Page 64 of The Last Guardian

Never again would I bend to the demands of others.

“I’ll do the Rite,” I murmured, curling my fingers together.

I could swear a hint of relief passed through his eyes, but it disappeared as quickly as it came.

Zaidkiel’s eyes met mine as I held my head high, and he murmured softly, “You’re doing the right thing.”

The gleam in his eyes softened for a moment, and I hoped with every layer of my soul that he was right.

“I hope so,” I admitted in a soft whisper, and the meaning of my words hung.

Was I doing the right thing to trust him? I couldn’t tell, but it felt like I didn’t have any other choice. Recovering my memories was my main priority. I needed to be the master of my own life and not let others dictate what I should do.

Never again.

“Shall we begin then?” I asked, arching a brow.

Surprise crossed the commander’s face. “Now?”

“Well, I don’t have time to waste.” I swallowed, the anticipation boiling my blood.

Zaidkiel opened his mouth, as if he was about to ask something, confusion taking hold of him, but shut his lips a few seconds after. His shoulders tensed.

“Very well,” he said at last, taking a step toward me, closing any distance between us.

Instinctively, I stepped back, my heart tightening in my chest. And when I thought he was going to reach out again, Zaidkiel stopped.

Stilled.

The smirk that usually played on his lips was gone, replaced by a tight line. He didn’t move closer, his jaw clenched hard. His eyes sharpened.

“I need to touch your temples to initiate you,” he said softly, a cold anger underneath his tone. “I’m not going to attack you.” His words were gentle, meant to reassure—but I wasn’t sure. My eyes met his, and the sharpness in his gaze had softened, letting the emerald lighten. “May I come closer?” he asked, his voice sweeter than I had ever heard.

I blinked; his reaction caught me off guard. Hells, I hated what Nevan, what Haedeon had taken away from me, causing this fear to grow inside me.

With a deep breath, I looked down and nodded for Zaidkiel to come closer. His shoulders tensed as he took another step toward me, and this time, I didn’t recoil.

“You’ll have to look at me to assure the connection,” Zaidkiel whispered.

“Alright.”

I swallowed hard, raising my eyes to his as he placed two fingers from his left hand on one of my temples, then repeated the action with his right.

Zaidkiel’s eyes bore into mine, his gaze sparkling in a sea of emeralds as he whispered, “Ashraj Thraal.”

And darkness swallowed me up.

I WAS FALLING, sinking into a deep, black, and immense emptiness, one I could neither grasp nor escape. It was everywhere: on my skin, in my mind, and in the depths of my soul. So black and so infinite, it was like darkness itself. Was I still alive? I felt emptiness, but I had no skin. I felt the wind, but no hands to touch, and not a single drop of fear coursed through me. No, it was peaceful, without torment, without anger, just absolute calm.

A voice resonated in the distance, like a velvet caress, inviting me to an unknown place, coming… from my very being? It repeated a word over and over, vibrating in the ocean of darkness as I stopped plummeting through the air to listen closely.

Breathe, a beautiful voice said, calm and steady, caressing my inner self like charming silk.

Breathe, it said again.

Hells! Zaidkiel’s voice.

You’re in the Void, Zaidkiel explained, his voice echoing in my head. It’s a path to reach your Anchor. Here is where everything you know exists. Memories, people, desires, fears.