Page 91

“Either the debt is paid, which I think all three of us can agree we do not want to happen, or the debt is changed.”

I looked at Rhyan, who had lifted his good eyebrow.

“Changed,” I said, barely keeping the question out of my voice.

“Changed,” Mercurial said. “And, unfortunately, that is all I can say without requiring you to give more than you’re willing to provide as yet.” He narrowed his eyes, stars dancing in them. “But you will give more eventually. You have so much more to give.” Mercurial bowed, and another wave rolled, approaching fast, rising higher than the Guardian.

I braced myself to be soaked, but before the water hit, Mercurial lifted a finger. The water froze to ice above our heads. With a flick, the ice melted, and the water formed thousands of tiny droplets, all shimmering in suspension. Mercurial pointed, and the particles united into a gleaming, glittering Valalumir. The star disintegrated back into the wave, which seemed to reverse course, moving itself back into the ocean.

He was using so much magic—magic he shouldn’t have been able to use without being asked.

Rhyan moved in front of me again, reaching behind his back to grab my hand. His fingers wrapped around my mine and squeezed. “It’s time for you to leave. Now.”

“Uh-uh-uh,” the Afeya said, grasping Rhyan’s chin in his hand. “Naughty boy. You do not make demands of the Afeya. Not until you reclaim your true title.”

Mercurial’s skin glowed white, then shimmered with the blue he’d worn before. The color went in and out of focus, his skin running through every color of the rainbow before landing on a bright blood red. His aura swirled, separated from his body. The light of the moon vanished, replaced by a black hole, and every star in the sky winked out, blanketing us in total darkness. Dark clouds formed in the sky, and thunder clapped until rain poured straight down, a thick curtained waterfall completely surrounding us.

“I’ll never ask you for anything,” Rhyan said.

Mercurial’s eyes danced, his head snaking side to side again, moving closer and closer to Rhyan’s face until their mouths were only an inch apart. He snapped his teeth against Rhyan’s mouth, and then he was gone.

“Gods,” I cried. “My wrist is on fire.”

Rhyan turned to me, taking my hand between his, inspecting my wrist.

“Do you think he was right?” I asked through gritted teeth. “That I can change the debt?”

“I don’t trust him,” Rhyan snarled. “But he did heal your ankle. He wants something from you. Which means you have value to the Afeya. I don’t like it. But I think, in his twisted way, yes. He’s probably right.”

“We need to get to Cresthaven. Now. Before the guards come. I need to tell my father what happened. See if he can do anything about it.”

“If he ordered the oath, his magic will have the most sway.”

I hissed as another sharp pain ran down the scar. “It’s burning. I think it’s going to do this until the debt is paid.” I could feel flames licking up and down the scar.

Rhyan rubbed his thumb over my wrist, softly, his touch soothing as he infused it with a blast of cool air from his aura.

“Wait here,” he said. “I’ll get Meera.”

I sat down, bringing my knees to my chest and wrapping my arms around them, clutching at my scar, trying not to jump at every sound. I tried to focus my attention on the waves rather than on the pain in my wrist. I took deep breaths, my shoulders heaving.

Thunder crashed in the distance. I inhaled through my nose. Exhaled through my mouth. I groaned in pain with each breath. I wasn’t prepared when a giant wave approached, hovering above me, about to crash down.

Rhyan pulled me into his arms and held me against his chest as he raced backward, just beyond the water’s reach. My eyes widened as the water retreated.

“Can you walk?” Rhyan asked, his voice low in my ear.

“Lyr. Gods!” Meera said. She was standing behind him, still wrapped in her blanket.

“I can walk,” I said. Sensing the tide returning, the wave growing until it towered above the waters, I amended, “I can run.”

“Lady Meera?” Rhyan asked.

“Come on,” I said and grabbed her hand. The three of us took off across the sand while the wave crashed and water chased and lapped at our feet. We parted at the Guardian of Bamaria, Meera and me running in front of its paws while Rhyan ran behind, calling out to us.

Our seraphim rested ahead, her head lifted, eyes wide with fear as her wings fluttered nervously at her side. She started to stand, sensing the coming storm and preparing to leave.

“Not yet!” Rhyan yelled. “Hurry!”