Chapter 34
Chapter
Thirty-Four
LYRIANA
The next night, Auriel knelt before me, strapping the final knife to my thigh.
I was covered from head to toe in new armor and weapons.
Well—new to me, at least. I didn’t even need to use glamour magic to blend in now—I was dressed as a wolf.
Silver armor covered my torso, and matching cuffs were at my wrists.
Auriel had located a soturion belt with fresh Valalumir stars embedded in the leather straps.
Two swords crossed my back, and another hung from my hip along with two daggers, one on either side, and a knife, hidden in two garter belts.
If only we’d had these when we were investigating each town.
But I much preferred my own effects, my own armor and weapons.
I had tried to ask Auriel how he procured each item, but he wasn’t willing to discuss it which made me think it wasn’t exactly legal. Then again, it wasn’t like these were items one could simply purchase—especially not late at night in a small hillside town on the western border.
He tightened the leather belt of my garter, tugging on the strap to make sure it was firmly in place.
His eyes flashed as he looked me up and down, and for a second, I caught a hint of the passion that had burst between us yesterday.
His hand lingered on my thigh, giving my leg a squeeze before he let go, and rose to his feet, looking me over studiously, checking that each weapon was in place, and secure.
Exactly like Rhyan would have done—even down to the squeeze, like he needed just one more touch. One more reassurance that I was there and so was he.
My throat was dry as I pulled my gaze away and looked out of the window of our room at the inn. The sun had set and the sky had darkened. It was time to make our move.
Auriel slid his hand over the hilt of his swords, something I’d started to notice he did before battle, a small moment to familiarize himself with the weapons.
The rest of his body was preternaturally still.
There was something else in the air between us, passing back and forth from our auras—this kind of feeling of finality. Like this was it.
And on some level, deep down in my soul, I knew it was.
I wasn’t going to get another chance to attack Rhyan, or to cure him.
If I failed tonight, it was likely because we didn’t make it.
Either because I failed to cure him, or I failed myself in going up against him.
And much as akadim Rhyan still wanted me, even he was going to prioritize his own survival at some point.
I’d spent some time in the morning reading again from Auriel’s Valya, focusing particularly on the sections that spoke about the akadim.
Sections not included in the Mar or Tavia versions I’d always known.
We’d never been taught about this in the Academy since the cure had gone out of existence.
According to Auriel’s writings, akadim when faced with the idea of becoming mortal again, being cured—reacted similarly to the way we did when confronted with being turned. They saw it as a death sentence.
The moment he began to truly fight back, to use all his strength against me—I was going to need to call on Rakashonim to survive. And then I wouldn’t have long before it wore out.
Whatever we did tonight—it had to fucking count.
Auriel met my eyes, his jaw tight, and his shoulders tensed.
He opened his mouth, like he wanted to say something more, but then he snapped his jaw shut.
Instead, he nodded, and flipped up his hood, covering his head, his face darkened in shadows.
I did the same, and then quietly, we crept out of the inn, into the silence of the night.
The air was cool against what little skin I had exposed, and felt far colder than it had the last few weeks despite the fact that we were now even further into spring. In another month, the weather, especially this far south, would begin to heat drastically.
I closed my eyes, trying to imagine it. The warmth of the sun on my skin, the familiarity of the heat.
Home. Bamaria. Hot and safe. And Rhyan by my side.
My Rhyan. It felt like a dream. One I could barely grasp.
Especially now I was forsworn, not even allowed back in my own country.
Now my country didn’t even exist. If Rhyan and I got through this, our best-case scenario—after I found Jules and Meera, and made sure they were okay—was likely exile.
“You all right over there?” Auriel asked.
He reached for my hand and helped me climb the hill we were on.
They surrounded the town and the inn we were staying at.
There had been a more direct path leading from there to the mouth of the caves—but the only time we’d used it, was yesterday in our escape.
Now, we had to be sure that we couldn’t be spotted.
Our cloaks would have made us invisible to any other Lumerian nearby.
But magic didn’t work on akadim. And I knew they could see in the dark far better than we could.
Still, the cloaks were made of a material that naturally camouflaged with the terrain.
I prayed that that would give us enough cover to approach, and catch them off-guard.
Whatever happened, I wanted Rhyan to scramble when I arrived—I wanted to catch him unaware.
I was sure he expected me to return. He knew me after all.
And the fact that none of the akadim had come looking for us, seemed enough proof of his mindset.
But we still needed the element of surprise to ensure Auriel remained hidden. That was key.
We both ducked low as we moved down the hill, moving slow and taking breaks behind trees, looking out for scouts or any sign of akadim.
The Wall of the Prince was close, its mountain peaks only a faint outline in the starlit sky.
A small woodland lay ahead, the silver leaves of the moontrees glimmering.
Auriel took my hand, and together we dashed from our hiding spot, our boots racing over the ground until we were covered once more by trees.
I could see the hidden opening of the cave— the one we hadn’t been able to find—until my escape. Two akadim stood before it on guard.
My stomach knotted seeing their red eyes glow against the dark.
Auriel peered around the tree trunk. “Damn,” he said. “Not daywalkers.”
“No. Those are definitely originals.” They were huge. At least ten feet tall, their faces grotesque with large fangs protruding from their mouths. “Fuck.” I frowned. “Do you think Rhyan put them out there for a reason? Because of all his akadim—those are the least likely to follow orders.”
Auriel’s eyebrows furrowed as he continued watching. “They might be a deterrent,” he said. “He’d know that’s the case. He might expect you to come to the same conclusion.”
“You think he’d really try to keep me away?” I asked.
Auriel sighed. “No. But he saw I was with you. Maybe they’re for me.”
“Or it’s a trap. I don’t know if I trust them to follow orders.”
Auriel leaned his head back against the tree, deep in thought. “I’d say it was a trap, too—but there isn’t one inch of that cave that isn’t.”
“So, what do we do? Stick with the plan?” My stomach turned at the idea of handing myself over to those monsters.
Auriel blew air out of his lips and shook his head. “Yes. But I think we need to kill them first.”
“Are you sure? I mean, what if there’s a chance I can—”
He shook his head. “No. Trust me when I tell you that I hate this. But you can’t save everyone. And you won’t save anyone at all unless we get the red shard, and the green before it falls into Moriel’s hands.”
I frowned but nodded, my stomach twisting. “Then what?”
“Same plan as before. But I don’t think you need to knock.
Last time, the doors were closed—all the akadim were inside, except for the handful I fought when Rhyan took you.
After that, I spent an hour searching the mountainside, climbing up and down—looking for any way in.
It wasn’t until one came out that I had any luck.
If they’re there now—then the door is open.
We’ll take them out, then slip inside. If the way is clear, you’ll move through the cave unseen until you find him.
Until you can cure him. But if someone finds you, then the first plan is a go.
You tell them your name, and you demand to be brought before Arkturion Rhyan. ”
I took a deep breath. “Okay.”
I’d barely taken a step when Auriel grabbed my waist and pulled me against him, crushing me in a hug. I could feel his heart beating even through all of our armor. Feel his pulse in his aura.
“Do not give up,” he said, his voice fierce and commanding, but under it all was a wave of emotion.
“No matter what. Whatever happens in there, you are stronger than you know. You are strong enough to do this, strong enough to finish this. To save him.” He released me, his hands on my face, his gaze intense.
He pressed his forehead against mine, and then stepped back, his jaw clenched. “Do not give up,” he said again.
“I won’t.”
“I know.” His nostrils flared.
“Auriel,” I said, my heart pounding. “Thank you. For everything.” I tried to put as much feeling as I could into my words.
Because there was so much he’d done for me.
It was so much more than helping me get here, helping me find the cure and learn how to wield it.
He’d kept me going, kept me from giving up.
If he hadn’t come to me when I was lost in the initial despair of losing Rhyan—I didn’t even want to think what I would have done.
He shook his head. “No need for any of that.” And like always, he seemed able to put words to my thoughts. “You would have found a way on your own. You always do. Now go. I’ll be right behind you,” he said.