Chapter 94 Taera
Taera
Istart to laugh. After everything he said, after begging for another chance, Nikolai left. Once again, his secrets are more important than I am. The sting of betrayal shouldn’t hurt anymore, but somehow it still does. I should have expected this; I should have expected him to leave.
Then my breath leaves me.
It fits perfectly; I know exactly where he’s gone.
There’s only one part of the labyrinth he hasn’t searched: the place where all illusions are stripped away.
Then I laugh, bitter, aching. Nikolai is willing to reveal his true face to the labyrinth in his search for power, but not to me. My laugh sticks in my throat, tightening into hurt. I should leave the Halls before he returns. So that when he gets back—
I freeze in place. If he’s truly discovered the center of the labyrinth, that means he’s finally found the key to destroying himself: mythical, endless power. And he isn’t doing it for Hazel anymore. He’s lost himself along the way. Become obsessed. He’s chasing madness.
Do I go after him?
It’s pathetic I’m even considering it after he broke my heart and abandoned me here. And yet, if I don’t stop him, no one will. Despite his betrayal, I don’t wish madness on him. Hazel doesn’t deserve to lose what’s left of her brother to his desert-cursed quest.
I exhale slowly. Even if he never loved me, even if that, too, was a lie, I won’t be able to live with myself if I don’t try to save the magician who stole my heart.
Scrambling to the door, I’m stopped by a new wave of crackling blood glass. I need to get to the labyrinth. I need to be there already—before it’s too late.
I summon every scrap of calm composure I’m capable of. I can scream later. I can cry later. Right now, I only let myself breathe.
Slowly, far too slowly, the blood glass retreats enough that I can leap past it.
I take off at a sprint.