Page 213 of The Eye of the Fifth
When he was done, Naal scribbled the last line down, the quill’s scratching the only sound, and just stared blankly at the page. For a long time, she did not speak. Her brow was furrowed, her mouth a thin line.
Gedeon said, ‘I assume without my explaining it, you understand what it means?’
‘I have been searching for this prophecy for a long time. People have died for this information. And here it is. Just sitting before me,’ Naal said blankly. Her gaze was faraway. ‘The Earthling War was not just about dominance. It was the beginning of the end. She does not want the world to just renounce the Four. She wants to destroy them completely.’ She looked up. ‘And you two are the key.’
The silence that followed was painful. It crawled into the marrow of Gedeon’s bones.
Naal took a great breath. ‘Continue, please. After Azar revealed the prophecy, what happened?’
‘She tried to force us to make the bond. Naturally, we refused. But-’ Gedeon paused, noticing the hitch in Kyra’s breath at his side. ‘She… had leverage.’
Naal’s hands pressed together as if in prayer at her lips. Her eyes closed.
‘I would have done it.’
Gedeon peered at Kyra. Seamless, silver tears made her cheeks shine.
‘To save her,’ Kyra whispered. ‘I would have done it.’
There was a vat of pity in Naal’s eyes when she opened them. ‘Of course you would have, Kyra. No one can blame you for that.’
Kyra fell quiet again.
Naal shot Gedeon a look that told him she understood why Rosary had died. He needn’t explain what happened next.
He did recall how Kyra’s power had become her. How the Black Castle was now likely nothing but a steaming ruin. How they had escaped, what they had learnt in Taru. And all the revelations that came with it.
‘Quite the ordeal,’ Naal said when Gedeon concluded the tale. ‘It is a miracle you both made it back unscathed.’
‘Naal.’ Kyra looked up at the Air Warden. Naal met her gaze. ‘I’m sorry. For everything. I’m so sorry.’
Sincerely, Naal said, ‘You acted out of love, Kyra. Love for your brother, love for Rosary. I will not condemn you for that.’
Kyra wiped her nose with the back of her hand. ‘Azar has the Eye of the Fifth.’
‘Yes,’ Naal said, looking disturbed. She glanced at the prophecy, scrawled by her hand. ‘Though, I would assume even Empress Azar cannot unleash the horrors within without the two of you fulfilling this prophecy?’
Gedeon nodded. ‘We thought the same.’
‘Then, for now, it remains a very real, yet dormant threat.’ Naal leant back in the chair, hands folding on her lap. ‘Though going forward, certain precautions must be taken. These words cannot come to pass. I think you both know what must be done.’
Even at the vague words, Gedeon felt a pull behind his naval. A crack of lightning repulsed by the suggestion. Not many in this life had the privilege of finding their mate. The one person that a divine, unexplainable force beyond any God or Goddess entwined their soul to. Gedeon had found his. The daring, audacious, filthy-mouthed, passionate female next to him.
And yet their union would cause unthinkable devastation. There was no other option but to be apart.
He did not love her, as she did not love him. Not yet, anyway. But those fateful, ancient words that had spewed from his mother’s mouth meant he never could.
The cruel irony was not lost on him.
‘Will you send me away?’ Gedeon said tightly.
‘Yes,’ Naal said with regret. ‘Though I would talk with you alone about this. It is best if neither of you know where the other is. I… am sorry. I understand the bond between mates. The sacrifice you must make is not an easy one. Perhaps, if we find some way to stop the prophecy coming to pass, you might have a chance together-’
‘If one of us died, the prophecy can’t come to pass.’
A growl rose in Gedeon’s throat for he knew Kyra was not talking about him. ‘Don’t speak like that,’ he said none too gently.
‘It’s true,’ Kyra said blankly. Her eyes were misty. She absent-mindedly picked at the skin around her fingernails, which were already red raw. Gedeon found himself wanting to reach out and stop her. ‘Azar’s plans are ruined if she loses one of us.’
