Page 114 of Unveiled

If it hurts me like this, what the hell is Connor feeling, taking it in?

Connor’s jaw was clenched, his face etched with pain, but still he held on as Adrian gave him what was needed.

The ground shook violently, and Adrian collapsed into Connor’s arms, shaking from head to toe. Connor steadied him, breathing hard. “That’s one.”

Adrian laughed weakly. “We have more?”

“Probably dozens.”

“Lovely.”

The river’s surface churned, flowing sideways toward the valley centre. The fault line beneath it glowed like a wound.

Adrian’s eyes widened. “Connor. If this breaks—”

“The whole valley floods,” Connor finished. “I know.”

Adrian’s knees buckled as the mark pulsed again. Connor caught him, lifting him off the ground. “Lean on me.”

Adrian leaned shakily. The river surged violently, waves crashing as though something beneath pushed at the surface.

Adrian took a deep, pained breath. “It’s trying to pull the water through me. Through the tether.”

Connor slammed a hand over the mark. “Then we block it.” He pressed his palm hard against Adrian’s chest.

A shockwave rippled and Adrian gasped, arching into him. “It’s too much, I can’t.”

“Yes, you can.” Connor grabbed the sides of Adrian’s face and forced him to meet his gaze. “You’re not facing the Veil. You’re facing me.”

Adrian’s breath hitched. The mark flared, then split. Once again, half the pain drove into Adrian, and half into Connor. Connor staggered but held on, letting the energy surge through him. The river stilled. The fault line dimmed.

Adrian sagged, his strength collapsing. Connor lifted him, one arm tight around his waist, holding him like something precious. “That’s two,” he whispered.

Adrian leaned against him, exhausted. “Fuck.”

Connor pressed his lips to Adrian’s temple. “I’m going to be really annoyed by the end.”

Adrian laughed weakly into his neck.

The Spiral Grove was the oldest part of the valley. Tonight, it was a nightmare. Trees bent inward in unnatural spirals, their leaves glowing a faint blue and their roots pulsing like veins.

Adrian stopped and stared. “This one feels older.”

Connor nodded. “Xiathen said this place predates the clans.”

Adrian swallowed. “It predates the Council too.”

Connor frowned. “Then what—?”

The ground convulsed. A deep, ancient rumble tore through the grove. Adrian clutched Connor’s sleeve. “Connor, something else is waking.”

The mark blazed white.

Connor swore savagely. “What does white mean?”

Adrian shook his head. “I don’t know.”

The fault line split open. A blinding pillar of light shot out, and the grove erupted around them. The earth shook. The trees were twisting and their roots were serpents writhing.