Page 118 of Vasmora

Worry clouded her eyes, as she stared off in thought. “The glyph that Zevander acquired while in the mortal lands, I believe you called it the god’s glyph?

“That’s correct.”

“You said Cadavros led him to it. Is it powerful against a god?”

Dolion sighed, pointing to seven sigils drawn on one of the pages. “It’s directed specifically at the seven bloodlines. Which means, only the host that embodies those bloodlines would be at risk. Cadavros.”

Brows pinched, Allura shook her head. “That doesn’t make any sense. Why would Cadavros give Zevander the power to destroy him?”

“It was the only way to shatter the Umbravale. At the risk of his own destruction, he led Zevander to the god’s glyph because, without it, Cadavros would remain powerless in Mortasia until his last breath. Dorjan’s death is the only way to unleash the god.” He prodded a finger in the air. “And if my vision is correct, it was Kazhimyr who carried the infection through the barrier.”

“Infected.” Allura’s brows pulled tighter. “If Cadavros found the amulet trapped in a vein here in Aethyria, and in retrieving it, he became infected, then what kept it from spreading in Aethyria back then?”

“I believe it was the Emberforge ritual. As I said, it stripped Cadavros entirely of blood magic. Without blood magic, the disease remained dormant inside its vessel. It’s the case with Branimir, as well. I thought him to be a threat at first, but I can see now, his spider pets are incapable of spreading the disease.”

Allura leaned back in her chair, crossing her arms. “Why now?”

Brows raised, Dolion shrugged. “Cadavros must’ve gotten his hands on vivicantem in the mortal lands. An exceptional amount.”

“And in doing so, he awakened Pestilios from dormancy.” Allura stared off, thoughtful for a moment.

Dolion set aside the journal for another he’d skimmed earlier and flipped through its fragile pages. “Oddly enough, his intentions were originally somewhat altruistic. He longed to enliven dead veins.”

“Imagine if he had.” Allura’s voice carried a wistful tone. “What wonderful things he could’ve accomplished.” She sighed. “So, what happens if Zevander kills Cadavros with the god’s glyph?”

Dolion’s attention drifted to the page he’d been reading, where the drawing of the amulet stared back at him. “As I mentioned, Pestilios gains strength in numbers. He is present in every being he infects—from mancers to insects. Killing one may weaken him, but only until he infects again. Cadavros is one of many vehicles for his destruction. The only way to keep Pestilios bound is the amulet that King Sagaerin wears. Royal blood sealed by the dragon’s claw.”

Eyes screwed shut, Allura shook her head and leaned back in her chair. “Rykaia was right. Why do the gods have to be such cunts?” She puffed out her cheeks and blew a forced breath. “So once the Umbravale falls and the plague is unleashed, the only way to truly stop it, is to trap Pestilios once again.”

“Which means we have to steal the amulet from our dear king,” Dolion added.

“But before all that, we have to somehow sneak you back out of here without getting caught.”

Dolion raised his hands, noting his skin had almost returned to its usual tone with his waning disguise. “Probably the most challenging task of all.”

“This just keeps getting better.”

CHAPTER TWENTY-EIGHT

MAEVYTH

Fire burned in my lungs as I ran through the trees, branches scratching over my skin and pulling at the tattered hem of my dress. Zevander pursued just a few short steps behind me, a shadow at my back. The chase ended when I arrived in a clearing and searched the dark sky above, from where stars twinkled down on me.

“Raivox!” I screamed, my voice pitching upward but guttering out of breath to a wheeze. Not quite reaching the whistle’s sound. I cried out again, nothing but a broken rasp tearing from my throat.

No sign of the Corvugon.

“Raivox!” I waited, watching the sky for that shadowy flock of ravens to merge together and shift into my beloved Corvugon.

Only a gentle breeze moved around me.

While my magic had been restored, my ability to call for him had somehow been compromised. But even if it hadn’t, was he alive to hear it?

“Raivox!” A note of panic choked my voice.

“It takes time for blood magic to return,” Zevander said, his soothing tone failing to calm the tremor running through me.

“Is that what it is?” Gaze still locked on the sky, I blinked back the sting of tears, rubbing at the dried blood on my arm with the heel of my gloved hand.