Page 65 of Walking in Darkness

Pax sighed. “I don’t know, Aria. Wish that I did. But we don’t know enough about Laven to begin to understand it.”

I crossed my arms over my chest, rubbing my hands up and down them as I contemplated what we’d learned today, trying to process everything that monster had said.

“Ambrose was jealous, Pax. Jealous of Abigail’s powers. Kreed obviously pinpointed that weakness and used it against him.”

“Or maybe he was bad to begin with and welcomed it.” Spite filled Pax’s voice, rage still stark.

“Maybe. But I don’t think that’s what matters. I think what matters is that Kreed was able to turn a Laven in his favor. Use him. That he made him immortal.”

I blinked, trying to wrap my head around it.

Because Ambrose didn’t feel that way to me when I’d driven that blade into his stomach.

He’d been powerful. Extremely so.

But there was a vulnerability to him. Like that immortality hinged on something. Like it could be disrupted.

I wondered if Pax had a direct link into my thoughts, because he rumbled, “Asshole was shocked to find himself bleeding.”

“Yes. I think he was. I think he was ... afraid.”

“Because of you,” Pax said.

I turned to him. “No, Pax. Because of us.”

“You’re the Valient, Aria. You’re the one who can reach through realms.”

“Maybe,” I said simply. Then the words turned profound. “But together, we’re stronger. You felt it. I know you did, and I think I felt a speck of it when I was losing strength trying to help the second girl the other night. When you reached out and touched my shoulder, a surge of strength rushed through me. You let go quickly, but I think it was enough for me to bind the Kruen. Then today ... that differencewas unquestionable. With the connection, that power gushed out of me. And you heard Valeen when you touched me. There is something there, Pax.”

He stood. Every sinewy muscle in his body rippled when he did, the tattoos written on his skin dancing over that menacing, vicious strength.

He cleared the distance between us and took my chin between his thumb and forefinger. He tipped my face up toward his.

“Are you saying you’re better when I’m touching you?” There was an undertone to it. Something possessive that skittered through my being like the fluttering of wings.

A tremble rolled through me, and I couldn’t stop my mind from rushing back to what had happened between us thirty minutes ago. The way it was every time he touched me. Took me.

The way it felt like we were dipping our fingers into the ethereal.

“I’m always better when you’re touching me, Pax. Always.”

I shifted course from the need that boiled between us. Something I was sure was never going to taper off.

“You and I are stronger together. So much stronger. What if it’s true for all Laven? Maybe ...” I trailed off, afraid to get ahead of myself.

“What are you thinking?”

My head barely shook. “That maybe if Laven join with their Nols, they might be able to stop the wicked ones Ambrose has been sending to defeat us.”

Was it a long shot? Was I grasping at straws? Desperate for anything that might turn the tables?

“You’re thinking Nols should come together until we figure out a way to defeat Ambrose?” Pax confirmed.

“Yes. I don’t know if it will do anything. If it will help or stop any of this. But we have to try. Laven can’t go on thinking they’re in danger being together if they’re not. There is a reason that lie was spread, and I can’t help but think that lie was told to make us weaker.”

Awareness swam through Pax’s expression before it flashed in urgency. “We need to tell the others.”

I glanced at the window. Sunlight burned around the edges of the drapes, the hour just approaching twilight.