Page 100 of The Lands Defying
You cannot create an Heir.
You’rechosen.
“Shh, Rhea,” Josh says by my ear, and I didn’t even realize he is on the floor with me, his arms around me, rocking me. “We will get him back. As soon as we’re done here, we will go to Wolvorn, we will get him.”
Runa whines within me, a sorrowful sound coming out of her and it makes more tears track down my face.
“The other Highers, our family,” I hiccup. “What if he’s not even there anymore? What if they have started to make him… do things?”
Josh pulls my face out of his neck and waits until my eyes hit his. “We will find him, Rhea.” His gray eyes are full of determination, full of emotion. “We will bring him back.”
“Frederick said something to me,” I tell him, trying to calm myself. I don’t want to think about it, don’t even want to know if it is true… but if it is. “He said, where do you think Aldus got the crystal from in Eridian.” Josh’s brows furrow. “There was only one crystal I received before the Elites came.”
Josh’s eyes narrow, and then surprise washes over his face. “I…Let’s look.” I nod and he stands, reaching down to help me up. I hiss at the pain running through my leg, and he looks at me with concern.
“Rhea…”
“I’ll be fine.” He doesn’t believe me…and shit, I don’t either, but we need to hurry, I need to get back to Darius before he really loses it.
I look over my shoulder at the dining room table, at the grandfather clock that lay in pieces on the floor. I dread to think what we might find once we go inside my office.
We dodge bits of wood and broken pictures that have been thrown down the hallway, before coming to the open doorway at the end. I steady my breathing and follow Josh’s lead as we enter my office.
It’s destroyed. The books and shelves are scattered all over, the furniture in pieces, and the objects I had on my shelves are all in bits.
Bastards.
We both look toward the desk though, the only thing that seems untouched. I let go of Josh’s hand and move around it, apprehension slithering down my spine. Coming to stand next to my office chair, I look down at its drawers, and awooshof breath leaves me.
Josh comes to stand on the other side of the desk, his hands leaning on the wood as he waits.
I crouch, running my hands down the grooves of the drawers before I come upon the last one. Bringing a hand to my thigh, I collect some blood before I place it on the drawer. The rune appears, changes color and then I place my hand on the drawer handle.
I flick my eyes up to Josh for a moment, before bringing them back down as I pull it open.
My eyes look over the letters I have gotten over the years, and I rummage through the belongings in there.
But one thing is noticeably missing.
I shake my head at Josh, letting him know that what I’m looking for isn’t here.
“There are only three people who know how to open that drawer,” he says, his fist clenching on top of the desk as my heart beats wildly, rapidly. “You are one of them, me the other.”
I nod and stand, breathing heavily through my nose as I lean on the desk, my head hanging. “It doesn’t make sense.” I shake my head in denial, hoping that someone else knew, hoping someone else got in. But I know it can’t be the case. “He taught me how to place the runes,” I choke out, feeling confused and hurt. “Frederick said I wasn’t the only traitor they know of… and here is the proof.”
Josh drops his head back on his shoulders, eyes full of anger. “All this time, he could have—”
His words are suddenly cut off by a howl that’s full of pain and confusion, and we both freeze, our eyes widening.
“Rhea… is that?” Josh begins, but I am already leaping over the desk and rushing out the room, ignoring the ache in my bones, ignoring wherever I’m bleeding from.
Josh is right on my heels and we jump over the mess in the cabin and fly out of the front door.
I pause on my porch, my stomach swirling, breath halting in my lungs as the howl comes again.
That’s…
We take off, running down the path and toward the howl, which came from the direction of the gathering. Josh falls behind as I push Runa to give me strength, her ears perking, and I move through the scattered trees, my breaths coming fast.
