Page 11

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~ C leo ~

I felt it the moment the ship crossed into the island’s waters. The dark magic that surrounded The Spire, and the Rift concealed within, was like ice cold water splashing over me from head to toe. The cold seeped into my bones, a chill from which there would be no escape. The darkness of the Void, the break between worlds. The place Devin had given his entire life to protect and defend.

The air thickened around us as the ship dropped anchor in deeper water, away from the rocky cliffs, and Devin helped me into one of the small boats the crew used to go to shore. Magic pressed against my skin, cold and electric, like a storm held tight in the palm of a god. The sea darkened—not with shadow, but with depth , as if it knew what waited beneath the cliffs.

Something ancient. Something dangerous. Something calling to me. Not in a voice. Not in words. Just a pull. A whisper at the edge of my mind. A longing that wasn’t mine.

I wrapped my arms around myself and stepped to the railing as the island loomed into view.

It was wild. Jagged cliffs rose high above the waves, streaked with white where seabirds circled. The shore was a mosaic of black stone and green moss, dotted with flowering bushes and twisted trees clinging to the rocks like ghosts. Beyond the coast, a narrow valley stretched inland, fertile and strange, dotted with orchards, thatched cottages, and pale smoke curling into the sky.

And at the heart of it all—rising like the spine of the world—was The Spire.

My breath caught. It wasn’t just a building. It was a monument. A warning. A monolith of obsidian and iron-veined stone rising high into the clouds, crowned with ancient spires and wardstones that pulsed faintly with magical light. It didn’t shimmer. It didn’t gleam.

It throbbed. Like a living thing. Like a heartbeat. Its blood ice cold. Its pulse sluggish and dissonant, not of this world, as least not fully. It was beautiful. Terrible.

I took a step back. I could feel what lay inside. A rift. The Rift. The Veil—torn, poisoned, open. Devin was wrong. The Veil wasn’t thinning. It was open. Not wide. Not yet. But the wound was real. And the darkness inside it was hungry.

It scraped against my soul.

“Breathe,” Devin said behind me, his hand sliding to my lower back. “It won’t hurt you.”

I leaned into him, letting his warmth push back the chill crawling over my skin.

“You live here?” The thought was abhorrent. Horrifying. No wonder Death Mages had a reputation for being sullen, grumpy, frightening murderers.

He nodded, a small grin adding a bit of warmth back to my soul. “It’s not as bad as it looks.”

I looked at him. It was worse. “You are tied to it, aren’t you? Your magic feeds it?”

“My blood helps power the runes.” He was paler than usual, his power already curling tighter around his bones. The closer he got to the Veil, the more it wanted him.

“It wants to kill you.”

“I know.” He smiled as if that fact was of no great concern, the tilt of his lips both crooked and fierce, and I couldn’t help smiling back.

“You’re insane.”

He wrapped his arm around me. “I thought that was why you liked me.”

“Who said I liked you?” I loved him. But I wasn’t about to tell him that. Not yet.

We disembarked from the small rowboat, stepped into a small port village nestled between the cliffs and the orchard-lined hills. It was busy—markets open, vendors calling out wares, children laughing as they chased each other through the muddy streets.

And everywhere I looked—Death Mages walked among them. And no one screamed. No one ran. In fact… they smiled . Laughed. A stooped old man waved at one mage in heavy robes. A woman with a baby on her hip handed another a bunch of herbs and bowed her head. Two children darted between Devin’s legs, giggling, before running off without so much as a backward glance.

“They… like you,” I said.

Devin nodded. “You’re surprised?”

“All of Lunaterra is terrified of the Death Mages, and the Necromancers. The Void. Dark magic.”

Devin laughed. “We like it that way.” He kissed me, a promise for later. “They respect us. They know what we protect. They’ve seen the Tower bleed magic when the Veil shakes. They’ve watched the sky split during eclipses. They live with us. In our shadow. We protect them. They provide for those that live in The Spire. They chose to stay. To help us. They are our people. Our families. Friends. Generations of people who understand what’s at stake and what will happen to the world if the Void opens, the seals break.”

I stared at a young girl handing a sugarfruit to a Death Mage with glowing purple eyes.

She hugged him.

He smiled.

I couldn’t make sense of it.

“I thought everyone feared you.”

“They do. In the cities. In the courts. Where people pretend death is far away. But not here. Not where it touches the world.”

I followed Devin through the winding paths of the village, through ancient archways and stone-walled gardens until we reached the gates of the Tower itself.

I stopped walking.

The gate was made of dark steel, etched with runes I didn’t recognize, and flanked by twin statues of winged figures holding swords— Revenants , I realized. The guardians of the Veil. Death Mages who had tied their lives and their blood to the runes that sealed the Rift. Mages like Devin. My chest tightened.

“Cleo,” Devin said softly, offering his hand.

I took it.

The tall gates opened without a sound and The Spire welcomed me in.

The air inside was cooler, scented with magic and old stone, like the dust of centuries lingering in the bones of the building. The walls pulsed faintly with power, whispering in tongues I couldn’t understand.

We passed through wide halls filled with light from enchanted glass. Through libraries carved into the rock. Through quiet spaces where young mages trained in silence and study.

I felt like I was walking through a dream. A memory.

Or a place I’d been long ago and forgotten.

Then we turned a final corner—and a tall Death Mage stood in greeting.

“Kassio.” Devin smiled at the prince of The Spire, a royal so well known—so feared—even I knew his name.

The prince of the Dark Spire stood at the top of the stairs, arms crossed, grinning like the gods had dropped a joke in his lap and dared him to keep a straight face. “Well, well,” he drawled, descending the stairs. “I thought you were dead, brother.”

Devin stiffened. “I should’ve been.”

Kassio stopped in front of him. “You look like hell.”

“You don’t.”

“I’m prettier,” Kassio said, smirking.

“I thought you had business in the capital. How did you beat us here?” Devin asked.

“I got bored,” Kassio replied with a shrug. “And I’m a better mage. I flew.”

I laughed, surprising both of them.

Kassio turned to me and swept a graceful bow. “And you must be the miracle.”

I flushed.

He took my hand and kissed it with ridiculous elegance. “I’m Kassio Morven. And I am delighted to meet you.”

I glanced at Devin, whose brow had lowered into a warning line.

“She’s taken,” he said.

“I hadn’t noticed,” Kassio replied with an innocent smile.

He looked between us, then sobered slightly. “You’re here to complete the bonding.”

“Yes,” Devin said.

“Just in time. I had to donate more blood last night. The Rift is cracking.”

“It’s already broken,” I said.

Kassio turned to me, eyes narrowed. “How would you know that, my dear?”

“I felt it as soon as we entered the harbor.”

“I see.” He glanced at Devin, then back to me. “Has he explained the situation? Are you willing to be bound to this fool for the rest of your life?” His gaze was sharp, though kind. A prince’s gaze. One who had ruled in shadow and still kept light in his eyes.

I took a breath. I didn’t look at Devin as I replied. “Yes.”

Kassio nodded once. “I’ll let my father know you’re here and tell the others to prepare for the ritual claiming.” He smacked Devin on the back. Hard. “Congratulations, my friend. She actually seems to like you.”

He turned and strode up the steps again, calling for the guardians.

I felt Devin step close behind me.

I didn’t turn to inspect his expression. I didn’t want to see doubt or disappointment or regret in his eyes. Because in that moment, I was happy. And also… not. Because he hadn’t said anything about me to his prince. No words of affection. No claim. No assurances that he wanted me as much as I wanted him. No whispered I love you.

All I sensed from Devein was relief. Protection. I was his “miracle”. But was I in his heart?

I didn’t know.

And it hurt more than I expected.