Page 261

And for long moments, just… stared. Contemplating the ground and wondering if she had the courage to take that step.

It’s the right choice, an insidious, little voice inside her had whispered. Her family would be sad, but they would move on. They would forget her and be better off for it

She still wasn’t sure what had made her stumble back. Some small amount of clarity perhaps. Or maybe it was just fear. That primeval spark all species shared that made them want to keep living even when death would be the easier choice.

Kairó vuun’manii.

Kairó vuun’manii.

Kairó vuun’manii…

Taly giggled. Then coughed. Then laughed harder. She threw out her arms and screamed into the storm, “Try harder, bitch!”

A sudden blast of wind slammed into her. She swayed on the ledge, arms windmilling. “Oh, shit—”

Calcifer’s jaws closed around the back of her coat and yanked. She stumbled backward, heart slamming against her ribs.

“Thank you, baby,” she said, slumped against the low stone wall. Calcifer huffed his disapproval. “Yeah, I know.”

She was a mess. She didn’t need him reminding her.

By the time she climbed back through the window, her fingers were numb and the rooftop was dusted in fresh snow. Morning, technically. Or whatever passed for it now.

The day dragged by. She ate what Eliza put in front of her. Glanced at the latest Aion Gate data Skye had forwarded. Nodded at whoever passed.

Kairó vuun’manii.

She avoided the piano. Not because she was unraveling or anything dramatic like that. Just… scrying took focus. Control. And she was running low on both.

The basement, though—that was different. That was definitely her being a coward. She couldfeelthe crown down there, humming with expectation. Anywhere beneath the second floor set her teeth on edge.

That left up as the only way to go. The roof and the pipe and the numbness of the mirthroot. It muted the noise just enough, which meant her thoughts had space to turn.

And, of course, they turned to him.

Skye had seen it too. He hadn’t been able to hear the thing in the cistern, but he’d seen it. Because why not make things worse?

The bond—it let them share dreams. And if he could see the Weave beasts, that meant they could see him too.

Why hadn’t she thought of it before? She was opening him up to dangers he couldn’t even fight back against. Without the ability to untether his soul, he was completely exposed.

Kairó vuun’manii.

The sun never set, but somehow the day still ended.

She still couldn’t sleep.

Kairó vuun’manii.

The next morning, she ate most of what Eliza placed in front of her. She didn’t want to, but she also didn’t want to field their questions. Everyone was already on edge, watching her like she was a bomb ready to explode.

She smiled when she had to. Answered what she could.

By nightfall—whatever that meant these days—her hands were shaking again.

She needed air.

She needed to be numb.