CHAPTER 22

"We could still be immortal."

Faye shook her head. "His Familiar looked into me." She was still trying to process that she was mortal. She hadn't felt immortal, but she'd hoped. And now, it was just another thing that slipped away from her. Faye's eyes widened as she pictured Sadi. "His Familiar looks just like me."

"Lots of people have black hair."

"No, she has my face. We could be twins."

"I'm sure we'll see her, and I'll tell you, you look nothing alike." Sparrow stabbed the cake with her fork and chocolate pooled from its center. "That's fancy."

Faye leaned forward. "Is it cooked all the way?"

Sparrow dipped her fork in it and tasted it. "It's chocolate." She gave an approving glance and took another bite of cake.

Faye found herself looking at the door separating her room from Rune's. Her heart stung. She had power but not immortality. Forever lacking something.

Sparrow scooted her seat closer and leaned against her. "He's fated to you. Fuck him and make him your bitch."

"I think a part of him likes me. His bloodlust." Faye smiled at the memory of the male viciousness enveloping her. Purring.Fangs accepts me.

Sparrow poured herself another shot. "If by likes, you mean wants to eat you and not in a good way, then yeah."

"He looks at me like he did in the dreams."

Sparrow straightened. "He's been all bad eyeliner while you're here?"

"No."

"You need to rile his bloodlust up. Show some neck. He's fated to you. He'll be hard on wanting you."

Vashien materialized in the room, interrupting them, and peered at their dinner disapprovingly.

Sparrow skewered a piece of Faye's steak and held it out to Vashien. "Want a bite, baby?"

Faye pushed her plate away. "How do they know when we finish eating?"

"Cover the tray. They'll call it back after some time," Vashien said, surveying the room again.

Sparrow ate Vash's bite and took her vodka, and Faye's juice off the tray. She picked up the lid, giving it a shake. "Are we all done?"

Vashien glanced between the two of them, then asked Sparrow, "Are you sleeping in here or am I taking another room so you two can share one?"

"All three of us fit in these giant ass beds," Faye answered.

"Sparrow just said there's a fated bond between you and the Shadow Prince. I'm not sleeping in the same room, let alone bed as you. I like my wings firmly attached to my back."

"Pussy," Sparrow said with a laugh, covering the tray.

"Be nice." Faye took her glass and her juice. Sparrow opened the door leading to Rune's room. "Leave it," Faye said, widening her eyes when Sparrow turned toward her. Faye pointed at the door leading to the hall. "Let's go."

Sparrow sighed and slumped her shoulders. "Fine."

Faye headed back to Sparrow and Vashien's room.

Rune materialized in the lobby of the library in Artithia. The grand room was lit with small balls of hellfire seated in their fixtures. The room gleamed in its whites and golds, reflecting the light shining through the tall glass double doors.

An aging Artithian stood behind a podium. He folded his weathered hands. "Shadow Prince. How may we be of assistance to you?"

Rune strolled to the podium. He parted his lips taking a breath. He tasted nervousness and fear on the man. Yet Ra'Voshnik didn't react, too preoccupied with Faye's absence. After he broke the enchantment he was under, repurposing it would be his first priority.

The corner of his mouth lifted. Perhaps he should be grateful to the minx. Rune's gaze lifted to the Artithian's. "I would like any documents you have predating Saith taken to my research suite."

The man rustled his white feathered wings. He scratched a pen over a small piece of parchment. "We will bring you everything we find." The librarian lifted the parchment between his two fingers, and it blazed before vanishing.

"It is appreciated," Rune said and phased to his private suite. He took a seat, pleased to see a few documents already waiting for him.

Sadi materialized next to him, hugging herself. "You need to be careful with her."

Rune nodded. "What did you see?"

Sadi ran her hand through her black hair. "My visions say one of us is death and the other is maddened darkness. Chaos and madness go hand in hand. Rune this girl to death."

"I am aware. I need to break the tie linking my life to hers."

Her gaze fixed on him. "Not just your death. When I asked whose death, they said all. If she kills you and you can't stop The Crumbling, everything dies."

"Calm yourself. I will untie myself from her. Your father assigned me this task. I will see it done." He'd seen her like this from time to time. Erratic, still half in her visions.

Sadi paced back and forth in small steps, rubbing her arms. "Something is wrong. I just can't see it."

He stood, catching her against his chest, and she stilled. "Be easy." He murmured. "You are too deep in your visions. Let your mind quiet."

She clutched at his shirt, bunching it in her hands as she leaned closer to him. Her eyes darted wildly around the room, witnessing things he could not. He murmured comforting sounds to her as he stroked her hair.

Her grip loosened as time passed. After several minutes Sadi seemed calm, her midnight gaze focusing on him.

"You should rest."

Sadi nodded, stepping away from him. She muttered, "Be careful. You may be able to avoid death, but pain will be inevitable with her."

She vanished before Rune could ask if that was part of her vision as well.

He pushed the Familiar's riddles from his mind and turned back to his table. A tattered book appeared on the loose pages. He took his seat, opening it.

He read, carefully turning the pages. Nearly three hours passed as he closed the book. Useless information on the first incarnation of Pure Bloods. Rune leaned back in his chair and rubbed his forehead. No other books appeared. Was this book and a handful of loose documents all they possessed? He'd return tomorrow.

Rune phased to his room and was met with the door separating his room and Faye's ajar.

The Ra'Voshnik raged to the surface, bleeding through his gaze.She offered an invitation.

Fool creature.She is not from court. This is not an invitation to her bed.

Rune peered into her room to find it empty. The Ra'Voshnik growled in disappointment. He turned and pushed his senses over his estate, feeling for Faye and her entourage.

Rune withdrew his senses. She was in his south wing. The male in a separate room further up the hall than the women. He felt a perimeter set at the beginning of the hallway. Nothing that could keep him out, but it would alert the male of his presence. Court born who served as a guard perhaps?

The male thinks to keep her from us. Strangle him with his own wings!

Rune slammed the door and took a step toward the hall before he regained control of his body. A chill ran through him. He'd never lost control of the Ra'Voshnik. The creature didn't seem to notice, frantically circling his mind.

Invite her to our bed, it insisted.She will curl up with us in her sleep.

Be silent,Rune growled, dragging it beneath the surface.