Page 122 of By the Flames of Her Fury

Silence. I could almost see the air moving, like translucent shadows wavering in the shape of three figures. This time when they responded, the voice was softer. “These people do not deserve the chance you are giving them, demithe.”

I swallowed hard, thinking back to my own imprisonment. “Everyone deserves a chance.”

“Oh, you ignorant, sweet little phoenix,” one purred, their voices growing distant as warmth replaced the cold.

“If only that were true.”

The shattered colors faded from the sky, returning it to its normal blackness. Everett’s muffled shouts sounded behind me. I spun to face the courtyard entrance, forgetting my shadows still restrained him, and quickly released him.

“What just happened?” he panted.

“You really didn’t hear anything?”

“I heard you, but it looked like you were talking to yourself.”

I blew out a long breath, trying to calm my thoughts. “It was the Fates. They were here.”

His nostrils flared. “How?”

“I don’t know. The sky cracked down the middle, and then these three voices came out of nowhere. I could feel their power.”

“What did they say?” he urged.

I picked through the conversation. “Similar to what the siren said. They tried to scare me into giving up. They said I—I don’t know the full story.” I didn’t mention the sacrifice part. He was already so protective after hearing the siren say it, I didn’t want to worry him more.

I let out a breath. “Everett, I don’t know what to think anymore. People are counting on me, but what if they’re telling the truth? What if there’s something I’m missing?”

Everett scrubbed a hand over his jaw, that worried look I knew so well written across his handsome face. He held out his arms, and I didn’t even think before letting him pull me closer. His hand cradled the back of my neck. “I know what Pyraeth means to you,” he murmured into my hair, “but before you do anything else, I need to show you what I found in this book⁠—”

“What are you two doing out here?” Julius’s voice came from the front of the courtyard. Maeve and Arcadia followed closely behind, their matching gray robes swishing against the stone.

“We heard a commotion,” Maeve said, eyes scanning the cracked ground and broken fountain. “Are you well, Lightbringer?”

“I—” My eyes slid to Everett. “Yes, everything’s fine.” I cleared my throat and stepped away from him, lying to them for the second time in one day. “It must’ve been a small earthquake.”

“How strange,” Arcadia said, wrinkles in his forehead deepening. “We’re glad you are both safe. Come, let us get you inside and bring you something to eat. We must make our plan of action for tomorrow.”

He ushered Everett and me forward, not giving us a chance to refuse. My stomach churned, but as we walked, Everett’s pinky grazed the side of my hand. I took a deep breath and let his touch anchor me. But the words of the Fates still lingered over me in a cloud of doubt.

57

Vera

“Look, I hate being left in the dark as much as anyone else, but does it really change anything if the Elders are hiding something? We still have to get off this island, and the amulet is still missing.” Tessa spread her hands out wide. “I don’t see another option but to keep going.”

We gathered in my room after dinner to debrief on everything that had happened that day. Tessa now lounged in one of the chairs by the fireplace, legs hanging over the edge, kicking back and forth against the upholstery. Starke sat on the settee with his elbows propped on his knees as stared into the fire. Kieran paced behind him, his jacket discarded and sleeves rolled up to his elbows.

Everett perched on the chest at the foot of my bed. His eyes tracked my every movement as I walked back and forth between the bed and the balcony doors, using my Shifter hearing to listen for any sign of people lingering outside.

I hated that I was so mistrusting. I thought I’d put that part of my nature aside, for once. That I was finally doing something good, something bigger than me, instead of letting others take control behind the scenes. Now I was back to checking every closed door, unsure of who I could trust.

“Tessa’s right,” Kieran said.

She hummed. “I love it when you say that.”

He rolled his eyes. “It’s wisest to continue on our course if we want to heal Odessa and get home.” He glanced at the empty seat next to Starke, and Odessa’s absence filled the room.

Everett, who had been mostly quiet throughout the discussion, snapped his head toward Kieran. “Even when we don’t know what could happen to Vera? The siren and the Fates both showed up on the same day with warnings. We can’t ignore that.”