Page 41 of As Above, So Below

Ylara came into existence withlong,dark hair. Over the centuries, it’s become gradually shorter. Currently, it sits under her chin.

“Why?”

“Because she’s my friend,” Ylara answers softly, lowering her gaze to her feet.

A shadow hag the friend of the daughter of darkness. The thought causes my lips to curl in the faintest smile. At least Ylara will have her once all of this is over.

“What happens when you run out of hair, Ylara?” I ask gently.

What happens when she can’t hide?

Sunshine leaps to her feet and straightens herself as she raises a book over her head, clenched in her hands.

“I’ve found it!” she shouts triumphantly, giving the book a vigorous shake.

She lowers it, placing it beneath her nose and inhales deeply. Her eyes close as she breathes the book’s scent in, and while I adore the scent of old books—their ink, their pages, their leather, their binding—it strikes me as odd to react in such a way.

I don’t care what book she claims. She’s welcome to it. It could be a book on how to topple the hells for all I care.

“Yes, yes. Mine, mine,” she murmurs so low I have to strain to hear her.

“Please grant your end of the agreement and let our dealings be finished,” I say as Ylara releases my arm.

Her eyes snap open, locking with mine as she lowers the book. The unnerving stare doesn’t waver as the book reveals a trulysinister, toothy grin.

“How it must feel to be standing on the precipice of understanding,” she says, stepping over the pile, her eyes locked on mine. “How I long to witness the change that awaits.”

Approaching, she wraps the book in her arms, tucking it against her chest. “She thought it would be themale.I told her she was wrong. The male is a replica. Cleaved from his very essence.Youare the soul he’s bastardized. The primordial order will not be denied.”

I step back, confused. “Do not speak in riddles, hag,” I warn, my tone icy. “Fulfill your contract and speak plainly.”

She bursts into laughter, shaking her head, and I exchange a worried glance with Ylara.

We don’t have time for this.

“Find the nyraphim he keeps, leave this place, and search for the Guardian,” Sunshine breathes, her eyes wide and wild.

A tingle creeps along my wrist. With a glance, the runes that had been inked there not twenty minutes earlier vanish. They lift from my skin and disintegrate like ash, leaving my pale skin pristine.

“What?” I turn my wrist over. With a scowl I meet Sunshine’s wide-eyed stare. “What do you meanfind the nyraphim?” I hiss as my confusion quickly becomes anger.

Within my chest, my innate begins to twist and churn, yawning itself awake.

“Sunshine, please,” Ylara pleads. “We need more to understand.”

“My obligations are complete,” Sunshine sings, shaking her head.

Rage sets my blood on fire and a tendril of shadows lashes out, snatching her up by her throat. The hag grasps at the thick vine around her neck, her other hand clinging to the book.

“Do not play games with me,” I snarl as she’s lifted from the floor.

“Ves!” Ylara breathes, stepping back.

Laughter bubbles from Sunshine’s throat, despite her feet dangling over the floor. “She shows her true colors as Netharis’ progeny. The part he’s cleaved away must be returned or he wins. He cannot win.”

“Where is this nyraphim?!” I shout in desperation and the coiling shadow tightens, stopping her laughter.

“The Lord of Wrath comes,” she chokes, her panicked gaze fixedon the door.