t close to Alex's ear. The sound was sharp, pie

uillan said, moving a small candle b

rong and steady under Quillan's fingers. His skin color w

rowed in confusion. He looked at h

ked, his patien

ur mind is clear, and your spiritual field is completely stable. There are no signs of frostbite-induced delirium, no traces of hallu

y. "So I am not poisoned. I am

confirmed. "Whatever touched this place tonight... it

me," Al

kly, looking relieved to be away

ng down to sleep, the fire crackling weakly. But Alex wasn't lo

as intact. The golden light was

ual changes. It wasn't a personal hallucination, because the physician said his mind was sound. And it wasn

n. A deliberate, targeted intervention by a being of imme

she died, about the ancient pacts between the royal bloodline and the gods.

as the one be

hand, hovering it over the stone. He could feel

s barely audible over the snoring of his men. "Why are you hel

d outside, but inside the restored walls

didn't chat with mortals. They se

s face. It wasn't a smile of joy

h a thought-he could accelerate his plans dramatically. This was a powerful ally, but it could also be a fickle master. Before he could truly wield this power, he had to understand it. Every move now had to

And like all weapons, he n

iny apartment in Boston, an

ed her face in her pillow, the remnants of a dream

ed her phone. A notificat

sage from

pped i

one? Well, my manager just fired the other cashier. I mentioned you have a history degree

a grin spreading ac

he practically danced to the bathroom, squeezing toothpaste onto h

y to Audrey. I'll be the

ight and energetic. She grabbed her bag, bu

ing closed on the couch. She b

logged into Aeth

zy now, the fire burning brightly. And there, sleeping near the fire, was her

her chest. She felt a strange sense of owners

she murmured, closing the lapt