Still, there were doubts rising within her. “You make great promises, but you show me nothing tangible.”
The fire blazed higher, and she jumped back. “There are others I can go to, others who would agree to whatever I ask for without hesitation. Yet I chose you because I can clearly see that you are greater than all of them combined. You have taken your power with strength and intelligence beyond that of any man who’s ever existed. You are better, stronger, smarter than your enemies and more deserving of greatness than the sorceress.”
Amara’s cheeks flushed. His words felt like a healing balm for her bruised hope for the future. “Tell me more. Tell me how to release the magical being within the water Kindred to help me solidify my reign as empress.”
He didn’t speak again for a moment, and she searched the flames for his face. It flickered in and out of view as the fire burned. It seemed that the fire god could appear and reappear at will. “Blood and magic. That is what you need—what we both need. The blood of the sorceress and the magic of a powerful witch. When the pieces are in place, I will be restored to my former glory, and you, little empress, will become infinitely powerful.”
A shiver of pleasure coursed down her spine as she stared into the flames. “What do I need to do?”
“The correct question is: Where do you need to go?”
She drew in a breath and nodded. “Where?”
The flames shifted, the shades of reds and oranges, whites and blues growing brighter and more vibrant as they did.
“Paelsia.”
CHAPTER 10
LUCIA
THE SANCTUARY
Lucia learned that the tower where Timotheus resided was called the Crystal Palace. At one time it had housed all six original elders. Now he was the only one left.
“It must be lonely,” Lucia mused, half to herself. “Being here all by yourself with the burden of all of these secrets.”
“It is,” he replied, but when Lucia looked up to meet his gaze, he had already glanced away.
“I want to see Melenia’s chambers.”
“Why?”
“Because . . .” She thought about how to rationalize the need to see where her enemy, the woman who had plotted her death since before Lucia had even been born, had spent her existence. “I just need to see it.”
She thought he’d argue, but instead he nodded. “Very well. Follow me.”
Timotheus led her to a long corridor with doors that opened on their own as they approached and shut softly behind them as they continued down the hall. Lucia traced the white walls with her fingertips. She could feel Timotheus’s eyes on her as they walked.
“You have questions, many questions,” he said.
“A lifetime of them,” she agreed.
“I can’t tell you everything, Lucia. While it’s true that you’ve reached out a hand in friendship today—”
“You still don’t trust me,” she cut him off. “I know.”
“It’s not that. Not entirely, anyway. So many secrets have died with the other elders, and now that I’m the only one remaining, these secrets are one of the few weapons I have left to protect myself.”
“I understand,” she told him. “I really do.”
He frowned at her. “How is it you’ve managed to mature so much in so little time?”
She almost laughed. “Don’t sound so confused by that.”
“The new life growing within you must have made all the difference in helping to change the childish, spoiled behavior and previous tantrums I’m more accustomed to with you.”
“Timotheus, such compliments. They will go to my head.”
He let out a soft snort of amusement as they approached a set of gleaming golden doors. Timotheus pushed them open to reveal Melenia’s chambers.
Lucia gaped at the sight of the expansive room, the same size as the one in which she’d met with Timotheus. But that room was stark and barren of any personal touches. This one was just the opposite.
It felt like walking into the chambers of a queen in the finest palace. There was a regal seating area in the center of the room with soft white velvet lounges. Overhead a crystal chandelier sparkled, catching the light streaming in from the floor-to-ceiling windows lining the room. Lucia looked down as she walked, taking in the intricate floor made of silver and inlaid jewels.
There were flowers in every color imaginable, as fresh as if they were picked that day. They peeked out from a dozen large vases placed upon glass tables throughout the room.
Lucia walked past all of this grandeur to the far wall. It was overlaid with a checkerboard pattern of silver and glass. Etched into the silver tiles were the elemental symbols—a simple spiral for air, a triangle for fire, a circle within a circle for earth, and two parallel wavy lines for water.
“A shrine,” Timotheus explained. “Many immortals have one in their homes so they can pray to the elements.”
“I’ve heard that some old witches do the same,” Lucia mused, brushing her fingertips over the symbol for fire.
“Not exactly the same,” he said. “But similar.”
“Melenia prayed here to Kyan, wanting him to return to her.”