Chapter 15 #3
My teeth grit at his taunting tone. “I see the mark I left on your neck healed up nicely. I’m happy to give you another if you’d like.”
“Oh starling, I’d be honored to spill a little blood over your blade, but I actually wanted to discuss something with you regarding our upcoming travel.”
My attention snags, and while I hate to admit it, there’s a piece of me that wants him to come in. To stay all night. Snap the fuck out of it, Nova. You’re deranged.
“Fine,” I reply, holding the door open for Jace to enter. He traipses in, sending the temperature plummeting. Even with the fire crackling in the corner, a chill settles over my skin, like an autumn night.
“May I sit?” He gestures to the settee at the edge of the bed. I nearly laugh at the absurdity.
“I don’t think you need to ask permission to do anything in your own home, but sure,” I reply. Jace’s teeth drag over his lip as he takes a seat, draping a bare foot across his lap.
“It may be my home, Nova, but this is your space. Your bedchamber. Until our agreement comes to fruition, my home is yours, too.” His words are meant to break the wall of tension between us, and I’m not buying it.
The decision to stay was presented as a choice, but he forced my hand.
A gilded, sparkling shackle is still just a shackle.
“What do you want to discuss, then?” I ask, fighting the fidget trembling over my fingers.
Jace leans over his knees and watches me with indiscernible eyes.
“The lurker den just north of the border…when Tenebris scouted the area, well, he noticed something strange. Something we’ve never seen before,” he says.
“Elaborate, please,” I reply, leaning against one of the massive, carved bed posts.
“In every one of our flybys, we’ve never seen one of them. Tenebris senses them through the time shift they create, but not once have we ever actually seen one.”
“Time shift?” I ask, recalling my conversation with Isra. These creatures eat time, but what that means I still don’t understand.
“I know Isra’s briefed you a little bit but let me clarify…
” He takes in a breath, and dread sinks in my stomach like a stone.
“Time stops in their presence, like the creatures themselves leech into our world and trap it. Clocks stop ticking, the earth freezes in areas they’ve infected, and all life just stops progressing.
There’s no explanation for it, and I wish there was, because I know it’s confusing and seemingly impossible. ”
My heart slams against my chest as Jace’s words sink in.
These creatures affect time itself, a fundamental constant of our cosmos.
It’s too much to fully comprehend, but gut tells me these things aren’t to be fucked with.
Thank Astora for the ward Jace put in place, but my heart breaks for Shadow and their Blightfangs.
How many of them were lost when their time was devoured?
I don’t dare think about it for too long.
“So what made this patrol different? Did Tenebris finally see one?” I ask.
Jace stirs in his seat, an apprehensive glint sparking across his expression. “Not just one, Nova. There were twenty of them. All just standing there…like they were waiting for something.” Or someone, his tone infers.
“Fuck…” I breathe.
“Our one advantage has always been strategy. These creatures communicate, we know because they’ve summoned one another during confrontation, but they’ve never strategized or grouped intentionally outside of feedings.”
“What are they waiting for, then?” My breath hitches on the question.
Jace shrugs. “Your guess is as good as mine.”
“And I’m also assuming our route takes us directly through their den,” I say, taking a hesitant seat on the bedside.
“Tenebris can fly high enough so they’ll just barely sense us, but yes.” He watches me with careful concern. “I can go myself is what I’m suggesting.”
My gaze widens at the offer, but I know if we’re to find a Sovereign rider, he can’t go alone.
“Jace, your father aided in Sovereign’s massacre—if you show up at this merchant’s door, there’s no chance in all of the cosmos he’ll admit his true lineage,” I say, keeping my voice steady.
Mentioning Van Ashborne, sends a crack of rage through me, but I swallow it. Now isn’t the time to reopen old wounds. “If there’s another Sovereign refugee there he’ll—”
Fuck. What did I just do?
Jace straightens, and I dodge his gaze like my life depends on it.
“Let’s not pretend I don’t already know your truths, Nova Lindwen. Own them unapologetically. He’ll talk to you because…”
“I’m exhausted,” I snip. “The plan hasn’t changed, I’ll accompany you to Storm. Now, I’d like to go to bed.” My thoughts spiral, leaving me a tangled mess of panic-stricken thread. I came so close to admitting the truth—one I haven’t even allowed myself to acknowledge in over twenty years.
Jace’s fingers curl around the settee armrest. His gaze kindles to a restrained fury, but he stands and makes for the door.
“Good night, then,” is all he says before turning the corner down the hall.