Blood of Two Crowns (Hallowed Fates #2)

Chapter 38

Chapter

Thirty-Eight

MAREINA

W hy am I standing in a field of… Crystals? Despite being utterly fucking stumped, I felt calm. A single moon hung in the dark, clear sky above me. Forests stretched wide on either side of this clearing boasting rows of thousands of slender, jagged crystals sticking out of the ground and rising about eight feet into the air. Varying in color, some were white, pale blue, or pink and purple. What’s even more bizarre is the fact I felt called to touch every single one of them.

Just as I approached one of them, I felt a great presence at my back, and a dark, smooth, velvety voice stopped me in my tracks.

“Mareina…”

I turn to face Somnus, and am surprised not by his likeness to my father, or the fact I feel like we’ve met before, but instead the blood splatter across his face, bare chest, and wings.

He also looked fucking exhausted.

“ Akash almighty. Are you alright?”

Somnus glanced down at himself when my eyes scanned over his bloody form. He grunts in acknowledgement, willing away the blood, replacing it with a fresh set of clothes. “Sorry… My mind is elsewhere...”

I got the impression he meant literally.

“… But I created these for you,” he continues, gesturing at the crystals. “They contain your memories.”

I open my mouth to ask the obvious, but he waves my obvious questions away. “It would probably just confuse you if I tried to explain everything myself, but I will suggest that you start with that one...”

I shift to follow his line of vision to find a glowing red and black crystal.

“It’s not a perfect method, but it’s the best I could do without potentially fracturing your entire psyche.”

Which was inarguably the most fragile part of me.

Intuition told me I owe this male a great deal of gratitude, though I couldn’t even begin to fathom just how much.

“I’m not sure what to say other than I feel like I need to say thank you?”

My uncle gives me a sad smile. “Not exactly... but you’ll see soon enough. I’m sorry to say that I won’t be here by the time you finish.” He throws a cursory glance at all the towering crystals. It looks like I’ll be here interminably. “Don’t worry about how long it takes you. Everything you need is here. And most importantly, you’re safe.”

Safe…

The word triggered something within me, and for a fleeting moment, I was standing in front of Ataraxus, his cold features gifting me a warm smile as his thumb stroked my cheek.

The vision was gone in the blink of an eye. Still standing in this field of crystals, Somnus’ mouth tipped up in a soft, knowing smile.

“Who is he?”

“You already know that answer, Mareina... Just remember, when you reach Nakoa and Malekai, make sure that you take Ataraxus back to Bellorum with you.”

My lips part as the idea of going back to Avernus with Ataraxus filled me with a glimmer of hope.

“When you wake up, your soulbound and their army will likely arrive soon after.”

My breath caught as my heart nearly leapt out of my throat. Before I could muster a response, Somnus was gone.

My mind reeled, reaching out with frantic hands to latch onto something that wasn’t there.

As if with urgency, the red and black crystal glowed brighter. My heart pounded a frantic rhythm in my chest as I pressed my hand to the crystal. The world around me shifted, and suddenly, I was standing in Azrael’s study, watching myself sip tea beside... Asterion? I round the lounge chair to see Azrael sitting across from us, wearing a sad smile.

“… There are faster ways to kill me, you know.”