Chapter 173
“I refuse to accept that we’re never leaving this place,” Cora says, her voice sharp and unyielding. “It’s madness. We came to Ao in good faith.”
The mysterious woman’s laugh echoes from where she stands near the window, her indigo hair floating in disarray around her shoulders. It’s a bitter sound, laced with despair and tinged with an unsettling sharpness that hints at something unhinged.
Her gaze remains fixed on the distant colosseum as she speaks, her tone dripping with derision. “There is no goodness in Ao,” she says flatly. “And there is certainly no faith. The Dawn King saw to that.”
Cora’s expression darkens, and her hands drop to her sides, clenched into fists. “You keep talking in riddles,” she snaps, her voice rising. “What are you trying to say?”
The woman doesn’t react immediately, her focus unwavering as if we’re nothing more than a passing annoyance. I step forward, cutting off Cora’s mounting frustration. My patience is already frayed, and these vague, coy answers are doing nothing to help. “Enough,” I say, my tone sharper than I intended. “If you’re not going to help, then I’ll find my own way out of here.”
The woman finally turns to face me, her copper-and-rose-gold scales shimmering faintly in the dim light. Her expression is one of cold amusement, though her eyes betray a deep, lingering pain. “And how do you intend to do that?” she asks, her voice dripping with skepticism.
I lift my chin, refusing to be intimidated. “I’m going to etherwalk to Wake,” I say firmly. “If he’s in this city, I’ll find him.”
The woman’s laugh is softer this time, almost pitying, as though she’s heard this all before. “It will not work,” she says, shaking her head. “The Dawn King won’t allow it.”
Her certainty sends a ripple of unease through me. Something about the way she speaks, the calm finality in her tone, makes my skin prickle. I’ve been wary of her from the moment she appeared, but now that wariness deepens into something closer to distrust. Still, I push the feeling aside.
“I wasn’t raised with all of this,” I say, gesturing vaguely at the room and the city visible through the barred windows. “I’m still learning what it means to be Enkian, but one thing I know with every ounce of my being is that Wake and I are connected. If my mate is here, I’ll find him. Nothing—not the Dawn King or anyone else—can stop that.”
The woman’s expression shifts slightly, a flicker of something dark and pained crossing her face. Her voice drops to a low, almost reverent tone. “What a blessing it is to find your mate,” she says softly. “To be in love.”
Her tone hardens abruptly, her face twisting with fury. “But blessings are lies,” she snarls, her voice rising. “And so are the gods.”
Her words hit like a stone sinking through water. I take an involuntary step back as she moves toward the window, her movements jerky and erratic. Her fists slam against the bars with startling force, the vibrations reverberating through the room. “It’s all lies!” she screams, her voice raw and wild. She strikes the window again and again, her rage spilling out uncontrollably, each blow more frantic than the last.
“Hey, wait,” I say, stepping toward her cautiously, my concern beginning to outweigh my unease. “Are you… okay?”
Before I can get closer, Cora’s hand grips my arm firmly, pulling me back. Her eyes are locked on the woman, her expression resolute and composed in a way that feels unshakable. “Let me handle this,” she says, her voice calm but commanding.
I hesitate, torn between wanting to help and trusting Cora’s instincts. Finally, I nod and step back, giving her space to act. The woman’s hysterical screams fill the room, echoing off the walls and creating a cacophony that makes the enclosed space feel even smaller. Cora moves toward her with deliberate calm, her every motion radiating reassurance. She reaches out slowly, her arms extending with gentle precision, and wraps them around the woman in a bear hug.
The woman struggles at first, her movements frantic and desperate as she tries to break free. Her indigo hair swirls chaotically in the water, and her copper-and-rose-gold scales shimmer with every erratic motion. But Cora doesn’t let go. She holds on tightly, her voice soft and soothing as she murmurs words I can’t quite make out.
“Shh,” Cora whispers, her tone steady and comforting despite the chaos. “You’re not alone. It’s okay.”
Gradually, the woman’s struggles weaken, her sobs slowing as exhaustion takes over. Her body goes limp in Cora’s arms, and she collapses against her, the raw energy of her outburst spent. The room falls silent except for the sound of the woman’s quiet weeping and the faint hum of water currents beyond the walls.
The raw emotion in the room is overwhelming, and I feel my back press against the cold wall as I slide down to the floor. My knees pull up to my chest as I watch the scene unfold, my own emotions threatening to spill over. A single tear escapes, and I wipe it away quickly, frustrated by my inability to do more.
The woman’s cries taper off into soft, uneven breaths as Cora continues to hold her, her presence a steady anchor in the storm. I’ve always admired Cora’s strength, but watching her now, cradling this broken stranger with such care, I feel an even deeper respect. It’s a reminder of why I’ve trusted her so implicitly through all of this.
Taking a deep, steadying breath, I close my eyes and reach inward, letting myself fall into the ether. I push past the fear, the anger, and the exhaustion, focusing on the one thing that grounds me: Wake. If he’s here, I’ll find him. I have to.
Log in with Google Account
Chapters
Favorite
Settings
