I move toward my sisters. They’re huddled together, eyes closed, heads bent. Ebony has one arm wrapped around Khloe. She strokes her hair. The older’s lips move and I strain to hear. Is she singing? I’ve never heard her sing.
It may not have the power to heal or command, but it’s beautiful. She lifts her head. Her eyes narrow but then she cracks a smile like the one we shared on deck earlier today. She shakes Khloe gently.
Khloe’s eyelashes flutter. When her focus rises to me, she smiles too.
I look over them both, taking Ebony’s and then Khloe’s hand in mine. Ebony resumes her song and I catch on, learning the simple lyrics in no time. Khloe’s head rests on Ebony’s shoulder. I scoot in beside my older sister. Our heads tilt and lean against one another as we sing the chorus once more. I’ve never heard this tune, but I like it. Reminds me of a lullaby. Sweet and soft and soothing.
“Down by the river, along the dark path,
The Void cannot find me; I hide from its wrath.
Verity beside me, walk with me, don’t stray.
And stay with me always ’til night becomes day.”
As our voices rise, I ponder all that’s transpired. My coronation. Kuna’s death. Mom and baby Evan going into hiding. The Callings failing. The Thresholds draining. Loving Joshua. Hating Joshua. Feeling obligated to rid Ky of the Void. Finding Ky. Falling in . . .
Holy Verity. “I love Ky.”
“Duh,” Ebony says, her usual candor awakening. “Are you just now figuring this out?”
I blink. Did I say the words aloud?
Khloe beams at me but remains silent. I look from her to Ebony and back to her. “Don’t tell him, okay?”
Ebony and Khloe exchange glances. It’s Khloe who says, “He already knows.”
I inhale a deep breath. Nod. Leave them be as I move to the next cell, where Charley resides. I check on Gunner and then Flint after him. The final cell beside his is empty, as I expected. Tide is Countess Ambrose’s son. Of course she wouldn’t imprison him.
When I am alone in the last cell, my thoughts take over. Ky already knows. Of course he does. I was confused for so long, but he never was.
Never.
What does this mean? Where do we go from here?
The ground shakes again, rumbles, cracks. I’m thrown off balance. Fall. Smack my head on the hard, cold floor. I taste blood in my mouth. My ear throbs.
The earthquake grows in intensity. I try to get up but fail. World tilts. Vision blurs. Loose rock and rubble fall from the walls and ceiling. The coral cages begin to break and crumble. I don’t have time to shift and escape the danger. But I don’t have to. A hand grabs mine and I’m drawn away from danger into the nearest cave.
The world around us continues to fall and break and end. Ky’s embrace is steadfast and tight. I curl into him, my head tucked into his chest. After what seems like ages, the shaking dies. We’re breathing hard and fast. I look up into Ky’s eyes.
He smiles. “I love you too.”
THIRTY-FIVE
Joshua
I stare at my reflection. At what I am becoming. The Void continues to spread. Apart from El, it grows stronger. It won’t be long before it’s reached my heart. Soon it will be too much to hide with mere clothing. My love for her is deeper than ever, but each day she spends with Kyaphus is another her heart is led astray. Which is another day the Verity’s power over me weakens.
I must not become like Jasyn Crowe. I refuse.
El’s love for me is a dying flame. I did not aid matters by holding a sword to my brother’s throat, nor by allowing Gage to join me. But I needed his help to create the diversion. With Gage as my witness it was that much easier to get the countess on board with our story. If I could create fear, panic, and chaos among the Fourth’s residents, the rose would be a cinch to swipe. I did not imagine my plan would work out so deliciously. Everything fell into place like the final touches on a carved frame.
I kneeled before the countess. “We’ve come to warn you of the fugitive known as one Kyaphus ‘Ky’ Rhyen. He is the Void’s—”
She held up a hand to silence me. “The man you speak of left two months ago. He retrieved his sister, left the payment promised by Jasyn Crowe for boarding the girl, and went on his way. He posed no threat to me or my people.”
“You have been deceived, madam.” Gage stepped forward and knelt beside me.
I was not taken aback by how seamlessly he donned his role as my companion. I was, however, unnerved by the fact that we were working as a unit. Am I on the opposing team? The lines have blurred. It’s difficult to decipher which way is left or right anymore. All I know is forward. Forward to separate the Void and the Verity. Forward to separate Kyaphus and El.
“You accuse me of poor judgment?” Offense seeped from Ambrose’s tone.
“No, ma’am,” I interceded, adrenaline coursing. “We only come as your humble servants to warn you. Perhaps we should alert the people—”
She held up her hand once more. “It is interesting you arrive now, at such a time as this. I do not believe in coincidences.” She paced the platform in the center of her amphitheater-style courtroom. “Do you?”
I pressed my lips. What was she getting at?
“Kyaphus has sent word he will return shortly. Can you prove he is the Void’s vessel, as you claim?”
“On my honor as a Guardian,” I said without pause, “I can.”
Turning her back, she peered over one shoulder and added, “Let us hope, for your sake, you are not lying. I do not tolerate perjurers in my Reflection.”
She dismissed us and we rose and bowed out, following one of her Guardians down the white marble halls to our temporary quarters. I contained my excitement until I was isolated. Kyaphus, returning here? It was perfect. His letter stated he’d wait for El in the Third, which meant she’d be with him. I couldn’t have planned it better if I’d tried. My brother would be trapped in one place, with nowhere to run. El would be delivered right to me. All I needed to do was retrieve the rose, supply it to Isabeau, and exchange it for the mirrorglass bottle. Then I’d return to the Fourth, acquire the final ingredient, and serve the Unbinding Elixir to El. She’d be unbound from my brother by week’s end.
I turn to one side and gaze at my profile in the mirror, grinning as I mull over how well everything has gone so far. I have to admit, the Void’s not so bad. My muscles are more pronounced, my body built. The black veins could almost be a tattoo—
No. I knock the mirror over and it crashes to the floor. I’m on the room’s opposite end in an instant, holding my pounding head in my hands.
What is wrong with me? The Void is an unwelcome menace. Its effects are not something to be admired.
Still . . .
I force my thoughts to take a detour, don my long-sleeved shirt to cover my secret, and focus on the task at hand.
Obtain Isabeau’s third and final gift. Find the rose.
Whatever it takes.
I am still unsure whether I have the countess convinced. She’s seen Ky’s arm, yet her expression exudes skepticism. At least the people are terrified and Ambrose is out smoothing the ruckus I created. The little girl El asked me to keep charge of—Khloe, apparently—turned out to be my brother’s adoptive sister, which means she couldn’t be trusted. I hated sending her with the other prisoners, but what choice did I have? I can’t take any chances, not even with a minor.