Page 34 of Blood Sings (Beyond the Gloom #1)

“Well, that was intense.” Selena’s whistle cleaved through the quiet. “You okay, A?”

I raised my head, meeting her gaze. “I’m fine.” The words tasted slimy, as if I’d drunk a bottle of rotten blood. Liar.

She narrowed her eyes, unconvinced. “Look, I know I’ve said this before, but I’m going to say it again because I love you. Whatever’s going on between you and Harbinger… is dangerous. And I’m not just talking about the political ramifications. That man—”

“Radu.” His name slipped through clenched teeth.

Selena’s eyebrows shot up. “Oh, so you’re on a first-name basis now?”

“That’s only me. To him, I’m still ‘Projector.’” I rolled the vial between my fingers, watching it catch the candlelight. My stomach knotted.

“A,” Selena said softly, “you’re playing with fire. The way he looked at you…”

Something fierce and violent boiled inside me, straining against my control. I rose to my feet, smoothing out nonexistent creases in my dress while I counted to five in my head.

It didn’t help. Resentment seeped into my voice like poison. “And how exactly did he look at me? Like I’m dirt? Like I’m no better than the people who killed his parents?”

Selena took a step back, surprise flashing in her eyes. “That’s not what I—”

“No, you’re right,” I pressed, straightening my spine. “Because from where I’m standing, all I see is a man who tested the waters and now regrets it. I probably repulse him. You know, since he’d rather bleed into a bottle than let me touch…” I bit down so hard that my jaw started to throb.

A fire spread through my chest, scorching my throat. So what if I thought it was more? I crushed the thought and scattered the pieces. I could do this. Use him purely for his blood. Just stay cool. Wait for this infatuation to burn out.

Selena gripped my shoulders and gave them a light shake. “A, wait. You’ve got it all wrong.”

I shook my head, turning toward the door. “It doesn’t matter. I need to go make amends with the others. I really messed up things with them.”

Pounding footfalls on the stairs stopped me in my tracks. For a split second, my weak heart hoped it was Harbinger.

But of course it wasn’t. He had no reason to come back. To him, I was just a Projector . Nothing more.

And it was time I accepted that.

“Ember… Wait a second,” Quakelord’s voice rumbled in the hallway.

A wave of rosemary and honey wafted through the door, followed by hurried steps halting two doors down. Ember’s mortal heart thundered like a war march, her breathing short and fast.

I released the doorknob, taking a step back.

“Why? Why does Harbinger always take her side?” she snapped. The resentment in her tone sharpened her scent, wedging it in my sinuses like a serrated blade.

Quakelord’s soft pat-pat did little to soothe her. If anything, her pulse quickened. “Come on, Ember… She won’t last. What projector has ever tolerated harmonizing with him for more than a couple of months?”

My stomach twisted, anger boiling inside me. More lies, more secrets. The bitter taste of betrayal flooded my mouth.

“You’re right…” Her voice softened slightly. “But we barely have any time together, and now… Phoenix’s gone, and I-I hate that she’s stolen our peaceful mornings.”

The desert in my mouth grew, each swallow a grain of sand scraping my throat raw. I stood frozen, caught between the urge to confront them and the shame of eavesdropping.

“She’s lucky we haven’t met any Black Sheep or the Shepherd yet, but luck like that won’t last.”

“I hope, the next time we face them, Harbinger ends her!” Ember spat. “Why is he so concerned about one wretched immortal?”

Selena’s eyes widened in shock, her mouth forming a silent ‘what the fuck?’

Ember’s loathing struck me like a venom-tipped arrow, piercing straight through my heart and feeding the inferno raging inside. My fingers curled into fists, nails cutting into my palms.

“Captain doesn’t hurt projectors because he wants to,” Quakelord reasoned. “Could you say that to his face? ‘I don’t like the princess, so just destroy her.’ Could you ask him to do that?”

Ember’s breath grew heavy, her heartbeats slowing. “You know I couldn’t. He’s family. I can’t ask that from him. Even though he’s used to hearing those monsters scream before they break, I still can’t bring myself to do it.”

I buried my fingernails deeper into my palms, drawing blood. The pain grounded me, reminded me of my self-control, and kept me from bursting out of the room and demanding answers.

“Come here,” Quakelord murmured, followed by the rustle of an embrace.

“I can’t forgive her,” Her voice cracked. “They killed my family. They toyed with them like targets at a shooting range. The purebloods are all scum… I’ll never forgive them.”

On a scale of one to ten, Embers’ hatred was a twenty. It crushed my chest like an anvil. Fury and remorse waged war inside me—not at Ember, but at the unjust past and its repercussions.

“I know, and you don’t have to,” he soothed. “Take what you need, and let’s get back before Terra and Cap finish sparring.”

Ember’s door creaked open, lost in the high-pitched ringing in my ears. I unclenched my jaw, tasting blood where I’d bitten my cheek.

Once their voices faded down the stairs, Selena whispered, her voice tight, “She fucking hates your guts.”

“Can you blame her? You heard what they did to her family.” I gripped the doorknob, snapping it off. With a grunt, I shoved the useless chunk of metal onto the floor, leaving a dent.

“I must apologize to them, Sel. I need to go.”

The purebloods are all scum… The chasm I had to bridge after reclaiming my crown grew wider by the second.

“Go. I’m right behind you, just let me freshen up,” she said, slamming the bathroom door behind her.

I stepped into the corridor and drew a deep breath. The scent of rosemary, honey, and Quakelord’s moss still lingered in the air. A fire inside me raged from two sides: the prospect of facing Harbinger again, and the echo of Ember’s hateful words. Time to confront this mess head-on.

Because that’s what a future queen would do.

I slipped the vial of Harbinger’s blood into my cleavage and descended the stairs with calculated slowness while I crafted my strategy. The key to dealing with him was indifference. I’d be cool, calm, collected—a mountain lake unruffled by storms. Harbinger didn’t deserve my attention anymore.

No violence. No matter how satisfying it might be. You’re above such impulses.

Breathe in peace, breathe out frustration . You’re Aurora Tepes. You don’t lose your composure over a man.

Hummingbird’s boyish voice drifted up from the foyer. The stairs ended far too soon, leaving me cursing the bastard who’d designed them so short. I imagined introducing him to each step personally, and making him count them with his head.

Breathe in, breathe out.

I headed for the double doors, which stood ajar. Ceramic clinks and Quakelord’s hacking coughs spilled through the narrow crack.

“This is terrible. Why did you let me drink it?”

Gale’s laughter rang out. “Someone had to try Terra’s new mead recipe, and it surely wasn’t gonna be me.”

Squaring my shoulders, I swung the doors open. The room that greeted me was a shell of a Victorian salon, stripped down to its bare bones. Tattered wallpaper revealed raw plaster, severed cables hung where chandeliers once sparkled, and the scarred wooden floor told tales of countless sparring matches.

Quakelord and Gale shared a murky bottle at a corner table. Hummingbird perched on a chest, cocooned in his dusty-white wings, cheering the fighters. Ember lounged on a threadbare sofa, watching Harbinger hold Terraknight in a guillotine choke.

At my entrance, Harbinger’s grip loosened, and Terraknight escaped, rolling backward.

“Do you need something, Projector?” Harbinger’s tone was ice. His dismissiveness fueled the wildfire inside me. I saw his face out of the corner of my eye—like staring into a sheer stone cliff.

Plastering on a cordial smile, I addressed the vice-captain, “Terraknight. Please tell your captain the world doesn’t revolve around him.”

Pearl appeared at my side, offered me a cup of kafea, and winced at my expression. Catching my reflection in the metallic mug, I saw why—the face staring back was less ‘composed royal’ and more ‘deranged killer’. I quickly schooled my features and accepted the drink.

A tidbit from a psychology text came to mind while I stirred. Repetitive motions like this, or the twisting of a ring on a finger, could calm the mind. Right now, I needed all the calm I could get, lest my pent-up anger explode all over Harbinger.

Round and round goes the spoon. Don’t look at him. Don’t think about punching that infuriatingly stoic face.

It wasn’t meditation, but if it prevented an inter-guild incident, I’d call it a win.

Terraknight’s gaze ping-ponged between Harbinger and me, the corner of his mouth twitching upward. “Projector says—”

“I heard what she said.”

I didn’t need to look at Harbinger to feel the heat of his glare burning into me. The spoon warped under the pressure of my fingers. Needing an outlet to vent my frustration, I pulled it out and began working it back and forth between my hands.

I deliberately turned my back on him, addressing the rest of the guild. “I realize this is long overdue, but I owe you an apology. What I did is unforgivable, and your resentment is justified. It’s only natural, given my actions and who I am—”

“Damn right,” Hummingbird yelled, his feathers bristling.

The spoon snapped in my grip. I tossed it onto Pearl’s tray and held Hummingbird’s fawn-brown eyes, choking down the clump in my throat. “I didn’t leave the Republic to save you, but myself. Circumstances have changed, and now that I’m here, I would never forgive myself if I let you fight alone. So, regardless of how much you may hate me, please allow me to help you.”

The room fell silent. I could feel their eyes on me, assessing, judging. My pulse quickened and my skin crawled under their scrutiny.

Ember sat up, her voice edged with frost. “You’ve joined us in battle. What more could you possibly want?”

I swallowed hard but kept my chin high. “I would like to know your real names,” I said, then quickly added, “if you’re willing to share them. I understand if you aren’t.”

Quakelord raised the bottle to his mouth and took a long gulp. He grimaced, his whole body shaking with disgust. “I remember this projector from my early days out of the camp,” he started, a touch of reluctance showing in his voice. “He’d inspect our quarters, always wearing this stupid smile. But like us, he believed it was messed up that only the halfbloods were on the front lines. So, he returned to the battlefield on his own. Sound familiar?”

My hands trembled, and I clasped them around the cup, trying to hide my nervousness.

“Anyway,” he sighed, leaning on his elbows, “we couldn’t say anything to his face, but the whole guild trash-talked him behind his back. We all hated his guts. I mean, how couldn’t we? He called himself an outlier like us… but then he chose to be here. We never got that choice.”

He took another gulp, then breathed fire. “We’d place bets on when we thought he’d tire of his pity game and hightail it back home. But we were wrong. The projector never made it back. He stayed to defend us and got himself killed.” His dark eyes met mine, filled with grudging respect. “I’m Horia Bratu, by the way. Call me Horia, little brat, or whatever you want. I’m fine with anything.”

I managed a nod and a weak smile, afraid my voice would crack if I spoke.

Terraknight stalked over to Quakelord and snatched the bottle.

“The name’s Sabin Cantemir,” he said, his voice gruff but not unkind. “But I should apologize before anything else. When you arrived, we mocked you, thinking you were just another patronizing scum, just like all those before you. I’m sorry about that.”

Before I could respond, Gale cut in. “Speak for yourself, asshole. I liked her from the start.” She winked at me. “I’m Alina Wyrm.”

Pearl wrapped an arm around me, pulling me into her side. “Yeah, don’t listen to him, Projector. He’s full of shit.” She clinked her cup to mine, her smile warm. “My name is Karina Bulwark.”

“Tudor Steros,” Hummingbird leaped from his perch and shoved his hands in his pockets. His brows sloped down, shadowing his eyes. “I’m sorry too. I shouldn’t have called you a hypocrite or accused you. You didn’t throw us into this hellhole. I know that. I’m sorry for the way I talked to you.”

A strange, gratifying fatigue settled into my bones. My eyes welled up, but for once, they were happy tears. I felt a glimmer of hope, fragile but real.

Ember’s scoff broke the moment, and Hummingbird rounded on her. “Why are you looking away, as if you’ve got nothing to do with this? You were just as pissed off as I was. If I hadn’t snapped at the projector, you’d have been yelling at her instead!”

Her face flushed a deep red, and I quickly stepped in, trying to diffuse the situation. “It’s alright, Ember. You don’t have to say anything—”

“No, he’s right.” She sighed, lifting her gaze from the floor to look at me. “It’s not your fault what happened to us, to our families. We can see that you’re trying. You put your life in danger for Ph-Phoenix…” Her voice cracked on the name.

My chest tightened, crushing my lungs. “Ditoa Firestarter,” I murmured. “Her name will live with me for the rest of my life.”

Ember’s green eyes glistened, but she worked to steady her voice. “Lena. My name. It’s Lena Longtail.”

I bit my lip, tasting the salt of my own tears. “And I’m Aurora Rada Tepes. But everyone calls me Aurora.” My voice came out thick as I wiped my eyes, smiling through my tears. “Thank you. I’ll cherish and carry your names with me forever.”

A rush of warmth spread through me. This was monumental progress. I felt light, almost giddy.

Then, Quakelord’s ill-timed question shattered my euphoria. “What about Captain? Aren’t you going to ask his name?”

Gale groaned. “Oh, you idiot…”

I turned, locking eyes with Harbinger’s scalding hot gaze. The amber in his eyes glowed like the wrath of a vengeful god.

My muscles coiled, fine hairs rising on my nape. Every instinct snarled ‘don’t antagonize him,’ but when had I ever listened to reason around him?

Cocking an eyebrow, I drawled, “Your death glare doesn’t intimidate me.” My fingers flexed at my sides, betraying the tension I tried to hide.

“Oh, so you’re talking to me now,” he rumbled.

His throaty voice sent an unwanted shiver throughout my body, but I stepped closer, drawn in despite myself. “I never stopped. Just saved my breath on you.”

“Careful, Projector. Someone might think you care.”

“Care? About you?” I scoffed. “You’re not that special.”

The room sucked a collective inhale.

Terraknight shook his head, amused. Hummingbird and Pearl exchanged wide-eyed glances. Quakelord’s jaw dropped, while Gale bit her lip to stifle a laugh. Ember looked utterly bewildered, her gaze flitting between us.

Harbinger’s eyes narrowed to slits. “Oh, but I think I am, Your Majesty . Otherwise, why get involved when all I’m good for is jeopardizing your precious reputation?”

Underworld’s pits and balls. He’d heard my conversation with Selena.

I pressed the Nexus, initiating the Harmonization. “You vanished,” I projected, raw hurt bleeding through. “Left your blood in a vial like I was diseased. What was I supposed to think?”

His mental voice snapped with anger. “I had urgent business. The blood was to keep you strong. If you didn’t want that kiss, you should’ve said so, not act like a teenager with excuses.”

“Don’t insult me,” I snarled. “Urgent business? In this wasteland? Enlighten me, where did you have to go?”

“Uh, guys?” Terraknight interrupted.

“What?” we snapped in unison.

He looked between us, confused. “Should we… give you some privacy?”

“Yes,” Harbinger said, just as I countered, “Absolutely not. We’re done here.”

Harbinger’s jaw muscles ticked. “We’re not finished yet. You’re going to listen, and then we’re going to have a civil conversation. If you’ve forgotten how, I’m sure someone here can remind you.”

A laugh rose from my throat. “Always so commanding . Has anyone ever told you that’s not attractive?”

“You seemed to find it attractive enough the other night,” he shot back through our link.

I stalked toward him. “Let me spell it out for you. You disappeared without explanation. Avoided me. Bottled your blood instead of letting me feed from you. You made me feel things I thought I could never feel again, then froze me out. Didn’t even bite back. Face it, Radu. Whatever this was, it was over before it started.”

We stood toe to toe, charged air raising goosebumps on my skin. The room faded away, leaving just us and the magnetic pull between our bodies.

I wasn’t sure if I wanted to slap him or kiss him senseless—and from the hunger in his eyes, he battled the same dilemma.

“Is that what you really want, Aurora?” he murmured, low and intimate.

The sound of my name on his lips nearly crumbled my walls. What I wanted was for him to stop playing games with my heart—

BOOM!

The grandfather clock crashed down. Wood splintered, glass shattered, and Selena’s gut-wrenching screams mingled with the swinging pendulum.

“Selena!” I yelled, bolting to the exit, my pulse racing like thunder.