Page 99 of What Is Dark Within Me

Garm, Aleja thought wildly, straining to hear anything other than water dripping from the stalactites. Her hand flew to the sickle as the Second’s voice moved through her mind again, a whisper she knew was meant for her alone.

BRAZEN OF YOU TO WIELD THAT BLADE. BUT THEN, THAT WAS ALWAYS ONE OF YOUR BETTER QUALITIES. BE CAREFUL, ALEJA. ONE DAY THE THIRD WILL COME TO COLLECT WHAT IS HIS.

“The Third?” she asked.

But if the Second answered, it was lost in the blare of war horns.

* * *

The sound was overwhelming,but as they ran toward the cave entrance, it was joined by the bark of a dog. “What’s going on?” Aleja gasped.

“They shouldn’t be here,” Nicolas answered, sounding as breathless as she was. “Even back then, we always agreed—”

“Nic, what is it?”

Violet squeezed her arm, pointing to the cave entrance. The brightness outside made it difficult for Aleja to make sense of anything other than a cluster of shadowed figures gathered on the barren rock.

“An Astraelis convoy. Simply coming here is considered an act of aggression. Aleja, please. Argue with me any other time, but now. You and Violet must stay silent in the cave, no matter what you hear. They won’t dare attack the Second. Not yet.”

A silhouette appeared in the glowing entrance; a person who would have looked human, were it not for the enormous mask covering his face with a multitude of wings. Their binding may have been broken, but she could feel Nicolas’s muscles tensing against hers as he used one of his wings to force her and Violet back.

“We have no interest in the Second, Knowing One, and unlike you, I’m unarmed. This is a diplomatic mission. We’d like to speak with you and Our Lady of Wrath,” the figure said. His voice had the same static quality she’d heard when Nicolas said the names of Astraelis she’d been unable to process.

Garm stopped barking, and Nicolas’s voice dropped to a whisper. “It doesn’t matter what you hear. Stay here, both of you.”

“Nic, don’t—”

“I have to. If I give a signal, head deeper into the caves.”

She reached for his arm, but he was already moving toward the light, his great wings spread at either side.

“We might see what’s going on from there,” Violet whispered. Her breath tickled the back of Aleja’s neck, where those small hairs were already on edge. Violet pointed to an outcrop of rock to their left.

“You should go deeper in,” Aleja muttered. “I’ll come get you when this is over.”

“No way. You never gave up on me. I’m returning the favor.”

Aleja didn’t know if Violet could see her smile in the darkness. It was a steep climb up the boulder, but atop it, it was easier to see the landscape beyond the cave mouth. Nicolas stood before three Astraelis decidedly more human than the one in the well, though they were large, towering at least a full head over him.

“—hand her over, and we’ll go in peace,” said the Astraelis who had spoken from the cave mouth. Aleja had to admit their winged masks were beautiful. Not white, as she’d expected, but flecked with streaks of gold and coral, and moving gently as if alive.

“She’s my wife. My consort in the Hiding Place. Are you prepared to commit an act of war?” Nicolas told him. Garm sat at Nicolas’s side, ears pressed flat against his head.

“Wife?” Violet whispered, but Aleja shushed her.

“I could ask the same of her. She killed one of our own in peacetime,” the golden-masked man went on.

“A Remnant who was half-mad and close to death. We were provoked first. Go back to where you came from, and I’ll forget this happened.”

“It’s too late, Knowing One.”

“You willnevertake her, Sarahn. I may be outnumbered, but you’re on my territory. Touch her and I’ll kill you. I don’t give a shit about the truce,” Nicolas said as Garm rose to all fours, his tail stuck straight out behind him. Aleja could see his fur shimmering as his muscles rippled underneath his skin.

Good dog,she thought.

“The Messenger only wants to talk to her, but our armies are prepared to do what they must should you refuse. We know the Hiding Place is weak. We know you are missing more than one of your Saints. If you will not give us Aleja, then—”

“Take me. I’ll speak with the Messenger,” Nicolas said. “I was the one who goaded Aleja into fighting Roland. I’m the one to blame for his death. And certainly, the Knowing One is a better prize than a mortal girl with no memories of the war. She hasn’t undergone the Trials and is no threat to you.”

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