Page 56

“Where are we going, Vale?” I asked, voice low. The Bond prickled at the back of my neck, the power surging through my veins. My hands tightened around my dagger.

“Just ahead,” she said dreamily. A groan worked up my throat at the lack of control this magic forced upon us.

“Hurry the damn Fates up,” I mumbled under my breath.

Vale answered in a chilling voice, “The Fates will not be rushed by the impatience of mortal warriors, no matter the promise they retain in their star paths, Mr. Kastroff.”

I froze at the way she addressed me.

Speeding ahead, I cut her off and gently grabbed her shoulder, ducking to meet her eyes. Only a swirling force of stars looked back at me.

“What’s going on?” I accused.

“It is fine,” Vale said, removing my hand. “She is fine.”

I didn’t get out of her way. “Who?”

It wasn’t Vale who answered. “The woman you love.”

She didn’t give me a chance to respond before sneaking around me and turning the next corner.

“Here,” Vale’s voice that wasn’t Vale’s said as she reached a tall door crafted of smooth, polished silver.

“What’s in there?” I asked, sticking close to her side.

Vale turned the handle, and the door swung open without even a creak. The chamber ignited with mystlight and?—

“What in the Spirits?” I muttered, following Vale as she floated in.

Wherever we were, the ceiling had been constructed to mirror the night sky. Starlight swirled above as if it was a true window, not nine levels below ground. It reflected off the pristine marble floors and through the oval chamber, almost like the heart of a star itself.

Or the heart of a Fate.

In the center of the room, an aged book lay open, incense already wafting around it. The lilac scent was potent.

Vale glided to the center of the thin cloud, kneeling gracefully before the book.

I pulled another dagger, both hands armed now, and scanned the circumference of the chamber as I followed. Once I was sure we were alone, I glanced over the yellowed page Vale studied. I couldn’t read it, but I recognized it.

“Do you know Endasi?” I asked.

Vale had never mentioned speaking any language other than the common tongue. I supposed the Fates spoke to her in their own, but that was internal, something born within her. Not a translation to learn.

“Of course I know the ancient Angel tongue,” Vale said in that other voice, flipping the page. “I was there when it was created.”

Chills danced down my spine. There was no way…

“What does it say?”

She pulled the book into her lap and was quiet for a long while. My nerves twitched more with each minute.

Finally, Vale’s fingers tightened around the leather, and her eyes flashed to mine. Relief crashed through me to see the greens of her irises pushing through the starry haze.

But a hand pressed to her sternum, and with crushing defeat, she whispered, “I have to read now.”

My heart pounded against my ribs as if it was trying to jump right out of my chest and reach out to that look of haunted isolation in her eyes.

I crashed to my knees next to her. “Not here, Vale. Remember? We need to get out. Get back to the inn.” My weapons and the book clattered to the marble as I gripped her hands and pleaded, “Let’s take it with us. Let’s take the book and go where it’s safe.”