Page 44 of Unveiled

Xiathen’s gaze grew distant, ancient. “When two worlds collide,” he whispered, “shadows tremble.”

The fire popped sharply, scattering sparks that flared green before vanishing. The smoke image wavered but held.

Xiathen lifted a hand over the flames, palm hovering above the heat. “We must be ready. Harmony attracts the Council’s gaze as surely as discord. And this…” He gestured faintly toward the vision of the clans beginning to eat, to talk, to breathe in rhythm rather than in opposition. “This is a new rhythm. One the Council will fear.”

Xiathen allowed the smoke to dissolve, the image breaking apart into drifting wisps that curled toward the rafters. The Athenaeum fell quiet again, save for the fire’s crackling heartbeat.

“They will need us,” Xiathen murmured.

“And we them” Morrigan replied.

Connor awoke tangled in the bedsheets, the memories still vivid in his head. He sat up and looked out into the light of the Highland morning.

He felt comforted thinking perhaps they weren’t completely alone.

Chapter Thirteen

Adrian

The sound of bootsteps crunched on the frost behind him.

Adrian startled. Connor stood behind him in the frozen courtyard, arms folded, hair wind-tangled, eyes narrowed in that way he had when he was pretending not to worry.

“I’m cold,” Adrian said.

“No,” Connor replied. “You’re hiding.”

Adrian’s lips twitched. “And you’ve become a mind reader overnight?”

“Aye. Turns out you’re easy to read.”

Adrian scoffed. “I assure you I am not.”

“Then explain the troubled look about you,” Connor said, stepping closer. “And the way you keep rubbing your chest as if you’ve a stone stuck under your shirt.”

Adrian’s fingers curled reflexively over the mark. Connor’s gaze dropped to the movement. “What’s hurting?” he asked softly.

Adrian shook his head. “It’s nothing.”

Connor didn’t move. Didn’t blink. Just waited. And gods, that was worse than scolding would have been.

“It’s—” Adrian exhaled. “The mark. It feels different.”

“How different?” Connor asked. “On a scale from ‘annoying itch’ to ‘full-blown I want to slice it off’?”

Adrian laughed despite himself, a small, startled sound. “Somewhere in the middle.”

“Middle is concerning,” Connor said.

Adrian glanced away, embarrassed by the sudden tightness in his throat. “It’s warm,” he said. “Off and on. At first, I thought it was nothing. But it’s getting worse.”

Connor’s expression hardened, not at Adrian, but at the invisible threat beneath his skin. “You should’ve said something.”

“I didn’t want to worry anyone.”

Connor huffed. “You can’t walk into a storm made of monsters and say I don’t want to cause concern.”

“It’s not the same,” Adrian argued. “This is private.”