Page 68 of Dark Prince's Captive

“They’re blind animals that live underground.”

“Indeed.”He cracks his neck, which must be aching from being bent into such an uncomfortable position.“Some of them go blind from reading the scrolls and living underground their whole life.”

I want to say that’s terrible, but I keep my judgement to myself.

Aruan motions me closer to the altar with a hand.“Have a look.”

I step gingerly over some roots that break through the soil and stop short of the men to peer at the pyramids.At first glance, I thought they were made of a clear acrylic material or glass, but upon a closer look, they appear soft instead of hard, as if made of silicone.

This is beyond amazing.Whatever these small pyramids are, I’m staring at very advanced technology.Or magic.But my bet is on technology—a technology that seems far beyond what the Alit possess.

Where did it come from?Aliens?An advanced civilization that existed on Zerra in the past?If it’s the latter, what happened to it?

“Does the light ever go out?”I ask.

“The light is eternal.”

“How does it work?”

“We don’t know.”

I turn in a circle, studying the images that run along the walls.We’re underground, so the scrolls can’t be solar-powered.Some kind of super-long-lasting batteries?Maybe even fusion technology?“How old do you think the scrolls are?”

“It’s difficult to say.Their origins are a mystery.As far as we know, they’ve always been here.”

I look back at him.“And what do they say?”

His smile is wry.“Many things.Most of them incomprehensible.Some are interpreted as prophecies, though—one of which is about a ruler more powerful than Zerra has ever seen and his mate.”

“Is that the one where you’re supposed to destroy your world?”I study his face, the strong lines and handsome features, the undeniable masculinity.The striking perfection.“How can they be so sure that the prophesied ruler is you?Who says someone else more powerful won’t be born?”

His smile disappears, and a shutter drops in front of his eyes.

“Aruan?”He’s hiding something again.“What aren’t you telling me?”When he remains quiet, I resort to outright manipulation.“If you want me to live here and be your mate, shouldn’t I know what I’m getting myself into?”

He lets out a long breath before taking my arm and pulling me a short distance away where we’re out of earshot before saying in a strained voice, “There was an incident when I was young.I was playing in the jungle when a sand snake bit me.I didn’t mean to, but in my anguish, I set off an explosion that killed every living thing in a moon cycle’s radius, except for me.”I suppress a horrified gasp as he continues, “For many cycles later, nothing could live there.Every animal that crossed that circle died a short while later.”His eyes darken.“People too.My father forbade anyone to go near that place and tried to keep it quiet, but the rumors spread like embers carried on the wind.”

My heart thumps dully in my chest.It can’t be what I’m thinking… can it?My voice shakes a bit.“How did the explosion look when it happened?”

“There was a big cloud, round like a venomous fungus, growing up and up while rippling the air.People saw it from a great distance.The noise was deafening.”

I stare at him with a slack jaw.

No.That can’t be.

That sounds like a nuclear explosion.Radiation would explain why the animals and people who became exposed died.

Fuck.Is that Aruan’s superpower?He can set off a nuclear explosion… that he himself is able to survive?

Without meaning to, I take a step away from him.As I try to process everything I know about his power, my mind spins.He can manipulate matter by dissolving bonds between molecules and vaporize living things with just a thought.Can he dissolveatomicbonds with a mere thought too?

His gaze darkens further as he watches my retreat, so I force myself to stop.But I can’t completely hide the tremor in my voice as I ask, “Have you ever used your power like that since?”

His lips flatten.“I’ve been diligent in practicing caution.I don’t want to inflict that kind of damage ever again.”

But he can.

If he wants to.

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