Page 67 of A Conduit of Light
ThenKarushad found that book.
Hehad felt an immense sense of pride when she had found her way to theBaron’sstudy, claiming theBlightressand theBlightmustbe connected.
Andthe heart?
Thatwas something else he could not understand.
Hetoo believed theBlightressonce lived—centuries ago.Butpeople didn’t just hang around for hundreds of years.Thelongest on record was the eighth or soBaronwho lived to a ripe age of 146 in years measured outside ofFelgren.Withinthe forest, it was not quite so long as that, or so it felt to the people who had known him.
Revichsighed in frustration, tossingToTrainaConduit:AHistoryof theConduitTrialsbyThaliaLightonto the chair by the fire.Itlanded atop three other books he had recently pulled fromBaronHeimlen’sstudy.
Everyoneelse had rushed to helpMoira.Heknew he’d be useless and get in the way, never having been adept at healing magic.Also, his anger and fear withKaruswould likely hinder any positive auras they were trying to radiate to the broken fae.BaronHeimlenhad arrived with lumens shortly after they had escaped the dark abyss.
Barelyescaped.
Theyhad rode back to theFortresswithKarusbursting through the doors calling forClairanniawho was already there, of course, sinceRevichhad used his bond to explain toPompeiiwhat had happened as soon as the black towers were in his sight.
Hesat on the black chair across from the blue one he had insisted was now hers.Rubbinghis hands on his face, he contemplated what he had seen.
Maybehe had known.
MaybeBaronHeimlenhad guessed it as well.
Butnow there was no denying it.
TheBlight’sconnection withKarusran deeper than her ability to feel it pulsating.
Itwanted her.
Itwanted her?
Butwhy?
Themoment she had stepped far enough away from him that he could not reach out to her, the mist had poured in and she was gone.Fear, panic, all of the ugliness had raged through him and he ran.Heran to where she had been, finding only more death and more darkness.Itseemed to have consumed her and when his voice had grown hoarse from calling her name, he heard her—barely.
Hefollowed that voice as if his own life depended on it, because, in reality, he knew it had.
Ifhe had lost her…
Ifshe had gone too far…
Heshook his head, anger rising at her recklessness again.
Hehad more to say to her, more scolding to do, and then he’d likely never let her go.
Butthat was a folly, he knew—no one could stop her will and trying to would just loosen his hold.
Revichhadn’t expected this fear after falling for her.Fallingsounded easy, like falling into bed after a long day, or falling into the arms of a lover where you could be safe even if just for a short amount of time.Thosethings he understood and knew well, but the fear of losing what he loved was sharp and clouded his thoughts at times, muddling his thinking and intentions.
Nowthat he had found his missing piece, the thought of ever losing her was torture.He’dnever be able to replace her, no matter what wise wordsBaronHeimlenhad for him.Therefore, losing her was surely the end of him as a whole.
Fuck.
Whydid she go in there so confidently?
Hismind raced again about the things he’d like to say to her when he heard a light knock at the door.
“Comein.”
