Gathering Darkness (Falling Kingdoms #3)(102)

“Of course. Her tutor.” Amara nodded. “First, let’s get one thing straight—I know what Lucia is and what she can do. Second, I know about the earth Kindred at the Temple of Cleiona and how you failed to claim it first. So. Let’s proceed, shall we?”

“Nic . . .” Magnus said slowly. “You’re not so skilled at keeping secrets, are you?”

Nic ignored him. “Let Cleo go. I’ll do whatever you want.”

“You’ve served your purpose already,” Ashur said, his tone cold. “You’ve ceased to matter.”

“Now,” Amara said, her smile returning. “There’s no need for argument. We’re certain you’re here for another crystal that Lucia has located. We want it, and you will lead us to it.”

“Nic stays here with the woman,” Ashur said, nodding at Lady Sophia. “We’ll leave a guard behind to watch over them and make sure they cause no problems.”

“Speaking of guards,” Magnus said. “I have a few of my own, you know. They should be here any moment.”

Cleo eyed him, but stayed silent. He was bluffing. No guards had accompanied them from Auranos. They were on their own with no protection.

“Let them come,” Amara said. “I’ll offer them so much gold I can guarantee that they’ll give me no reason to spill any more blood tonight than necessary.”

Magnus’s expression grew dark, but he offered no rebuttal.

“Let’s move this along.” Ashur nodded at a guard.

The guard put the edge of his sword to Nic’s throat, and Cleo couldn’t hold back a shriek. “Don’t! Spare him, please.”

“You’ll take us to the crystal,” Ashur said.

She was about to speak, to tell them everything to save her friend, but Magnus spoke first.

“Very well. We’ll go at first light,” he said.

“No,” Ashur replied. “We’ll go now. All we need to know is where.”

Magnus gave him a look sharp enough to kill, but said nothing.

Amara nodded at the guard with Nic. “Cut his throat.”

“No, wait!” Cleo shrieked. “Don’t hurt him, please! The Temple of Valoria, that’s where the crystal is. But know that we have no guarantee that Lucia hasn’t already been there and claimed it.”

“It’s a chance we’re willing to take.” Ashur gestured toward the guard, who finally released Nic.

She had to speak, she had to tell them what they wanted to know. Nic’s life was worth more to her than one crystal.

“Then let’s be on our way.” Amara went to Magnus, reached up to grasp his chin, and pulled it down until he met her gaze. “Don’t underestimate what I’m willing to do to get what I want. And what I want is the Kindred—even one quarter of it will do for now. I will kill to get it. Do you understand me?”

“Oh, yes, princess,” he bit out through clenched teeth. “I understand you more than you know.”

Amara sent a poisonous look at Cleo. “See how much better it could have been if you’d embraced me as a friend?”

“I’d rather embrace a boil-covered pig,” Cleo replied. “Which would actually be a pleasant alternative to you.”

Amara laughed, then nodded at the guard holding Lady Sophia. “You stay. The rest of you, come with us. And Cleo, Magnus . . . if you behave yourselves, I may even let you live to see the sunrise.”





CHAPTER 30


JONAS

PAELSIA



Immediately after claiming the earth Kindred on behalf of the princess, Jonas, Lysandra, and Felix had set their sights on the next two.

Jonas hadn’t sent a message to Cleo yet. He wanted to have all three crystals in hand, to show her he was worthy of her trust.

He wasn’t entirely sure why proving himself to her mattered so much to him.

Claiming the air crystal at Chief Basilius’s abandoned compound had gone just as smoothly as at the claiming at the temple, even though the compound held memories just as painful. That was where the Paelsian slaves had risen up against the abusive Limerian guards, triggering a massacre just moments before a tornado had torn across the dusty land.

That was in the past now. Jonas knew he had to focus on the future.

Within the compound, dirt paths led off to a labyrinth of small stone cottages with the chief’s large villa in the center. They chose to draw the symbol in the clearing where the chief’s bonfires, feasts, and nightly entertainment had been held.

“I want to do it this time,” Felix had insisted.

He held the blade to his forearm, made a shallow slice, then flexed his arm out, allowing his blood to drip onto the cracked dry ground. He smeared it with his fingertips to create a spiral symbol, then stood up and wrapped his arm with a cloth.

Lysandra clutched Jonas’s shoulder as a breeze picked up, circling around them in a sudden whirlwind that made Jonas’s breath catch in his chest.

“Over there.” Lysandra pointed at the chief’s bonfire pit, which was now only a scorched circle in the center of the clearing.

A small sphere had appeared, sunlight glinting off its pearly-white surface.

Moonstone.

The air Kindred.

The sight of it alone was akin to the sweet taste of victory after so many bitter failures.