Page 162 of Ignite
Moros grins, as if expecting this. “Perhaps it’s time the three of us had a chat.”
He steps fully into the dimly lit room, and with a flick of his hand, the door slams shut behind him.
Immediately, Adrian begins pounding on the other side—demanding that he open it up. A memory of Adrian doing this as I waited on the other side of the portal to Penyth flashes in my mind, of him clawing at the bark of the lemon tree on Linnick’s farm.
“Now that it’s just us,” Moros says slowly, “I feel we can all be a little more honest.”
My nostrils flare. I have to get the shard connected to Nightfall. Being here alone with Moros—while trying to keep Opal safe—isn’t the best place to do that. But with my magic barely holding on, I don’t have much of a choice but to figure out how to get it together before he kills one of us.
Sixty-Six
Bloodstone
Moros watches me closely,a hungry gleam swirling in his eyes as Adrian demands he open the door behind me.
“Whatever you’re doing out there, it’s time you got to the library,”I urge Graylen through our bond.
Silence follows, just as before.
Moros grins, and I shift on my feet.
“Now that we’re here, I believe we can be a little more open with each other.” He chuckles, the sound grating against my ears. “Don’t you think,Lunaria?”
I swallow.
Of course he’s known this whole time.
Moros folds his hands behind him and adds, “It’s a shame your sister and mother couldn’t join us. I’d love to see them.” He pauses, delight sparking in his gaze. “I heard your time in Penyth was productive—so much to learn in such little time. I’m sorryyour trial didn’t go as planned. Though your magic is coming along just fine regardless.”
Opal makes a strangled noise behind me, but says nothing.
My heart pounds in my chest as his smile grows bigger. This changes my approach to him—he knows exactly who I am, knowsIknow who I am. Of course he knew about the trial, but I’d bet my life that he knows far more than that.
I clench my teeth together and meet his gaze as I say, “It’s coming along well enough.”
My fire stirs, and without hesitation, I yank on it. It rises to the surface, roaring to life in my palms and winding around my arms. My magic still doesn’t feel full—not even close to it—but it’s enough to hope that Moros believes me.
His eyes widen, the only indication that he might be surprised. “There she is,” he says. “Vidaris has been waiting on you to be ready.”
My nostrils flare. “Then she’s going to be waiting a long time,” I snap.
“Not as long as you think.” He grins again.
Opal grabs my hand, gripping it tightly. “Leave her alone,” she spits at him.
His attention turns to her, his slimy gaze quietly assessing her. “Come, Opal, this is no place for you,” he sneers.
The shard burns against my chest, heating up as my magic flares closer to where it’s stored.
Moros takes a step forward, his arm outstretched as he sends a rush of strange-looking shadows toward my closest friend. I try to call on my magic, but it wavers without answering my call.
It’s too weak to stop him.
A tendril flies past me, and from the corner of my eye, I watch as it wraps around Opal’s throat. She screams, the sound cut off abruptly as it tightens.
I try calling on my magic again, focusing as I frantically pull on it.
It still doesn’t answer.
