Page 92 of Crown of Wrath

“Maybe,” she says. “Though, the first ones are free. Everything after that is going to cost you.”

“Oh really? You’re opening a bakery right here in Valinar?”

Hazel shrugs and stands up. “No, if I opened a bakery, then I’d have to accept money. It’ll cost you something very different and more…physicalthan coin.”

What? Is my cousin suggesting… Darian immediately stands up, and there's no doubt that his eyes run over all of her. Over the simple linen dress that shows off her curves. Over the sparkle in her eyes. Over the smile that has too many inappropriate thoughts behind it for the girl that I grew up with.

I’m shocked as Darian says, “That sounds like a price I be more than happy to pay, Miss Arden.”

They both get up and go back to Hazel’s house before I can get control of my voice, and I turn to Cole. “What did I just witness?” I whisper.

“I think you saw your cousin and Darian flirting.” He picks up a piece of fruit and eats it without nearly as much concern as I’m feeling right now. “There are a lot worse men than Darian. Your cousin should be in good hands.”

“In good hands? He’s an Immortal, and she’s human. I think that’s the definition of a terrible decision, isn’t it?”

Cole grins and he stands up. “Don’t worry about Hazel. She’s a grown woman and Darian isn’t the kind of Immortal who would hurt her even if she wasn’t your cousin. The worst that will happen is that we have to endure a bit of flirting while we’re in Valinar.”

Inappropriate flirting? What? My cousin is chaste and pure and has only ever dreamed of marrying a handsome young man. She’s only been away from Blackgrove and her parents for a few months. Now I’m being told she’s going to be… With Darian?

“It seems like Hazel’s becoming her own woman.” He pulls me to my feet, and then he kisses me. “Stop worrying about her, Maeve. There are a thousand things to worry about right now, but your cousin isn’t one of them. She’s finding out how to be happy, and the best thing you can do is support her. She may behuman, but she’s right. She’s not beholden to anyone’s customs. Let her have some fun. And you, my beautiful and wonderful fiancée—” He presses his lips to mine, and I can taste the honey from the griddle cakes on his lips. “Be safe today. I trust you completely, but it still makes me nervous when you go into the void for long periods of time.”

I nod to him and give him another kiss. “I’ll be safe. I’m just going to show Echo how to shadow walk and give her some time exploring. Nothing exciting. You be safe, too. I know you’re just going to Stormhaven, but Aric isn’t happy with us forcing him to go to war against Immortals. He might try something stupid.”

Cole grins. “I doubt it, but I’ll be safe. And Maeve,” he says as he pulls away.

I lick my lips, wishing they were his. “What?” I ask.

“Don’t tire yourself out too much. I have plans for tonight.”

I flash him my widest smile, and then I turn from the man I love to go find Echo. Regardless of how much I want to be with Cole today, I know I need to work with her.

I can see the nervousness in Echo’s eyes as I take her hand. My mother’s eyes are filled with worry as she looks on. I’m the only one who isn’t nervous at all. I just keep thinking about what Cole said before I left him an hour ago. He has plans for tonight.

I put the thought out of my mind and say, “Take us to the void.” Echo takes a deep breath before I feel myself falling through the world. Her shadows are thicker than mine, like there’s more moisture hidden in them.

Then we’re there, floating in the void, and I breathe the darkness in. “How do you feel?” I ask.

“I feel free,” a soft voice whispers. It’s hard to tell exactly where it comes from, but I know the voice is Echo’s. My shadows spread out, feeling my way through the darkness so I can orient myself in the pitch-black nothingness.

“Then you’re like me. You can stay here. Breathe in the darkness, but don’t let it pull you. Most shadow walkers will die if they breathe in the void. The nothingness will get inside them, and they’ll fade away, becoming a part of the void. It wants to do the same to you, but it will take far more than a few breaths.”

We float in a darkness that is so overwhelming and complete that, at first, most people panic. No ground. No walls. No light. No water or air. It’s nothing, but it’s also everything. Instead of trying to see, Ifeel. My shadows move, touching other shadows that connect this place to the dark places within Nyth and Valinar.

There’s a difference between them, but it’s subtle. I’m surprised I never sensed the pathways to Valinar before. The only reason I can imagine is because every time I was near the Nothing, I was in a panic or battle, and I didn’t have time to explore.

“I’ve never been here this long,” Echo’s voice whispers to my mind.

“Look through the world,” I say. “Find shadows and feel the world that they’re connected to. See the trees and the people.”

I can feel Echo’s shadows acting the part of a blind woman, groping to see what’s within reach.

“Why are all the shadows only on one side of me?” she asks.

“I don’t know. It feels like there’s a difference between that side and the other. The void seems to getdeeperas you move away from the shadows. I have a feeling that if you keep going away from the shadows, even we could get lost to the void.”

A shiver runs through me as one of Echo’s shadows brushes mine. It’s a strange sensation knowing that if she wanted to,when she touched those shadows, she could have taken it from me.

“Come on,” I say. “Let’s go a little further out. Use your shadows to swim.”

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