Page 55 of Curse of Thorns
“The Schorchedlands has a purpose,” I say mechanically, my soul lost to the wind. “It is not for the unredeemable. It’s for the unredeemed.”
Tyadin purses his lips. “What does that mean?”
“It means anyone can be redeemed,” Kari says, eyebrows pulled down in concentration.
I nod. “The Schorchedlands allows evil spirits the chance to achieve what they couldn’t on earth. But they don’t need to be perfect. They only need to resolve their biggest conflict. The one thing that held them back. Thelargest blot on their soul, one of the books called it.”
“Okay?” Tyadin says.
“Rev had already resolved his.”
Tyadin takes in a long breath and finally sits beside me. I get the feeling he didn’t have the energy to continue standing.
“The Schorchedlands wouldn’t let him in,” Kari breaths, putting all the pieces together now.
“How?” Ty asks, ignoring Kari’s realization and getting right to the point.
“He forgave me,” I whisper, and my heart breaks all over again.
Kari goes dead still, arm still tight around me.
“So, you undid it,” Ty says, his voice harsh.
“I made him hate me again.” I nod. I suck in a shaky breath. “His father cornered us and made accusations about me. I just agreed with him. They were partially true anyway. I just... said what I knew would hurt him the most.”
“Wow,” Kari breathes. “Are you sure it worked?”
I nod.
“We won’t know for sure until the morning,” Tyadin says.
“It worked,” I say. “I can feel it. He’ll be inside within the hour.”
Kari shakes her head in disbelief.
I don’t respond. I can’t. I’d lose it if I affirmed her words anyway.
“I’m so sorry, Cae.”
Tyadin rests his hand on my forearm. “I’ll tell him. When he returns with the cure, I’ll make sure he knows what you did and why.”
I force a smile through my tears. “Thanks,” I say. But I know it won’t matter. Rev is gone for good. And there’s nothing anyone else could do to take it back.
