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Twenty-Three

In response to Alex’s exclamation, Zaylin pointeda finger to the three Gates and they instantly rose from the clouded gap into the air. But rather than spinning as they had every other time Alex had seen the same manoeuvre, they instead jumped from one side of the dais to the other, criss-crossing above her head, like the arches were playing a fiery game of Leapfrog.

“Unlike mortals, Tia Aurans are only gifted with the mental arts—telekinesis, telepathy, empathy, mind reading and the like,” Zaylin explained, still directing the Gates in their very own choreographed dance until she released them and turned her pointed finger to Alex. She made a sharp flicking gesture, enough that Alex winced, fully expecting to be flung up in the air beside the fiery arches, before reasoning made her recall that her own gift protected her—as it must have done during their fight, if Zaylin’s earlier declaration was to be understood.

“Of course,” the immortal woman said, having noted Alex’s knee-jerk reaction, “I learned the very first day we met that you’re different from your friends—and from any other mortal I’ve encountered.”

“Let me guess,” Alex said dryly. “You tried to read my mind?”

“Actually, I tried to throw you off the balcony.”

Alex’s eyes widened.

“You didn’t even twitch,” Zaylin continued, not the least bit apologetic. “ThenI tried to read your mind. With no success. But since I’d heard you explain in the throne room how your gift freed you from Aven’s Claim, as frustrating as it was to see for myself the strength of your willpower, I can’t say I wasn’t intrigued.”

“Let’s go back to how you tried to throw me off a balcony,” Alex said, a warning to her tone.

Shrugging unrepentantly, Zaylin said, “You can’t have missed that I wasn’t fond of you when you first arrived. And can you blame me? You ventured here with the sole purpose of disrupting the peace my people have experienced for millennia. I didn’t care if you were protected or not because it would have been a win for me either way—seeing evidence of your gift being true, or sending you over the side of the palace.”

Alex pursed her lips. “Interesting mind you have, Zaylin.”

A quick, devious grin met her words. “You have no idea, Alex.” Then Zaylin’s expression turned serious again as she continued from earlier, “Meyarins have speed, strength, grace and agility as a race, along with advanced intellect, reflexes and a host of other skills—all of which Tia Aurans have as well. Only in our ability to use mental gifts are we set apart, and therein lies the main reason that we were able to overcome them.”

“That’s so weird that they don’t have access to gifts but you do,” Alex mused. “Has that always been the case?”

“When it comes to natural biology, yes,” Zaylin answered. Slowly—almost hesitantly—she admitted, “But there were cases where they were able to…adoptthe abilities of others. However, only at a tragic price.”

Feeling a sense of dread settle over her, Alex said, “How?”

It was clear Zaylin didn’t want to answer. And when Alex pressed her again, the Tia Auran’s jaw tightened. But warily, she replied, “Some of them—the radicals—began trapping mypeople and—” Her throat bobbed. “They performed a ritual on them:Tu’eh Tendaran Orvas.”

Alex’s breath froze in her lungs as the translation washed over her.

Tu’eh Tendaran Orvas.

The Devoured Heart.

Aware that Alex was able to interpret the words, Zaylin continued, “Once they’d eaten the heart of their victim, they took on their power, their strength and, for a limited time, their gift.”

A memory flooded Alex’s mind, one of Niyx yelling at her, revealing a horrific truth.

‘He’seatingthem, Aeylia! He’s cutting out the hearts of the Meyarins he’s Claimed and he’seatingthem. Their strength, the power of their life force, he’s absorbing it all, bite after bite…’

Niyx had gone on to tell Alex that to eat the heart of a Meyarin meant they would never rest in peace after death. But he’d never mentioned—never evensaidanything about what else—orwhoelse—Aven was…eating.

Whether it wasn’t just Meyarins.

“It’s abominable, I know,” Zaylin said, incorrectly reading Alex’s shock. “But we made certain upon their banishment that the ritual was forgotten from their minds.”

Alex shook her head. Then shook it again. Whispering through stiff lips, she said, “Then something went wrong, because they haven’t forgotten.”

Zaylin jolted and then her eyes narrowed. “What do you mean?”

Holding the immortal’s gaze, Alex said, “Aven’s doing that— he’s eating… eatinghearts.”

Recoiling, Zaylin whispered, “What?”

“I was told it was just Meyarins, that he was increasing in strength by stealing their life forces—but only those who areClaimed by him and fighting against his hold on their minds.” Alex’s gaze became unfocused. “If he learns about the gift transference, it won’t be long until he starts to eat the hearts of humans with gifts—presuming he hasn’t yet started to do so. He’s already beyond powerful, commanding them to do his bidding. But to actually be able to use their gifts for himself?” Alex pressed a shaky hand to her queasy stomach. “He’d be invincible.”