Something tugged inside my chest and expanded, then sizzled into nothingness like I was leaking from the inside.
Lyla’s eyes widened, and she took a step away from me. She opened her mouth like fate itself was going to ask me a question, but no sound escaped her lips. Instead, she lowered her glowing arms to her sides and stood perfectly still.
She glanced over at Dick, and then back to me, like she wanted to tell me something but couldn’t because he was present.
Her expression was horrified.
Ice dripped off my fingers.
Finally, the ceremony ended. An RJE device swirled as Dick, Lothaire, the cloaked man, Lyla, the other witches, and the journalist all disappeared.
Branches rustled.
It was eerily quiet in the aftermath of the humming.
The snow picked up and the sky darkened.
The realm’s weather was unpredictable, and blizzards arrived with no warning.
My teeth chattered.
The soldiers realized the funeral service was over, and they hurried back to their barracks. No one wanted to linger in a storm.
Suddenly, I felt death’s familiar presence lingering in the shadows of the towering pines. He was still haunting me.
He’d appeared when I was a child. The world had flatlined into shades of gray, and I’d woken up with an unnatural chill and an emptiness in my soul.
Death stalked me.
“You’re catastrophizing. It’s not death that makes you feel empty.” Jinx’s voice was loud and crisp in my head.
I stumbled with surprise and barely kept myself upright. Snow gathered on my eyelashes, and my eyes burned from the icy wind as I looked around the forest. Jax carried Jinx on his back as they walked down the path away from me.
The blizzard intensified.
“Then what makes me feel this way?” I asked back tiredly.
Silence.
“Take a deep breath.” Scorpius stepped forward from the shadows. “It might feel like you’re trapped, but you’re not. I promise.”
“How do you know?” I asked.
He held out his hand. “Because you’re not alone anymore.”
I reached forward and took the lifeline. Calloused fingers grounded me.
The numbness receded.
“Thank you,” I whispered up at the blind king as we walked together down the snowy path.
“Anytime, Aran.”
Chapter 27
Aran
SHOPPING
Betise （noun）： an act of foolishness or stupidity.
DAY 20, HOUR 7
I hadn’t slept since the funeral, and exhaustion had transformed me into a jittery mess of adrenaline.
Slumped over in the cafeteria, face hovering inches above my full plate, my breath came out as a frosty puff.
My food froze.
I was suffering from sleep deprivation.
“Have a bite of my fruit,” John said as he pushed a non-frozen mango toward me and rubbed my back comfortingly.
“Thanks,” I said as I took it from him.
Luka’s fingers tangled in my long curls, and he scooted his chair closer, so our legs were pressed together. He didn’t comment, just grabbed more of my hair like he was holding on for dear life.
Malum glared at me across the table.
I leaned over and gave John a soft kiss on the cheeks. “Thanks again,” I whispered. “For looking after me.”
He smiled tenderly back and said, “Of course. No need to thank me.”
I turned back to the table and naturally, Malum was on fire.
Scarlet flames danced across his wide bronze shoulders.
I leaned forward and enjoyed the heat.
Scorpius ran his tongue over his lips, and Orion stared at me with wide, unblinking eyes. Luka’s fingers twisted around more curls, and John gave me another soft kiss on the cheek.
I smiled at Malum.
His eyes flashed as he glared at where the twins were touching me.
“You have soup on your face.” I pointed my frozen spoon at him.
He frowned and wiped at his cheek.
“Got ya,” I chortled.
His expression promised unspeakable pain. I smiled and ate my mango. He stabbed his knife through his meat like he had a vendetta against it.
“Why are you so agitated?” I asked with feigned innocence.
His knife snapped in his hand. “You seem to let everyone kiss you these days.”
I stilled. “Are you calling me a whore?”
“Of course not,” he said. “Just making an observation.”
“Well, don’t,” I said with a fake smile. “Men should be seen, not heard. Remember that.”
Cobalt ice crawled across the table toward him and coated his plate. He brought a flaming fist down over the ice and it melted with a sizzle.