Page 10 of Stone Sentinels

I cock my head to the side as I consider her words. “Once upon a time it did, but that time is long ago.” I take a deep breath. “Your love for Theren will get you killed.”

She shakes her head. “No, it won’t.”

I flip her over, locking my arms around her neck. “What do you know about my brother?”

“He’s breaking, Cambion,” Aima responds. “Variant will win if he attacks Oronrel, and Theren doesn’t care. Theren’s going after the throne of the gods and he’ll kill anyone who stands in his way. He seeks to destroy Abedon or he’ll die trying.”

“Abedon is dead.”

She chuckles darkly. “Might want to ask Morrigan that question again.”

I release Aima and help her to her feet. She grabs her sword and tosses mine to me. My lungs burn and my chest heaves, as I try to draw enough breath to soothe the disbelief coursing through me. “You’re saying that Morrigan lied?”

“We grew up together, Cambion. You, me, and Theren were like three beings who shared the same soul. The Midnight Queen practically raised us, but Theren and I always saw her for what she was,” Aima claims. “You never did.”

“What do you mean?”

“I mean she’s manipulating the game, Cambion. Open your eyes and you’ll see she’s pitting you against everyone so you’re isolated. And isolated means you’re easier to pick off.”

“Leave me,” I say, suddenly angry.

“No,” she insists. “You need to come clean to Eilish and face the truth about Morrigan.”

“I said, leave me.” My shoulders slump and Aima tilts my chin up to gaze into my eyes.

“Morrigan has a plan. Variant has a plan. Theren has a plan. What’s yours?”

“I’m figuring it out.”

She shakes her head. “If you open your eyes, you’ll see that all of us are ready to fight beside you. Even me.”

“You don’t love me.”

“And you don’t love me. Not anymore.” She smiles and shakes her head. “Help them figure out the book of prophecies they’re losing their minds over.”

“The book of prophecies?” I repeat.

“Ask Pyre,” she says and takes a deep breath. “But, let me handle Theren.”

“You’re going back?”

“I always go back to Theren, even if I shouldn’t.”

“He isn’t right for you, Aima.”

“Neither were you, Cambion.” She takes a deep breath and faces me with a serious expression. “I’ll find the one I’m supposed to be with. You will, too, if you pull your head out of your ass long enough to see what’s been standing in front of you.”

We walk back to the cottage together, arriving just in time to see Eilish and Dragan return as well. She makes no effort to acknowledge me. It’s what I want and it’s what I’ve encouraged her to do, to ignore me. But it’s upsetting, nonetheless.

CHAPTER FOUR

BARON

The Veil

The dark room between the library and the second bathing room is faintly lit by a small candle at the center of the table. Stacks of crates clutter the corners, and there are no windows here. I sit at the table with Flumph, Noni, and Pyre as we discuss what to do about the Midnight Queen. My head is spinning as a million questions rattle around in my brain.

Flumph says Morrigan keeps using the word “ineffable,” and I’m starting to understand why. We’ve poured over the ancient scrolls and texts for hours, searching for inconsistencies between the records and the Lexicon while Eilish and Dragan attempt to decipher the book of prophecies.

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