Page 189 of A Vow of Wrath and Ruin

Cyrus walked around, holding a heart in his hand. Blood dripped down his forearm onto the white granite, pooling in the carved stone.

Beyond him people stood together, hands linked, heads to the heavens.

“My friends, we honor these six souls who have graciously given their lives to honor Algea. They put their bodies through rigorous torture so that they may be closer to her. Tonight, we honor them by giving their hearts.”

Tharan noticed their gaunt faces barely resembled the muscular sylph they used to be. No, these creatures had become a part of the forest. With their pale white skin and dark eyes, it had been a long time since they’d been creatures of the blood.

The crowd cheered and chanted. “Blood for blood. Blood for blood.”

Cyrus held the heart high in the air, squeezing it so that blood shot from the ventricles. The crowd’s chanting grew louder.

“Blood for blood. Blood for blood.”

Cyrus tossed the heart into the fire and the flame turned bloodred. A sulfuric and sweet aroma wafted through the air.

“We should go,” Lucius said. “It will do us no good to linger. I know a cave we can camp out in for the night and decide what to do in the morning.”

As they turned to leave, a flash of white caught Tharan’s eye and he turned to see the crowd parting for none other than Erissa.

Cyrus bowed and the crowd silenced.

“Mistress Erissa, to what do we owe this visit?”

The crowd kneeled in front of the ancient mage.

“I am sorry to interrupt your ceremony, but I have a task for you.”

Whispers ripped through the crowd.

“For many years I have come here with messages from beyond. I was the one who knew Cyrus was the living embodiment of Algea. And now I have another task for you.”

Hushed questions abounded.

“Tomorrow we will go on a hunt. But not for lamb or boar, but for something much more sacred. Three originals lurk in these woods. We will find them and bring them here where I will perform the sacred ritual that will open the vaults to the Well of Power below. You will be given back the magic that was taken from you long ago.”

The crowd cheered, raising their fists in the air.

Lucius and Tharan exchanged knowing glances. Tharan’s stomach hardened. They would hunt them down. Lucius had been right—Erissa had her claws in more than just Gideon. She was sowing seeds all over the continent. He let out a long breath, hoping no one would see the vapor. If she was hunting for three originals, then she didn’t have Aelia anymore. His heart lightened a bit, and he prayed to Illya Aelia would not come looking for him here, though he knew she would. She was hardheaded and her thirst for revenge would not be quenched easily.

“If she’s here, where are Caiden and Aelia?” Lucius whispered.

“They must be here somewhere. We must go now. We have to find them before she does.” A primal urge rushed through Tharan’s veins. He was so close to saving Aelia. So close to finding the Well. If they could just survive long enough.

47AELIA

Something pulledat the knot in my chest, drawing me deeper into the forest. Darkness surrounded us, save for the light of the hunter’s lantern. With each step I took my throat grew thicker. Something ominous awaited me in these woods. Something called to the knot in my chest. I tried not to think about it and instead focused on finding Tharan.

The distant smell of a bonfire wafted through the silent forest. Caiden walked behind me followed by the Shadow Hunters. I scanned the trees for any sign of a threat.

A loud cry echoed, sending a chill down my spine. I looked back at Caiden, the moonlight cut a path across his chiseled face. Only Tharan knew about the weaver’s magic resting in my chest and I couldn’t put that on Caiden. A bitter taste filled my mouth. My mother had once again saddled me with a burden I did not wish to have. I never wanted magic. I was content being a human. And now I had thisthinginside me that could go off at any moment and I had absolutely no control over, besides a cryptic message from my mother asking me to trust in it.

I let out a breath. My fingers itched to light a cigarette, but I fought the urge.

A wind whipped through the trees, carrying cheering voices with it.

“We are close to their sacred ritual ground,” the hunter said, sinking low. Before her lay the ruins of an ancient temple. Time and the elements wore most of the granite away. Tall, twisted columns rose high into the sky.

I swallowed the dread pooling in my stomach.

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