Page 36 of Realm of Nightmares
“I don’t believe either of you realizes the greatness of your power,” Aed said, his silky voice weaving through the uneasy stillness of the room.
“You, Rowan, are destruction. Capable of the absolute ruination of all worlds, all realms.” His gaze slid to where Maeve sat on the bed, her knees now curled into her chest. “Maeve, you are creation. The connection the two of you share is thousands of years old, and though it was originally a bond formed by devotion, it was sacrificed to bring life to this world.”
His hand flicked back and forth through the air, as though he were trying to collect his train of thought.
“Maeve, not only can you create anything in and of this world, but in doing so, you can also destroy it.” The god of death blew out a low breath. “And in turn, create a new one completely.”
Maeve jerked upright.
“What?” she and Rowan asked in unison, each reflecting the devastating shock of his admission.
“The soul of Danua is inside of you. There are a number of…talents that you have yet to discover.” He leaned back, tapping two fingers to his angular chin. “Like, say, opening gateways to alternate realms.”
“Gateways?” Maeve’s breath caught. “To alternate realms?”
Aed chuckled, his long white hair falling in his face. He shoved it back, and the silver of his eyes shone with amusement. “Surely you don’t think a world like yours is the only one in existence?”
Maeve had never thought about it before, had never even considered such a concept. Obviously, she knew about the continent of Veterra and the fae realm of Faeven, and she’d heard stories about other kingdoms across the seas. She’d seen pictures of them in Aran’s map room aboard theAmshir.
The maps.
Her mind raced with the possibilities as she fought through a haze. Eventually, the recollection partially cleared, but it was like looking at the memories through a window doused with rainfall.
Aran’s room was filled with glorious maps. Some older, the ink smeared away until the script was illegible and the parchment faded to a dull, splotchy brown. Others, though, were decadent. A splash of magnificent watercolors, inked and colored by hand, not a single detail overlooked. They were plastered to the walls, nearly overlapping one another while some were rolled, tied with red ribbon. They depicted many wondrous places, some of which Maeve thought only existed in dreams. Any one of them could’ve been another realm, a separate place of existence. Curiosity bloomed inside of her.
How many of those maps were other places full of magic, adventure, and danger?
As though he could see the gears working in her mind, Aed leaned forward. “But you must be careful, Maeve. Such power is not to be taken lightly.”
Laurel made a disbelieving sort of noise, and Aed cut her down with a look.
She bristled, folding her arms across her chest and cocking one hip to the side. “How can we be certain this won’t happen again?”
The god of death’s answer was simple. “We can’t.”
Laurel fumed. Color rose in her cheeks, her pale skin turning a deep, rosy red. She closed the distance between them in two strides, her heels clicking noisily against the hardwood floors. Her eyes burned like midnight coals.
“My duty—”
“Is nothing,” Aed snapped, rising from his seat. He towered over her, the strength of his power enough to melt the steel reserve of her will. She didn’t flinch, but her slender hands curled into fists at her side. “Your fate is not yet decided, and you will remainhereuntil it is deemed otherwise.”
Laurel tossed Maeve a scathing look, one that likely promised bodily harm, before stalking out of the room. She slammed the door shut, so it rattled on its hinges.
For someone who had just saved her life with no obligation, she certainly seemed to hate Maeve with every fiber of her being.
“What’s her problem?” Maeve muttered, more to herself than anyone else.
Rowan shook his head, his gaze focused on the door Laurel just exited. “Everyone is her problem.”
Aed moved toward the edge of the bed, clasping his hands behind his back. The harsh lines of his face softened, returning him back to his otherworldly beauty. All traces of irritation were gone. “I’m afraid I must ask you to remain in the House of Death indefinitely, Dawnbringer.”
Here?
He wanted her to stayhere?She’d be under lock and key if she had to stay in the House of Death. Her every movement would be tracked and reported to Aed. What little freedom she had would be snatched away.
There had to be a way to change his mind. “But the library—”
“I have another here within the palace that will be at your disposal.”
