Page 46 of The Illuminated
There was no new world without Daelon. No world at all.
“The vision I give to Lucius, of Tomas telling me his people are in a remote part of the deep southern mountain region—it won’t buy us much time.”
The vision where Daelon plunged the blade into his chest and let him die writhing in inconceivable pain…
I shook my head. “We’re already running out of time. He’s growing more impatient by the day. He told me he’s almost ready for my coronation, and I’ll be forced to… make my choice. Because he said whatever he’s planning will only work if I consent to it. And I won’t.”
“There will be a third choice, trust me,” Daelon said. “Taryn and I have a plan to protect you.”
Before I could ask for more details, Daelon strained, closing his eyes for a moment.
“Lucius wants us back at the portal.” It looked like it cost him a great deal of effort to let go of my hands. But he rose and began grabbing our bags.
I stood and started to help him, but then paused. “Wait—what about the energy vamps? Wasn’t that strange? That they thought I was someone else?”
Daelon shrugged. “Yeah, it was. But living in the human realm for so long will cause all manner of madness.”
“Right,” I said, unable to drop my frown.
“Tomas told you the truth, didn’t he?” Daelon asked, but it came out as more of a statement. When he saw me nod, he just let out a long breath. “Keep it to yourself. Just in case.”
Daelon stopped by the door, waiting for me. But when I met his eyes, it was like looking at a stranger, as if the previous night never happened, and the reality of it made me feel hollow and cold.
“Did we find our lost heretics?” Lucius said with a mock pout. “So sad that they’ve been out there all this time, without resources or connection to their King and his glorious Kingdom.”
I glared as Daelon stepped forward. We were in Lucius’s study, furnished with a grand desk, an ornate, wooden table with eight chairs, dusty bookcases, and a window overlooking the reborn forest.
Lucius unclasped his hands. “A vision?” he asked as he took Daelon’s outstretched hand. After a moment he opened his eyes, his lips spreading into a triumphant smile. “Poor Áine. Betrayed again,” he said, looking from Daelon to me and then back to Daelon. “I’ve never seen anyone look so disappointed.” He threw me a mocking look of concern.
“Because I was,” I snapped. “I don’t know why you wanted me involved in the first place. It’s only made me hate you more.”
“Me?” Lucius’s eyes flashed an angry warning. “What didIdo? All I want is to bring these lost witches home.Iwasn’t the one who tortured a pathetic, old drunk.”
It wasn’t worth it to outline all the ways I knew he was lying about his intentions. Buried in my psyche were two maps: one to the Akashic Records, to the full truth that would illuminate the dark ignorance of this scorched realm, and one to the coven in the snow, who somehow saw me coming and used Tomas to deliver to me a road to freedom.
That was what the second map represented: my and Daelon’s freedom. It only strengthened my faith that I could find my way back to my body after my Akashic journey, kicking death’s ass once again. Because it was the only thing that made sense. The only outcome that would make all of this right again.
“I cannot wait until you are unburdened from all these useless emotions,” Lucius said, his voice tinged with annoyance. “Go now, feel them and then get over it.” He shooed me away with a flippant wave of his hand. Underneath his façade of irritation, I could practically taste his satisfaction. He reveled in the idea that I felt nothing for Daelon but hatred and disappointment.
Meet me at Amos’s, I said to Daelon telepathically.
I will. Thank you for not giving up on me.
I sat across from Amos like I had so many times before, but this time felt different. We could both sense a dark current rippling through the cosmic ocean, yet he looked at me with the same tenderness and unprompted joy as always. His old eyes crinkled below his bushy white eyebrows.
“You led Lucius to a man who had knowledge of an unconquered coven,” I accused.
“Did I?” Amos searched my eyes, his peaceful bliss only darkening the storm clouds hanging between us. “Or did I leadyouto him? Just as the people of Iciera intended?”
I sighed. Exactly what I thought he’d say. “Iciera? Who are these witches?”
“An ancient coven. They will help you understand who you are and what you must do.”
I nodded.
“You have faith, now. I can feel it.”
“I have to,” I said. “Otherwise, it’s all just meaningless chaos.”
