I didn’t mention the letters I’d found in his suite in Damenal, but even from afar, Tolek was the reason I survived that place. Survived the venom of a god.Thank youwould never be enough for him, but before I could find the words, he opened the door and nudged me into the hall.
His guidance confirmed there was no need to say more.
Sunlight streaked the tiled floors through the wall of windows, thick clouds forming along the horizon. Those were Echnid’s clouds, I was certain of it. His presence was everywhere, unspooling across Gallantia and spilling that slime-coated sensation in my veins. I scratched at the Curse mark on my wrist—the one Echnid had rooted his influence in. It was empty now. No more than an ordinary scar. But it still reminded me of him.
As if understanding, Tolek switched to my other side, blocking the windows from view.
“If the Angels feel everything so extremely, why did they never react to any of the harm they did?” Tol asked.
“Their Spirits were separated from their angelic forms when they were trapped in that Stone Realm,” I explained. “Damien didn’t feelanything—not fully—until they were freed.”
How did that change them? To exist so long like an empty vessel, only recollections of memories like drifting breezes against your skin.
“That makes me feel a little bad for the fuckers,” Tolek said.
“Me, too,” I sighed. “Despite my better judgment after all they’ve taken from us.”
He only exhaled, nodding, and when I looked up, his eyes were wandering. It was clear he was trying not to think of it, but his silence bit at my spirit.
I pulled him to a stop to face me. “Lyria will always be with us,” I swore to him, taking both of his hands within my own. “She is here every day, just as my father is, and she is so proud of who you are becoming, Tolek.”
His forehead dropped to mine. “I know,apeagna,” he sighed, brushing my hair behind my ear. His voice was gravelly as he added, “But I’m not done getting my revenge.”
“Good,” I agreed with a smirk. “Because neither am I. Now, let’s go start.”
The meeting chamberin Xenovia’s capitol building was ready for war as we filed in. Tolek and me, Cypherion, Erista, Meridat, and a number of Soulguider advisors, including Erista’s twin, older brother, and father. We were only waiting for Malakai, Mila, and Mora.
“The necklace from our trove turned out to be exemplary, didn’t it?” Erista’s father asked smugly when we got to speaking of how the final emblem had been found within the Gates of Angeldust.
“Father.” Erista sighed, rubbing her forehead as if to alleviate an ache sprouting there. Her brother—the Soulguider general, Quilian—shook his head, exchanging a glance with the twins.
“I only think it’s extraordinary!” their father gushed, his short, black beard bristling with his surprise. “We kept it safe all these years.”
From what Erista had mentioned over the months, her father was a very proud man with a specific interest in wealth and their family trove. That much was obvious from the elaborate jewels adorning his body. But he seemed harmless beyond that.
“Yes, we are certainly grateful that piece called to Erista,” I said. “It was meant to be.” I gripped my own necklace, the shard of Angelborn lifeless now that the Angelcurse was fulfilled. A part of me preferred it that way.
Shaking my head, I leaned forward in my chair. Meridat had given me one with low arms and a narrow back to accommodate my wings, and the sensitive feathers shivered as they brushed the velvet lining.
“We have more important things to discuss now, though,” I said, and every head turned toward me, a respectful silence falling over the room. I nodded at Meridat.
“This letter arrived from Santorina.” The chancellor placed the wrinkled parchment on the table. I’d already read it, my heart sinking to my stomach. “She describes an attack on the human camp this morning that left Lancaster injured.”
A harsh breeze swept through the room as Mora sped in. “Is he all right?” she asked, frenzied and taking the note from the chancellor. There wasn’t a hint of the controlled female she typically displayed. Her long brown curls were a mess, dark circles beneath her eyes.
Malakai and Mila came tearing through the door a moment later. “Fucking Spirits, you’re quick,” Malakai panted.
“I heard my brother’s name,” Mora muttered, her face ashen as she handed them the letter.
“Where have you guys been?” Cypherion asked. He’d been jittery all day, Tol and I having to repeat things a few times to get his attention.
“And have you slept at all?” Tolek added, looking over their rumpled clothing and tired eyes.
“Are Rina and Lancaster okay?” Erista demanded, gesturing at the letter. The energy in the room rippled with everyone’s assorted anxiety.
“Let’s all sit down,” I directed as the tightness overwhelmed my chest. These damn seraph emotions. Light pushed at my skin in frustration, and I directed the seraph power to concentrate around my wings as I’d seen the Angels do. Gold shimmered across the feathers, peeling off the heightened energy little by little so I could focus.
I held my hand out to take the note back from Malakai as he, Mila, and Mora found seats, a thick book in his hand.
