Page 147 of Kingdom of the Two Moons

She tilts her head and watches me with a mixture of disgust andcalculation. “I don’t know. Go find that library of yours—the one you asked Everly about—because I think there’s a reason you want to do so. Call it a hunch or something else. And take it from there. Caryan’s going to be distracted all night,” she says in a sure tone.

I don’t like to think about what she’s implying. “Riven said there is no library.”

“I believe he did, Caryan’s ever-adoring minion.” She laughs coolly. “It’s true, there’s nolibrary. But the ruins of it still stand, slightly west of the main gate. And who knows what lies buried underneath all that sand. The famous library was once known for its cavernous underground archives. Built by the silver elves, a long time ago.”

I don’t at all like the cold glint in her eyes. A vision of the sand worm claws its way into my mind, but I fight it back. “He’ll see everything once he drinks my blood. Why take that risk?”

She just shrugs her delicate shoulders, seemingly untroubled by any of it. Only her aura tells a different story. A part of her is terrified. Terrified he will find out, but she wants me gone more.

“Because we’re both doomed in our own ways, and whether I like it or not, it binds us. But I think your disappearance means as much to you as it does to me. There’ll be a horse waiting for you there, at the ruins. I’ll arrange as much. And you may want to ride north. Now, excuse me, I need to prepare for tonight.”Escape. She’s helping me to escape.

She strides away, but halts, looking back at me over her shoulder. “Oh. I remember that your mother once mentioned those ruins too. Even visited them, I think. Briefly, before she ran from Caryan and hid from him in the human world.”

Her words feel like a stab in my belly.

“Sheranfrom him?”

“Of course she did. Why else do you think would anyone of us go to the human world? She wentbecauseof him. Accepted all the downsides it brings. The danger. Because she was terrified.”

46

Melody

Riven waits for me in the corridor to my room. He leans against the wall in the dark, muscled arms crossed, stepping in my way when I appear. I’m still so lost in my conversation with Sarynx that I startle.

“It’s not too late to change your mind about going to Niavara,” he says by way of greeting.

“You know I want to go,” I retort, trying to keep the sharpness from my voice and my face blank. I’m going to run. I’m going to deceive him. My stomach twists into an ugly knot. Then I remind myself that it’shimwho keeps things fromme. I make myself glower up at him, ignoring the ugly sting of betrayal behind my ribs. He just happened to leave out that part where my very mother ran fromCaryan.

“I do, yes,” he admits, as muscle flexing in his strong jaw.

He looks different today and it takes a moment for me to realize what it is. He’s wearing banded armor, not his usual, lush attire. The gems on his body are gone, no rings on his fingers. Instead, he’s got two vicious, double-edged swords strapped to his back.

He looks harder. Like a warrior. Frightening.

“You’re expecting another attack in Niavara,” I gather. I’ve thought about that, too—about the Nefarians wanting my head, preferably detached from my body. But they won’t find me if I just disappear. I’d have to wear a hat to hide my round ears, sure, butthen—I would just be a girl with a horse, somewhere out there in this world.

Boring. Unremarkable.

Absurdly enough, I’d probably be safer this way than anywhere else, even if I stayed locked away behind man-thick walls.

“It is very likely. But in Niavara, you never know anyways. Be on your guard,” Riven answers evasively. He holds out something for me then. A bundle of clothes made of the same, strange material as his. Black, almost like leather. “I had this made for you. Wear it. We’re going to ride,” he declares.

I breathe a “Thank you,” and take it.

He follows me to my chamber and enters with me. I look at the room.Myroom. It’s been cleaned since the Nefarians attack two nights ago. Magic has restored every bit of damage. And yet, standing here again brings it all back in a rush.

I’m not sure what I’d have done after the attack if Riven had not stayed here with me. I’d probably have cowered somewhere, waiting for them to return and finish what they started. Again, that twist in my gut, in my heart at what I’m about to do.

And that silent question burning in the back of my mind, whether I’m ready for this world? Or would be ever, for that matter.

I know the answer to that, but ignore it. Because if I thought about it too long, I might as well put myself right into the cage Caryan designed for me, close its door and throw the keys away.

Not an option.

I spare one last glance at the drawings I made of Caryan and Riven, still stacked neatly next to my bed, then quickly look away and disappear into the bathroom to change.

I shrug out of myslaveclothes and slip into the ones Riven gave me. They fit perfectly, almost like a second skin, black and shiny, reinforced with a pattern of black, inky scales on my elbows and knees. They smell of leather and fire and smoke.

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