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“Because it’s all I know.” The hysterical cry broke through her lips.

The ragged sound of it shocked me, my blade falling.

Defenses torn down, she dropped hers, too. I had the distinct feeling she was admitting this truth to herself for the first time.

“The temple. The readings. Titus. My—Secrets are all I’ve ever known.” I wasn’t entirely sure what she meant or what else she was hiding. “Never the kinship and protection you have. Never the belief in my own promise. Weapons and mental defenses were what I had. Being told what lies to feed others, harsh obedience, and being used.”

She was shackled to a life she’d never wanted, a future beyond her control, and though resentment tattered her voice, fear widened her olive eyes. A fear I’d wager was fueled when she considered maybe her future didn’t have to look that way.

“Don’t you want to know what else is out there?” I asked.

The fear staring at me solidified, a wall shooting up where a moment before there had been clarity.

“No,” she whispered. “No, I don’t.”

Vale threw her sword at my feet and stormed away, readying her horse for the rest of our journey.

I turned to my friends. While Tolek, Santorina, and Jezebel, shot me encouraging looks, Cypherion only stared after the Starsearcher. Dumbfounded.

Chapter Ten

Malakai

Two weeks into our journey, and my back, thighs, and ass fucking ached from riding. I’d missed Ombratta, but Spirits, I’d forgotten how exhausting long journeys were. And it had been years since I’d made one this tough.

At least we’d stopped at numerous villages along the way once we entered Bodymelder territory. Their land was rife with fields of wildflowers and herbs, bunches of trees coated with orange and red leaves, green vines poking through the fire. Instead of large cities, the minor clan spread themselves among villages built of the land, huts and cottages with thatched roofs above clay and rock walls. Ivy and flowers cascaded around them, crawling up the sides.

The minor clan territories were all influenced by their power. Bodymelder land was not only flooded with supplies to be harvested for healing, but it was lush with forests. All except the Fytar Trench east of the capital, which cracked the ground like a delicate egg shell and stretched to Spirits knew what depths.

I admired it—how even their homes represented their dedication to their guiding magic.

Each village we stopped at welcomed us for a night, slowing our progress, but I didn’t mind. We were doing something useful here. As I collapsed beside a fire in our current host’s home, the warmth worked into the tightness of my body. My muscles thanked me.

“Here’s supper.” A small golden-haired girl no older than six handed me a bowl, amber eyes wide.

“Thank you.”

She gave me a sheepish smile and fled, following her mother from the room. Her father and the leader of the village, Darell, chuckled as she went.

“She’s infatuated with you. Can’t believe it—a Mystique,” he scoffed. His terra-cotta skin and joking smile caught the light, broad shoulders sinking into the couch as he relaxed.

“She’s a good kid.” The soup warmed my throat on the way down, the burn welcome. A folded parchment appeared at my side; curiosity and something else flared within me, but I gave Darell my attention. “The whole village is.”

“We’ve been lucky to be assigned aloe collection.” Darell brushed a hand down the sleeve of his thick moss-colored tunic. The Bodymelder sigil glinted in gold thread on the chest: an olive branch, a stalk of wheat, and a feather crossed with the letters K L P above them. Knowledge, logic, precision—the pillars of his clan. The same three letters tattooed on his knuckles.

“Why’s that?”

Every Bodymelder village had a task. Whether they gathered a healing agent, mixed tonics, or worked textiles for injuries, each was given an imperative responsibility, and nomads traveled between villages exchanging the goods. It was a complex network, but the leaders in each town made it appear effortless. Darell’s village bordered a large aloe field, green stalks jutting up from the soil and painting the hillsides, looking down on the cottages.

“Many are finding their supplies dwindling this season. It’s caused a lot of economic uncertainty.”

“I don’t recall Brigiet mentioning that at the Rapture.” Granted, I’d been distracted, not listening to every word. Or most words.

“It’s been rapid.” Darell shook his head, brushing his dark hair behind his ear. “The decay was there, only just, but recently it’s spread. It hasn’t hit the aloe fields yet, so my people are safe, but…” He didn’t need to finish that sentence.

“I’m sorry.” I set my bowl aside, thinking of the contaminated creatures and wondering if it all connected. “If there’s anything we can do, please let me know.”

“It’s not your responsibility, but thank you.” Genuine gratitude thickened his voice. That was why I liked the man. He didn’t look at me and see a fallen Revered’s son, tainted with the blood of my enemies. The Bodymelders were neutral in alliances, operating more on logic than anything else, and Darell’s acceptance of me in his home, around his people, reflected that.