Page 176 of Heir of Broken Souls

The bond between us strains, his emotions trickling down the bridge that he can’t seem to stop. I’m helpless, standing in the midst of it.

Stepping toward him, I gently lay my palm on his chest, feeling the erratic thump of his heart beneath my touch as he lifts silver-lined eyes to mine.

“I left them to fight a battle…for nothing. I left my people to die. I’m not there beside them in their final moments and it was all for nothing.” He shakes his head as a tear rolls down his cheek. “My father never would have acted so cowardly.”

Fisting his shirt, I shake him slightly. “Stop it! You are far from cowardly. You have fought against demonic hounds, Phookas that came close to taking your life…water dragons! All to save your people, Knox.” My voice lowers, aware of the mates upstairs. “Everything you have ever done is for your people, and what you do is far more than enough, and I will not allow you to speak of yourself so lowly.”

I can tell my words barely make a dent. Knox’s belief in his unworthiness had been rooted within his mind far before I met him. All it means is that I have to be persistent and keep digging that horrid belief out of his beautiful heart.

Knox can’t allow himself to hope right now, so I’ll do it for the both of us.

“We can do this, Knox. Together.”

He swallows thickly. “As one.”

I can’t help but sigh in relief as I feel the bond loosen its hold and the sadness retreat. “As one,” I parrot, leaning against the wall at my back.

And then yelp.

Yanking out the crystal necklace I find it glowing, burning.

My eyes widen. “Of course!”

At the ruckus I caused, footsteps rush down the hall from above and before I know it Axel and Elysia are beside Knox in a heartbeat. The former eyes his king, no doubt knowing that he’s beating himself up.

Spinning on my heel, I close my eyes, trailing my fingers along the wall to walk blindly down the hall.

“It’s veiled, similar to the complex with its dark magic, but this is different. It doesn’t become visible with pure elemental magic—it has to be touched.”

I hear a small gasp fall from Elysia’s lips and the soft murmur of Axel’s voice as he explains the necklace around my neck.

I wonder why no one has done so before.

The thought is there and gone as my feet come to a halt.

My head cocks, my brows furrowing. “This feels oddly familiar.”

Sucking in a deep breath, I push my flat palm against the wall. Suddenly, I tip sideways, air rushes around me, my hair flares out in all directions, a scream leaves my lips—and then an arm wraps around me.

Knox holds me, catching me an inch above the floor before I face-planted in?—

“Oh my forgotten gods,” I breathe.

“It can’t be,” Axel murmurs.

Knox lifts me, his face stunned. “I-i-it’s not?—”

Elysia steps forward, peering at us all as if we’ve gone insane. “What is it?” She wrings her hands anxiously. “Why are you all freaking out? It’s just a library.”

Axel shakes his head. “It’s not a normal library.”

My magic sizzles at the sight of what stands before me. “It’s the library from the complex…in the human lands.”

* * *

“You’re telling me that a library you found in the complex where Peter was experimenting and torturing the magical creatures of Aloriah is now…here?” Elysia slowly asks, confusion etched across her soft features.

“That’s exactly what we’re saying,” I murmur, my eyes unable to tear away from the sight of it.