Alex shook her head, not knowing how else to respond. She’d done everything she could to explain the situation to the elders, including telling them that the Dayriders were willing to ally themselves with the humans provided that the Shadow Walkers did so, too. All she could do now was wait. And hope.
‘Whatever happens, kitten, you’ve done all you possibly can. It’s out of your hands now.’ That was what Niyx had told Alex when she’d checked in with him after her fight, sharing the result and apologising for the wounds she wouldn’t be able to treat until she returned to the academy. He hadn’t cared about his mirrored injuries—he’d been more worried about her. But he also hadn’t been as surprised as she that she’d actually won her fight, and she’d felt his pride clearly through their bond.
“Maybe it’s good they’re taking their time,” Bear said, tapping his foot nervously from his seated position. “For all we know, they’re coming up with some kind of strategy as we speak.”
Alex was grateful for Bear’s optimism, especially since she was struggling to maintain her own.
“I hope you’re right,” Alex said quietly, only stopping her pacing when Soraya moved closer and pressed her furry head into Alex’s abdomen. Looking down at her faithful companion, Alex couldn’t resist a smile, grateful for the comfort the wolf somehow sensed she needed.
“I still can’t believe how kickass you were down there,” Bear said, wonder clear in his tone. “I’ve never seen anything like that. You and Trell…” He trailed off, shaking his head in amazement.
Jordan nodded. “Definitely epic.”
“You’ll have to teach me some of your moves,” D.C. said. Seeing the looks on Jordan and Bear’s faces, she amended, “You’ll have to teach all of us.”
Alex managed a half smile at the idea of subjecting her three friends to even a fraction of what Niyx put her through. “I’m not sure you’d say that if you knew what that teaching would involve.”
D.C. grimaced, perhaps realising Alex was right. “I guess our lack of Meyarin blood would be somewhat… limiting.”
Alex did have an advantage on that front and her friends knew as much, so there was no need for any of them to say more.
“They’d better get a move on,” Jordan said, pulling out his ComTCD and checking the time—as he had done repeatedly that afternoon. “I’m starving.”
Alex found it in her to roll her eyes. “I can take you back to the academy at any time, you know. Just say the word.”
“And leave you here? I’d sooner starve.”
Alex knew that was saying a lot from her food-loving friend, but before she could thank him or promise them all she’d be fine on her own, Caspar Lennox and Shirez shadowed back onto their balcony.
“The elders have made their decision,” her teacher said. “Come, Alexandra.”
Leaving her friends and her wolf behind—since, as Niyx had warned, the elders weren’t pleased that more humans had been brought to Graevale, and they were even less pleased upon discovering that Alex had adopted a ‘tainted’ Shadow Wolf—Alex followed Caspar Lennox and Shirez down to the cathedral floor and then back up the private staircase to the elders’ balcony. She couldn’t figure out why sometimes they walked normally and sometimes they shadow-travelled, but she had more important things to be worrying about than transportation decisions.
Stepping once more before the elders, Alex’s heart pounded as she waited to hear what they would say.
“We have considered your warnings carefully, human,” Radek said, his fingers steepled under his chin. “And while we appreciate that you believe them to be dire, we, however, do not.”
Alex’s vision blurred as disbelief—and despair—overwhelmed her.
“Humans are such an overly dramatic race,” Azalia said with a sniff of her nose. “And you, in particular, seem excessively guilty of such a trait.”
Alex’s voice was low and harsh when she hissed, “Are you kidding me?”
Azalia raised an eyebrow. “Careful, human. Remember where you are and to whom you speak.”
“I know exactly where I am.” Alex’s tone simmered with rage. “And you”—she jabbed a finger towards the elders—“need to set aside your prideful arrogance and start taking me seriously.”
“How dare you!” Azalia demanded, her eyes slitted.
“I dare because someone freaking has to!” Alex all but shrieked. “Do you have any idea—any idea—” She broke off mid-sentence and sucked in an emotion-clogged breath. Then another.
When she spoke again, it was to tell the elders something she hadn’t shared with anyone. Not her friends. Not even Niyx. It was something she’d buried deep within her mind—something that, from what Alex could tell, involved the Shadow Walkers.
She’d known the truth from the moment she’d first arrived outside Graevale and seen the city, split in half, day and night. She’d deliberately ignored how obvious the signs were. Instead, she’d focused on her mission, attempting to get the races from both sides of the city on board with her plans, using logic, caution and sound reasoning to sway them.
Her mission had failed. Which meant she now needed to share everything, human dramatics be damned.
In a ragged whisper, Alex said, “There’s a prophecy about me.” She lifted her chin and met their eyes. “And about you.”
Radek’s scarred brow shot up, making him appear more quizzical than normal. “A prophecy?”
“It was shared with me by a Tia Auran,” Alex went on, her voice wobbling slightly with nerves, “written on an ancient piece of parchment with a full translation. And when I showed it to Roka—Prince Roka Dalmarta of Meya—he said he’d heard it recited before, long ago, also from the lips of a Tia Auran but in their native tongue.”
For a second, Alex wondered if perhaps Lady Mystique had been the one to share it with Roka as well, before realising that it hardly mattered right now.
Eyes still narrowed from earlier, Azalia said, “What is this prophecy of which you speak?”
Alex licked her lips and recited the words burned into her brain. “When Day and Night combine and fight against one Enemy, then Dark and Light shall meet mid-strike and set the Captives free.”
Silence descended as the elders processed her words, likely coming to the same conclusion as she.
“Day and Night,” Saber said pensively. “You believe this to mean us?”
Alex nodded slowly. “You and the Dayriders.”
She chanced a glance towards Caspar Lennox and Shirez only to discover their eyes wide and their mottled-grey faces sickly pale.
“And this ‘Enemy’,” Saber continued, “I presume you take it to mean Aven?”
“Yes,” Alex confirmed. “And the ‘Captives’ being those he has Claimed.”
“What about the rest?” Radek asked.
This time Alex shook her head. “From what I know of prophecies,”—all of which was from fantasy books and movies, but they didn’t need to know that—“they’re usually open to interpretation. So I’m not sure what the ‘Dark and Light’ part means. But if I had to wager a guess, since it mentions ‘mid-strike’, then maybe…”