Page 89 of Soul of Thorns
The wraith looks over his shoulder, through the steam where the exit lies. “Caelynn, my child,” the wraith whispers, black eyes meeting mine. “Perhaps I was wrong.”
My eyebrows pull down. “What do you mean?”
“The Shadow Court will never know what you’ve done. Just as they never knew what I did. For them. For the world. But this—this is your destiny, child.”
My lips part. “What?”
“I have never been more sure of something my whole life. Our people may never be what they once were, and I will mourn that with every remaining moment of my being, but I feel it. This place. You. Me. Our people will be responsible for saving it all. And that is something I can forever be proud of.”
I blink rapidly. “What—what are you saying?”
“Take the book, Caelynn,” he whispers.
“What?” I gasp. “But what about Rev? You... you want him to die.”
“No.” His voice is sure, sharp. His face tilted down in determination.
“You promised.” My voice breaks.
“I will not go back on my promise to you, child, but the book is your destiny. It calls to you. Don’t you feel it?”
Black steaks of magic ripple from the leather binding.Caelynn, the whisper pours from between the pages.
“Take the book, and I will do the rest.”
“But—"
“I love you, my daughter. I am sorry for this bitter fate of ours. It is terrible. But it is beautiful. As are you.”
The wraith wisps through the wafting steam, and when I blink, he’s gone entirely, leaving me alone with the spell book whispering my name.
Rev
Istruggle for breath, limbs twitching, but I don’t bother fighting the branches crushing my windpipes. I can feel her power, even though I can’t see her.
Night Terror.
