Grim
The fact that the charm had held the future was fascinating, but clearly the bracelet meant something to the Wildling beyond its power. Her aura had practically extinguished with sadness as it had been ripped away. It must have had sentimental value.
Just more evidence of the woman’s foolishness.
“I’ve given you a second chance at life.” He looked down at the Threads of Time in his hands. “Just like you’ve given me a second chance. Because of this, we can both correct the mistakes of our pasts.”
He also remembered what Cronan had said. He was going to destroy their world, and everyone in it. Even Nightshade.
Grim wouldn’t sit around and let that happen. But it was clear his ancestor was powerful. He had only three weeks to figure out a way to stop him.
Cronan was oblivious to Grim’s thoughts, when he wasn’t piercing his mind with shadows. He didn’t feel a whisper of suspicion from his ancestor. Only a flicker of satisfaction and . . . hope. “While you were hunting her down, did you happen across a silver pool?” Cronan asked.
He didn’t wait for a response. In a flash, his shadows surged, and Grim felt them pierce his mind. His own darkness lashed out in defense, forcing Cronan’s shadows from his skull. Grim bared his teeth at his ancestor in fury.
Cronan only pursed his lips, seeming unbothered. “No, you didn’t . . .” Cronan started pacing. “I want you to search for it. The pool has purposefully hidden itself from me, but perhaps, it will reveal itself to you.”
Grim forced himself to nod. It was all he could do not to wrap his shadows around his ancestor’s throat. But to gather all the information he could, Cronan needed to believe him deferential—willing to enact all his plans, the same way Grim had for his father.
“What if she’s seen it?” Grim asked.
Cronan shook his head. “I’ve been through her entire mind. I would have known.”
Grim was foolish enough to feel a bite of sympathy for the Wildling. That one instant of Cronan’s shadows in his brain had felt worse than some torture he’d endured. Cronan had only gone through a few days’ worth of Grim’s memories. A lifetime?
How had she not broken yet?
No. He refused to feel sympathy for the woman who would be his downfall. He had seen it with his own eyes. She was destined to kill him. He didn’t care that there was another equally possible future.
As long as she existed, she was as much of a threat to him and his realm as Cronan.