Page 81 of A Fate in Flames

Mira clapped her hands together.“Well, I need to return these books to Belshin before things begin.I’ll be back soon to get you ready.”

She quickly picked up the books, cradling them tightly in her arms.With that, she swept out of the room, leaving me alone with Theo and Tavrik.

“I don’t know how I feel about being ‘hunted.’”I pushed myself to my feet, running a hand through my hair.“It’sweird.”

Theo shrugged.“It’s just a game.”

“Easy for you to say,” I shot back, jabbing a finger in his direction.“At least you get to be the hunter.”

He smirked.“Oh, I know, and I intend to take full advantage of that.”

I narrowed my eyes.“Who are you going to choose?”

He made a show of pondering the question, stroking his chin.“So many options—”

I rolled my eyes and turned to Tavrik.“And you?”

Tavrik’s gaze held mine for a moment.“Don’t worry about me.”

It was clear who he had his sights on, but I didn’t want to voice my assumption out loud.

He stepped closer, resting a firm hand on my shoulder.I hadn’t realised I was shifting anxiously until his touch anchored me in place.

“You’ll be fine, Elira,” he promised.“If this were anything more than a game, or if it were dangerous in any way, Mira wouldn’t be thisexcitedabout it.”

He was right.I needed to calm down.

Theo and Tavrik exchanged a look of anticipation before slipping out of the room.

I let out a breath the moment I was alone, finally able to process everything that had happened.

I had done it.I had sensed the stone.Yet the distance between me and it still stretched like an impossible abyss.

“Zaheera,” I called into the silence.

“What have you found?”

I told her everything.

“Good.” She purred in satisfaction.“Once you go further, the call will become stronger.You must give yourself time.Do not push your luck or appear too eager.They will grow suspicious.”

She was right, as irritating as it was to admit.

There was something I wanted to ask her, something that had been playing in my mind for days.

“Why aren’t you here?”

The question hung in the empty air.I thought she might’ve left me, but then her voice crept back into my mind, only softer.

“I dwell in a different part of the realm.I do not come to where you are.”

Then she was gone, leaving behind questions where answers should’ve been.

Why?Did she fear Dalkhan that much?What power did he hold that evensherefused to be near him?

Mira returned, her eyes alight with an excitement I still didn’t share.She wasted no time before dressing me.

I fidgeted as she folded, pinned, and adjusted pieces.The nerves of what awaited tonight twisted tighter and tighter in my stomach.