Page 63 of Dark Night Golden Dawn
Aurelia rolled her eyes. She and Thea had many conflicts over the interpretation of texts that relied on iconography and symbolism to convey meaning. Usually it was a charming quirk of their relationship. Today it made Harlow ill. Aurelia pinched the bridge of her nose. “What does itactuallysay, Thea?”
Thea looked at her hands. “If my translation is correct, it says the combination of the Knight and the Strider will produce a power unlike any other. We believe the other two illuminations show the process, much as an alchemical text might.”
Finn’s voice was nothing less than lethal fury, cold and dangerous. “My parents think it means we’ll have a child, and that child will be the most powerful creature in history, don’t they?”
Alaric sighed. “They might, but that’s not the only way to interpret things.”
Selene shook her head. “It doesn’t matter. If that’s what they think, Harlow is in danger, as would any child she and Finn might have together. We need to see the rest of the triptych, one way or another.”
Harlow felt as though she might vomit. They were all discussing herhaving a baby,and no one had even looked at her, or asked her whatshethought.
Thea continued speaking. “We think the McKays may have the missing parts of the scroll, or at least they’ve seen it. Tatyana Merkhov disappeared, did you know that?”
Selene pursed her lips. “Yes, I knew. Something about a plane crash, I believe.”
Thea shook her head. “We think she was killed, because of what she knew, and what she published in that book. It’s impossible to find intact, as you both know. We were lucky to have stumbled upon a copy in our last acquisition. I don’t think the lot-owner even knew what it was.”
Aurelia shrugged. “Likely not, they weren’t a collector. Just cleaning out an estate.”
Thea nodded. “She obviously saw the Scroll when it was complete. She knew what the triptych showed. Others might as well.”
“And you think the McKays and the Velariuses are the ones who killed her?” Harlow asked.
“It seems possible,” Alaric said. “We have to behave as if they did, at least until we know more.”
Harlow’s head spun with information, as her attention bounced from one thought to another. The room felt very small.Was the ceiling lower than it had been a few minutes ago?
Finn held up a hand. “Please, will you excuse Harlow and I for a few minutes?”
He hadn’t even looked at her, and yet he’d known she was crumbling under the pressure of what was being said. Everyone’s eyes turned to Harlow. Her skin was cold, but inside her muscles felt as though they had been set aflame.
Finn’s hand closed around hers and he rose from his chair, in a motion so fluid it nearly distracted her from the internal struggle waging war on her heart. “Come with me to the terrace?”
She stood without a word, her body simply following the commands Finn guided her through.Stand, walk behind him, follow him to the terrace, curl into a big rattan settee, sip a cool glass of water.When she came back to herself, he was sitting at her feet, and rain poured outside the covered terrace, making the back courtyard a blur of greens, purples and golds.
“You were panicking,” he said, tucking a soft cotton blanket around her knees.
She nodded, but could hardly speak. It was all a lot to take in. Finally she said, “The maters are going to kill Thea for having their bonding ritual without a big to-do.”
It was good to lighten the mood a bit, it gave her room to think. Finn snorted. “You knowwedon’t have to move so quickly, right? Last night was amazing, and this morning was absolutely phenomenal, but I’m not rushing this for anything, or anyonebut you.”
Harlow’s brow furrowed. “What are your expectations now?”
“Nothing. My only concern right now is keeping you safe. Believe me when I say that if that means staying apart, I will make that choice. Given everything that Thea and Alaric know, maybe that would be better.”
His eyes didn’t meet hers, but she noticed the tremor in his hands that seemed reserved for her.Was that what she wanted? To end things now, to remain safe? Would she evenbesafe if they weren’t together?She remembered what he’d said about his parents being willing to force her into something she didn’t want.
“I think… I think I just need a little bit of time,” Harlow said quietly.
Finn nodded, getting up. “I’ll go then. Alaric can fill me in a bit more on the secrets he and Thea have been keeping. I’ll check in with you tomorrow, if that’s all right?”
She saw it in his eyes, and heard it in the clipped, businesslike tone of his voice. He thought she was backing out, that she didn’t want him at all. Her hand slipped into his. “I need to breathe, Finn. That’s it. Just a beat to get my bearings, okay?”
She pulled on his arm until his face met hers. A half-smile curved the corner of his mouth as he asked, “And what about the things that happened this morning?”
Harlow’s words tumbled out. “It was all amazing. To tell you the truth, I was excited about all of it until it turned into a big thing. When it was just you and me, not Striders and Knights.”
Finn crouched down, so his eyes were at her level. “It’s still you and me. You heard Alaric, this isn’t a prophecy, it’s a solution, andwedon’t have to be the solution if you don’t want us to be.”
