55. Raining Stars
Raining Stars
The letter burned in my pocket as I stormed from the library, each step faster than the last until I was running through the castle halls.
My brother. Someone was going to kill him.
And Xül knew. He'd known all along.
There are things about me that you don't know, he’d said. Things that could make you change your mind.
This is what Heron had tried to warn me about. Why Thatcher’s line was cut off.
I burst through the castle doors onto the shore, the impact nearly tearing them from their hinges. The sky bled into a deeper red, bruising the horizon. The ocean churned and spat at the sand.
Gods, I'd been so stupid. So fucking stupid.
I'd let him touch me. Let him whisper against my skin. Let him in.
I clawed at my chest, at the place where Xül had carved himself into my heart. Every memory of last night—his hands, his mouth, the soft words against my neck.
A scream built in my throat, but I swallowed it down. No. I needed answers first. I needed to understand why .
I paced the shoreline, my mind racing faster than my feet could carry me.
I didn’t know how much time had passed by the time I heard it. The sound of reality tearing. I spun around. Xül stepped through a portal.
"Thais?" He paused, studying my face. "What's wrong?"
I forced my voice to remain steady, though my hands trembled at my sides. "Is there anything you want to tell me?"
His brow furrowed. "About what?"
"Anything at all?" I pressed. "Anything you might have... forgotten to mention?"
"I don't understand what you're asking." He took a step toward me, and I stepped back, maintaining the distance between us. His brow furrowed.
"Think harder." My voice was ice now, all pretense of calm beginning to crack. "About the trials. About what's coming."
Weariness flickered in his eyes, but he kept his expression neutral. "We’ve been preparing for weeks, Thais. You’re ready."
"Do I know everything I should about them?" I demanded.
"Thais, what is this about?" He sounded genuinely confused, but I couldn't tell anymore what was real and what was performance.
"The final trial." My control slipped, voice rising. "What happens in the final trial, Xül?"
His face went still. "What do you?—"
"What happens to Thatcher in the final trial?" I shouted, my composure shattering completely.
Understanding dawned on his face, and then his eyes narrowed. "What did you do?"
"You knew!" The words ripped from my throat. "You knew someone would try to kill him, and you said nothing!"
"You know very little of what you speak."
"Then make me understand!" I screamed. "Explain to me why you kept this from me! Why you let me—" My voice broke. "Why you let me trust you! "
And then my power sparked, surging through my veins. My skin cracked with light, fine fissures opening along my arms where energy leaked through.
"Thais, you need to calm down," Xül said, his voice careful now, watchful.
"Don't tell me what I need!" Light gathered in my palm, swirling and condensing. I stared at it in shock as it began to take shape—a blade forming, though I hadn't willed it into being.
"Thais, stop." Xül's voice held an edge of urgency now. "You need to reel it in."
The stars above responded, several breaking free from their positions to streak toward the earth. They struck the beach around us, leaving smoking craters in the sand.
"How could you?" Tears streamed down my face, hot and bitter.
I took a step toward him, the sword in my hand growing brighter, more solid. I didn't want to hurt him—gods help me, even now I didn't want to hurt him—but the power was responding to emotions I couldn't control.
"What are you doing?" A distant voice called from behind me.
Xül's eyes flicked over my shoulder. "I've got this under control."
But I took another step forward, and that's when I smelled it.
Blood.
My vision blurred. The sword in my hand flickered.
"Aelix, don't—" Xül started.
A curse slammed into my mind like a spike of ice driven into my skull. I arched backward, screaming as the energy clawed its way through me.
Then there was nothing but darkness, swallowing me whole.