Page 145 of Winds of Ruin
Lark leaned forward. “Conspiring how?”
“Well, we’ve learned time and time again that the natural Sources can interfere with what happens to us. Your Aunt Asterie was saved multiple times, and I don’t believe that they pair Source Matches flippantly. They draw us together for a purpose.”
I glanced at Dritan, who nodded, seeming to catch my meaning. Despite Firose’s worst actions, despite her having hurt so many of the people I loved, he still existed. Our magic had mingled in that tempting, intoxicating way, and it had turned into the only emotion we were capable of in that moment—lust.
Our Source Match had brought him into this world.
Dritan stilled. “Do you feel they have our best interests in mind or their own?”
I shook my head. “There’s no way to tell. But they have their plans either way. When Elsedora and I explored a sea cave in Eros, we found an entity that claimed to be Aquas.”
Lark’s eyes widened. “You met the Water Source?”
My stare locked with Dritan’s, and he seemed to be growing uneasy. Then I nodded. “Yes, he wanted us to bring him the last relic, but the relic is not an object... it’s a person—Dritan…”
Lark shot up from her seat. “We’ll donosuch thing.”
Dritan motioned for her to sit. “Larkspur, listen to him. Wait...me?”
I drew a deep breath. “Isolde created two of the relics herself. But the last, she sought help from the Sources to craft.” I stared at my son, wishing for any other truth.
I continued, “You are the last relic. Your existence stops the black moon from occurring. Caym may try to rise, but he will not do so with Isolde’s power of compulsion so long as you live.”
“Me?” Dritan’s eyes widened. He nervously rubbed the back of his neck.
His mannerisms were so familiar; they reminded me of my father’s, despite them never having met. They resembledme.
“What am I to do?” Dritan asked.
I sighed. “I don’t know—but you two finding one another is no coincidence, as happy as your union might be.”
Lark huffed as though wanting to disagree.
The whole thing felt risky. If it were up to me, I’d bar him from going. That right wasn’t mine.
“So, with me, we have all three relics,” Dritan mused. “That is good, is it not?”
I shrugged. “It could be... but we’re no closer to answers of how to defeat Caym before he finds a way out of that mirror.”
“Then, I will go to Aquas,” Dritan concluded.
I sighed. “It could be a trap,” I warned, wanting so badly to deter him.
“What harm can it do, if we already know so little?” he answered. Lark nodded along to his words, seeming to warm to his idea of going.
I wouldn’t allow him to run toward danger without understanding what he was up against. “The Sources let your mother die instead of saving her. They let Lark’s Uncle Ryn die, too—and so many others in Sahlmkar, and my father…”
It was the first time I’d referred to the late Mattock as anything other than the North King. A lump the size of a ball of yarn grew in my throat.
“More will die if we do nothing, though, won’t they?” Dritan asked. “If I can help, I want to.”
At this rate, I’d rub the back of my neck raw with worry. His intentions were noble, brave.
Any father should be proud.
“We go together, then,” Lark agreed. “Tomorrow afternoon. I’ve had enoughpropheticexcitement for one night, and we should get our rest.”
“It will be risky,” I warned again.
