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I can feel the story shift, feel the tale turn dark as his eyes themselves darken in the telling. "My mother discovered our relationship a few thousand years ago. It all came to a head at a very unfortunate time in our world. There was already a…war with the unicorns. Strange things happening. And then… "

My breath hitches. "Did you mother kill Landal?" I ask.

His golden eyes fill with tears that turn to steam before they can find release. "I've never had proof. But yes, she did."

"Racul," I say, my voice more tender than it was. "Why did you ask me to come here?"

"When I built this memorial for Landal, I had it spelled. My mother does not know of it, and cannot hear or see anything that goes on within these walls. She will not even see that it exists. She will only see a vacant stretch of cemetery land," he says.

"Why?" I ask.

"Because I needed one place in the universe where I was free from her. I am the eldest of my siblings, and until I met Landal and we decided to create the Otherworld, I was in line to succeed my mother in our own world, where only dragons live. We are not the only dragons that exist, but we are the only dragons of the royal line. I was to be king. When I relinquished that to come here, my mother disowned me, and I have never lived up to her expectations since. Similarly, Lyx always defied her. Lyx had a big heart, too big. I feared for her. I was angry at her for leaving the Council, for becoming the Beggar Queen as they called her. Not because she was helping the poor, as many think. But because I knew she was putting herself at risk with our mother."

"Are you saying…. "

"I'm saying, I think my mother killed Lyx for defying her, just as she killed Landal for my defiance. And I think you were never meant to solve this murder. I'm saying, the world is going to end in less than a fortnight, and you should leave now."

Shit. Double triple shit.

"Racul, I can't. The spell…it made me a part of this world. I will die if it is destroyed."

His face shifts subtly, and I'm surprised to see that he actually cares about my fate.

"Then you need to find a way to stop my mother. I will help. But first, we need to go to the Ancient Library. It might hold information, or at least some sort of evidence that could help us take her down."

"What's the Ancient Library?" I ask, my pulse quickening.

"It is a secret place my mother built to hide all her secrets," he says simply.

"Why haven't you already gone?" I ask, my heart fluttering at the thought that we might have a new lead.

"Because only the Fates and my mother are able to open it. I need your help."

I can see how hard it is for him to admit this. "Okay, I'm in. When?"

"Tomorrow morning," he says. "I will pick you up."

"I'll be ready," I say, knowing the Night brothers are going tolooooovethis. Not.

"We will find a way to defeat my mother and save this world. Together."

Chapter 10: The Library

“I said to the night,

“If you are in love with the moon,

it is because you never stay for long.”

The night turned to me and said,

“It is not my fault. I never see the Sun,

how can I know that love is endless?”

~Rumi

Dathand I leave the tomb together and he takes my hand once more as we stand outside. "Apologies for stealing a kiss. You reminded me so much of her, it was…well, it doesn't matter. You're right. You're not mine to claim."