Chapter 9

Elanor

My knock resounds in the empty corridor as I wait for Mor to open his door.

A muffled voice comes from the other side and I decide to take it as an invitation. I turn the knob and step inside Mor’s office.

Parchment and books cover the floor, and every piece of furniture seems to be crumbling under a mass of random objects and scrolls.

I freeze in the doorway, my mouth open as I contemplate the chaos. Wooden shelves filled with more books and trinkets occupy an entire wall, and tables are arranged randomly in the rest of the well-lit room.

The healer clears his throat and I close my mouth shut, repressing a laugh. Mor is standing behind a table, his hands around a book that looks as old as him.

“Can I help you, Elanor?”

I step forward, but my boot hits a small chest lying on the floor, and I give him an awkward smile.

“Sorry,” I blurt out. His eyebrow raises in question, and I can’t help my next words. “I never pictured your office like this.”

This time I can’t hold back the wide smile that blooms on my lips.

The corners of Mor’s mouth lift briefly. “Everyone has their secrets.” Clearing his throat once more, he continues. “I have my own system around here.”

I nod, although tempted to argue that no one could reasonably find anything around here.

“Right. I wanted to ask some questions.”

Mor gestures towards a stool covered in papers. I make my way there and clear it of its contents, although not without knocking a few things off the tables.

“You knew,” I say, once seated. The healer remains silent, forever his enigmatic self. “Before Adria, you told me that we’re not all powerless in the face of Death.” He nods. “You knew what I am, what I can do.”

“I only suspected.”

“How? The prophecy?”

“Although you don’t remember, we met before, when your parents brought you to me.”

My heart stops at the mention of my parents. “What?”

Mor presses two fingers to his lips, and everything falls into place. I’ve seen this gesture before.

“Ilyana did that too, when I first met her. What does it mean?”

Mor gives me a small smile before answering.

“We’re both very old Fae who believe in ancient gods, including Death. She asked me to protect you.”

My eyes widen as the missing pieces of my life’s puzzle fall into place.

“You cast the spell to hide my Fae heritage when my parents fled?”

Mor nods and air catches in my throat.

“I didn’t know for sure until Adria, until you left this realm. That’s what happened, right?”

I answer with a nod as I swallow down tears.

“Tell me.” Mor’s serious tone rings in my ears.

“Death was there. I got stuck in her realm, neither dead nor alive, drifting away.” Tears start rolling down my cheeks, but I brush them off with the back of my hand. “I’m lost, Mor.”

“You always will be, child. You don’t belong entirely in this world, and you never will.”

A choked laugh escapes me. “You know how to reassure a girl.”

“You may not belong here, but you have a role to play nonetheless. Something evil and powerful stirs in the east. Something Braern was a part of.”

“Mor, I’m scared. This power I have, it’s dark.”

“You should be. Death is powerful beyond measure, and only a fool wouldn’t fear her.”

The healer steps forward, navigating the chaos on the floor effortlessly, and reaches for my hand.

“The Fae used to believe in all sorts of divinity, and it was said that gods would bear children in the living world in times of need, to help bring balance between evil and good, dark and light.”

His words ring truer than any explanations I’ve come up with, a confirmation of what I long suspected.

“You were sent here with a purpose, daughter of darkness— to wield shadows and flames and restore balance to the world.” He presses my hand gently. “You are so much more than the Unifier. Only the gods know what you can really do.”

“What if I can’t do this alone?”

Mor’s eyes light with mischief.

“Who says you’re alone?” Pain sears through the bond, and my mate’s face appears in my mind. “There’s a reason Azran carries a power.”

“What do you mean?”

“You both walk this world with the power of beings as old as time.”

Part of me still wants to deny it, but I know he speaks true. I felt it back in Adria, then in Death’s realm. I always knew we were different, made from the same mold.

“What now, Mor?”

“I think you already know.” His eyebrows raise, giving the impression he sees right through me. “Prepare.”

I release a heavy sigh, feeling strangely lighter now that this secret is not only my own.

“Thank you,” I say as he nods. “For everything.”

I stand up, careful not to disrupt Mor’s organized mess, and make for the door.

“Never doubt the gods, Ela.”

“Well, the gods could have been a little less cryptic,” I mumble to myself on the way out. Mor’s laughter follows me.

I stare into the distance, slowly sinking into a leather armchair by the giant windows of the library overlooking Averion. The sun is setting, casting the white buildings in pink tones.

With my muscles sore from days spent training tirelessly and getting back in shape, I’m ready to doze off, an open book on my lap.

I don’t remember closing my eyes, but I almost jump out of the chair when the library door creaks open.

Vesta strolls in, her red hair flowing behind her and a wide smile on her face.

“You scared the shit out of me.”

“Nice to see you, too.” She looks over my shoulders. “Why are you reading about princes of hell and old gods?”

I close the old tome and sit up.

“Just bored and wanted an excuse to doze off,” I say casually.

Vesta’s crystal laugh fills the air.

“I’ve got just the thing to stir you from boredom.”

I raise an eyebrow, waiting for her to tell me more.

“Let’s go. You’re coming with me.” She snaps her fingers towards the door as I reluctantly leave the warm cocoon of the leather armchair.

“Where are you taking me?” I narrow my eyes at her.

“Tonight, we’re celebrating the Unifier and our victory over Braern.”

She grabs my hand before I can stop her.

“V. I’m not in the mood for that.”

“Nonsense. If we wait for you to be in the mood, we’ll never go.” I roll my eyes at her words, but she’s already pulling me in her wake. “Now, let’s get you changed.”