Page 28 of Of Blood & Stone

Her throat closed, unable to say those final words.

“Since the rite,” Nyla finished, dipping her brows.

Sylzenya brushed at her robe. “Whenever it’s about to scab over, it breaks open again. It’s not bleeding enough to be a true concern, but even the medicines the infirmary gave me haven’t been able to help.”

“I didn’t know orodyte serum could prevent natural healing like that.” Nyla paused, leveling her gaze, “I still don’t understand why your father did it.”

Mouth thinned, Sylzenya didn’t respond.

Silence spanned between them as they walked along the dirt path towards the temple.

“Are you…” Nyla took a deep breath, “Are you going to visit your parents? In the dungeons? I’m sure the High One would let you if you want answers.”

“Ifis the important part of that question.”

Nyla frowned. “Why wouldn’t you?”

“Because I don’t want to see them.”

“Syl, they’re your parents. There must’ve been some twisted reason behind this inane act.”

“They’re unwell. Delirious.Deranged. I believe those are the words you’re looking for,” Sylzenya replied, fingers digging into the plum, piercing through its skin into its soft flesh.

“Whatever it was they tried to do, it didn’t work, praise Aretta that the High One found your cure.” She patted her shoulder. “A true miracle.”

Sylzenya’s spine tightened at her words. She hadn’t told anyone, not even Nyla, about how he hadn’t found a cure, but wasfindingone. While a part of her ached to tell her—for someone to know how deeply this emptiness consumed her—Sylzenya reminded herself it wouldn’t be long before she was on the mend. The High One had promised to have it ready soon, and she trusted him. No need to cause panic for anyone, especially her closest friend.

Nyla continued, “If you’re certain it wasn’t out of some misplaced sense of love, then why not go get answers?”

Rolling the sticky plum in her hand, Sylzenya stopped walking. “It wouldn’t change anything. The damage has been done, and seeing them would only cause me unnecessary grief.”

She turned to Nyla. Her friend’s face faltered, hands deep in her robe’s pockets as she nodded her head, gaze averting to the dirt.

“I don’t want answers from them. I just want my connection to Aretta restored, and things to go back to the way they were.”

Nyla let out a long breath, her hands fiddling with her robe. “I’m not sure that’s possible.”

Sylzenya’s eyes widened, worried Nyla might have guessed the High One’s cure was untrue.

Frantic, Sylzenya said, “The High One’s cureisworking?—”

“No, not that.” She turned, her amber gaze piercing. “Syl, before the rite, no one outside of the temple knew your powerwas strong enough to sustain our entire kingdom. And yet, it wasyou,of all Kreenas, who was sabotaged.” She lowered her voice to a whisper, “The High One’s requested each Kreena be monitored tonight, but not by a priestess like usual, by Dynameis. He’s asked them to wear their full uniforms—swords, shields, orodytes…”

Sylzenya’s stomach soured.

Nyla continued, “Nothing’s going to be the same after this.”

Mouth open, Sylzenya found herself at a loss for words. She’d been so focused on gaining her power back, she hadn’t considered the implications of her parent’s sabotage. It wasn’t just an act against herself—it was an act that called something else into question.

Were there others who would’ve jeopardized their own people?

And if so,why?

A scuffing of dirt and metal interrupted her thoughts.

Men in green and brown leather armor entered the willow grove, each of the Dynameis wearing an orodyte on their chest plate. All of their stone’s impurities had been depleted, each of them clear as crystal.

Nyla sighed. “Seems the Dynameis are here to boast of their latest adventures.”

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