The revelation drains the room of heat, of sound. I stop breathing. Kael tenses beside me.
Ho-ly shit.
Varek’s head jerks back as if struck. He opens his mouth—then closes it again, clearly struggling. “I didn’t know,” he rasps, agony hollowing out his features. “All I saw was a man. A human. Hurting you.”
Fuck. We shouldn’t be hearing this. This is too personal, too raw.
I step closer to Kael, heart hammering, and he pulls me in tight, grounding me. Neither of the Glowranth in the room say a word, but their expressions have shifted, wariness giving way to something deeper. Understanding, maybe. Or dread.
Kael’s the one who breaks the silence. “Enough.” His voice isn’t loud, but it cuts clean through the room. “This isn’t the time. Whatever history you have, whatever pain, put it aside. If you don’t want to help us, fine. But let us take a breath and figure out our next steps before we leave.”
His tone is so rational, so kind and resolute, that even Pax seems caught off-guard. Kael’s thumb brushes against mine, reminding me he’s here. That we’re here. Together.
“We’re searching for a hidden library,” Kael adds. “There are rumours it’s somewhere in the citadel, but it’s never been confirmed.”
That gets the attention of the other two Glowranth in the room. They exchange looks, and one of them finally steps forwards. “You think that’s where you’ll find the answers?” he asks, voice measured. “About the prince and his fated?” he clarifies.
He seriously sounds calm and not even puzzled over the barely there information we’ve dropped on his lap.
“Yes,” Kael says simply.
“And what’s in it for us?” Pax’s voice is all sharp angles again.
“I don’t know,” I say honestly. Am I also kinda disappointed he’s gone there? Maybe, which is foolish of me. Naïve too.“Maybe nothing. But if we can save the prince and Dawson, we might change everything. And not just for Riftborn. For everyone.”
Pax exhales hard, running a hand down his face. It’s the first time he looks less like a stone wall and more like a man unravelling. “I’m still not over what happened,” he mutters before swallowing hard, and I think he’s pointedly not looking at Varek. “But I’ll get you started. No promises. No guiding hand. But I can get you into the citadel.”
“Why are you still here?” I ask before I can stop myself. “I mean, if you’re not with Varek….”
Pax arches a brow. “I’ve got my uses. Let’s just say I keep things running down here. Someone has to.”
It’s the “down here” that makes me think of shady dealings in the club I used to work at. “And them?” I nod towards the two Glowranth.
“They owe me.”
Not exactly the reassuring answer I was hoping for, but it’ll do.
Kael shifts beside me, his presence warm and steady. We’re not out of the woods yet—but at least we’re moving forwards.
And if there’s one thing I’ve learned in Terrafeara, it’s that momentum is everything.
CHAPTER
SEVENTEEN
Momentum apparently meanswe’re moving right now. I don’t even get the chance to take a piss since Pax made two things crystal clear. One is that he wants us gone and never to return. And yeah, so many warm and fuzzies are coming from him that my heart really hurts for Varek. What the hell is fate thinking, pairing them together? And two, we have to move now if we want to get into the citadel undetected and without getting dead.
Fun time all around for sure.
We’re outside, the bright day not giving us any cover. Varek and I are wearing pretty daggy cloak-like clothing, though, to stop us from standing out too much. It’s itchy, and I look ridiculous. It’s just a good thing Kael already loves me is all I’m saying.
Tension clings to the air, thick as smoke. Pax has made it clear that this window of opportunity is short—shifting patrol schedules and some upcoming ceremonial procession mean the usual guards will be thinned out around the perimeter of the citadel for a brief stretch. That’s the only reason we’ll be able to get close without drawing attention.
Kael keeps glancing upwards at the tall silver-white spires jutting from the citadel’s crown, as if expecting something—or someone—to appear. His jaw is tight, his eyes constantly scanning. We’re close now. I can feel it.
“Why here?” I whisper to him.
He doesn’t answer immediately, just adjusts the cloak over my shoulders before speaking into my mind.“The citadel was once the seat of ancient Glowranth wisdom. Long before the queen, long before the divide. If the library exists—if it’s real—it’s here. Hidden beneath what the monarchy built on top of it.”
