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“We may learn something in the histories. Maybe someone discovered a loophole to the ruby's power,” I said, trying to be useful even though I had no idea what we were looking for. I’d been led to believe that Edward brought me here to help with my visions. But it was clear he had ulterior motives, and he’d kept me completely in the dark about them.
Edward’s cold eyes shifted to me. A condescending smile on his face. “You look a lot prettier with your mouth closed.”
My jaw clenched as I held my tongue. Not a single day had passed, and he’d fallen back into his old ways. I was still nothing more than property to him. His obsession with the ruby hadn’t changed. I was the fool for believing he could be any different. Each passing moment confirmed that I had made a mistake following Edward. But even if I wanted to leave and give up my chance at finding answers, Edward wouldn’t oblige.
“Amara, I don’t need detailed notes on how the Heart of the Divine came into being. I need something that dares to be more,” Edward said.
“Don’t expect me to read your mind! One cannot predict the actions of a fae who’s truly lost his soul,” Amara snapped.
Edward chuckled as he leaned back in his chair. “It’s because you have no vision, Amara. You’re trapped inside a little box the Divine has put you in. I'm ready to break the chains.”
“Be plain, Éadbard! I’m growing weary of your riddles. You came to collect a favor, but you have yet to name that favor. What do you want?” Kían asked, slamming a fist on the table.
“You ruin all the fun, Kían. There is a particular text that contains rituals, ones the Divine never wanted us to know. The Book of Divine Desecration.”
“That book no longer exists. All the copies were destroyed ages ago, and for good reason,” Amara said dismissively.
“Is that so? You see, I have it on good authority that not all of them were destroyed. Twelve copies were spared. One sent to each of the magic-wielding realms for safekeeping.” Amara remained silent, and it was as much of an admission as if she’d come right out and said it. “Once you bring me that book, I’ll acquire the same unfettered power as the Divine. The book outlines a ritual that will extract the ruby's power from its corporeal restraints, releasing it from Divine rules that deny us true power,” he said as he examined the seemingly insignificant ruby that he rolled in his fingers. “Now, be a good little priestess and fetch the book for me.”
“In another lifetime, we may have been friends, but until you tell us what you’re planning to do with this power once you’ve obtained it, we don’t go any further,” Kían said, taking an offensive stand in front of his mate.
Edward crossed his arms over his chest, a sinister smirk crossing his face. “As I see it, you have one of two options. You tell her to get me the book I need, and once I become the most powerful fae in history, I will bestow endless gifts on those who help me. Or… we can sit here and argue the finer points of morality. But beware, the longer you take, the more likely the bastard prince will soon discover my whereabouts. Now that I’ve returned to the fae realms, I cannot elude his magic. I may be mistaken, but I would suspect that you’d rather not call that kind of attention to your little piece of paradise. Go ahead. Take all the time you need. We all know that in the end, I’ll get what I want.”
My skin crawled at the vision of evil that had chased us out of Mag Mel. Amara’s eyes widened at the mere mention of his name. His reputation obviously preceded him.
“Amara, go and fetch him the book he is looking for,” Kían said stoically.
She stared at her mate, and a look of disgust creased her face. “You’re a fucking coward,” she said to him as she pushed up from the table. “You,” she pointed at me, “come with me. You’re my assurance that Kían will remain unharmed until we return.”
I followed close behind the priestess. Her petite form moving with speed and purpose, leading me to the lower levels of the library. The temperature dropped as we descended, and the dank smell of stagnant air grew stronger. Amara pressed her hand against a plate at each door we encountered in order to gain entrance. I had a feeling that I would never make it out of here alive if she decided to leave me behind.
“What have you gotten yourself into, girl?” she asked, shaking her head. And I knew that this might be my only opportunity to get the answers I needed. I could see through Edward’s deception. He’d never meant to help me with my visions. I was, and always had been, a pawn in his plan.
“I was told you could help me. You’re a priestess, right? Does that mean you have powers?”
She looked back at me with a raised eyebrow. “What does a human woman know of the Divine’s gifts?” she said as she entered through yet another door and led us into a small void of a room. She lifted her hand, and a glowing orb of light manifested over her outstretched palm. A clear testament that she did indeed possess magic. I followed her into a circular room, my eyes fixated on the orb of light. Once inside, the door behind us closed of its own accord, the impact stirring the dust from the shelves.
“Who are you?” she demanded.
“I’m no one. I’m just an insignificant human.”
“You’re not just a human. I wasn’t expecting it so soon, but could you be—” She hesitated for a moment and then reached for me. I let her curl her cool hands over my wrists.
Her touch hit me like a tempest, an otherworldly power slamming into me. This wasn’t like any vision I’d ever had. It was as if I was being split in two. As I pulled the future from her, she tore it from me with equal ferocity. It was a jumbled exchange, a whirlwind of overwhelming feelings I couldn’t piece together. Until a vision became crisp in my mind.
A forked path in the woods.
To the left, James stood alone. A hook, where his hand had been, glinted in the sunlight.
To the right was darkness. And there I crouched, keening over James’ lifeless body.
The vision erupted in smoke, and I saw her, the priestess, flickering in my consciousness as my power overturned hers, and a new vision appeared.
A field.
A growing storm.
Power and death.
