Page 162 of Stormvein

“You’re not the man I met in that tower.” The observation slips out before I can stop it.

“No, I’m not. That man was shaped by isolation. By rage and helplessness, and the slow erosion of hope.”

“And now?”

“Now I’m shaped by different experiences.” His eyes hold mine. “By your unexpected arrival. By capture and torture at Sereven’s hands. By healing that should have been impossible.” His lips curve into a half-smile. “By having something to fight for beyond revenge.”

I think about our journey together. The tower, traveling across the Sunfire Dunes, the tension-filled days in Ravencross. Stonehaven, the disastrous mission to Ashenvale, and River Crossing where I thought I’d lost him for good. His near-death after Glassfall Gap, and his transformation afterward. We’ve both changed so profoundly since our first meeting, forced to evolve by circumstances and by each other.

“Do you regret it?” I ask. “Casting that spell that brought me here?”

He doesn’t answer immediately, his expression thoughtful.

“No,” he says finally. “Though I regret not telling you sooner that I was responsible for your arrival.”

“I understand why you didn’t.” And I do, which surprises me. “At first, you needed my help to escape. Then we were focused on survival.”

“Still, you deserved to know from the beginning." His thumb traces small circles on the back of my hand. “It’s late, we should sleep while we can.” While he talks, he draws me across the chamber to the bed.

I don’t argue, climbing onto it and stretching out on top of the cool sheets. I should strip out of my clothes, but I haven’t got the energy. Sacha must feel the same way as he rounds the bed and settles beside me, still fully clothed, only pausing to remove his boots.

I find myself curling against him, my head finding its place on his chest where I can hear the steady rhythm of his heartbeat. His hand traces slowly along my spine, and the soothing touch sends me to sleep before I can say anything more.

A sharp knock shatters the quiet, snapping my eyes open. Before I can even register what the sound was, Sacha is already rising.

"Enter," he calls.

The door to the outer chamber opens, and Varam’s voice carries through. "Scouts have just returned from their dawn patrol. They brought reports sent via birds from posts further out in the mountains. Authority patrols are gathering. Sereven is mobilizing."

Sleep vanishes completely, and I scramble off the bed so I can follow Sacha into the other room.

“Where? How many?”

“Multiple columns, converging from different directions.” Varam hands him a small map with positions marked in red ink. “At least three hundred soldiers in each column from what the scouts could see.”

“They’re coming for Stonehaven. Now that Lisandra has nothing of worth, he has no reason to hold back.”

“Most likely. Their movements suggest they’ll be in position to attack within three days.”

“They’re coming because of what happened at Blackstone Ridge, aren’t they?” I turn to Sacha. “Because of what we did.”

“Yes.” There’s no hesitation in his voice. “After seeing us together, and how our power affected his crystal, he can’t afford to wait. The prophecy is unfolding before his eyes. He’ll throw everything he has at stopping us now.”

My heart races as I process the implications, fear and determination warring within me. Three days. Three days until Sereven arrives with an army to destroy not just Sacha and me, but everyone in Stonehaven.

"We need to prepare the stronghold," Sacha says. He issues instructions—reinforced lookouts, defensive preparations, and evacuation plans for the non-combatants.

Varam nods, committing each one to memory.

“Move families first. Get them to sanctuary. Speak to the Veinwarden leaders and find out where the safest place to take them is.”

When Varam leaves to implement these orders, he turns to me. “We need to speak to Lisandra now, not wait until later. This attack changes everything.”

As he moves toward the hidden door, I look once more at my reflection.

I may not know exactly who I am yet, but I knowwhatI am. I’m someone who won’t let these people who’ve taken me in, who have protected me, fall to the Authority without using every advantage at my disposal.

Even if that advantage is the very thing that’s throwing my entire identity into question.