insist though I have no idea why I’m arguing that fact with Kol. Not after what I saw through Grim’s portal view. The fire. Finn’s gas can. But it doesn’t make sense. If Finn was my friend, why burn my house? If he was an Eggther, why let me run away with Kol to safety? Only Finn can answer those questions.
“Look, it’s hard enough standing here, admitting the best way I can protect you is to send you off into the sunset with my enemy,” Kol says. “Please don’t make this harder on either of us.”
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