Evander gives her a strange look before returning his attention back to the room.
Kiran shakes his head. “I still don’t think she’d do it. Not again. Not after she sacrificed so much to close it.”
Blaise addresses Kiran. “Why do you think that?”
Kiran levels a stare at Blaise, one of mutual understanding. “She’s managed to lock her past, the part of her she’s ashamed of, behind the Fabric, in a totally different realm. Something tells me, if we could all lock away our pasts like that, we wouldn’t be keen on setting them free.”
Blaise shudders under Kiran’s assessing gaze, at the sheer vulnerability behind his words.
My heart gives a gentle tug toward my husband, and my hand finds its place in his.
“I don’t know how to explain it,” Blaise whispers to the room. “I just know in here,” she closes a fist and places it on her gut, “that I’m right about this. We have to stop her.”
Kiran shifts in his chair, his hand grasping tighter around mine. It’s in that moment that, sound as Kiran’s logic might be, I recognize why he’s so unwilling to admit that the Rip might be at risk of opening.
Because if it is, I’m the only person we know other than Piper who could possibly close it.
“I’m sorry, Blaise, but it’s my gut I trust, not yours,” Kiran says.
“Do you have a better theory about where the queen has taken my wife?” Marcus hisses through gritted teeth.
Kiran pales at the man’s anguish, his jaw set and his throat bobbing. “What exactly is it that Piper is Gifted with? Perhaps that could provide us with some answers.”
“She can play songs that call out to children who are hurting,” offers the little girl. “And she can drown people in floating pools of water.”
Those who don’t know Piper all exchange questioning looks.
“Kiran,” I say, murmuring to him under my breath, “I don’t think we can deny that Abra is taking Piper to the Rip. We don’t have another explanation that makes sense.”
Kiran tenses beside me, losing his grip on his hidden power for a moment. Dread, so potent it’s almost crippling, leaks out from him and into my skin.
Horror at what he just did overcomes his face, but I stroke his arm, a silent reminder that I don’t blame him for it.
“It’s not enough evidence for me,” says Kiran.
Lydia places a hand on her hip. “Kiran, you can’t possibly be saying we should do nothing, given Abra’s move against us?”
Kiran levels a glare at his sister. “You spent time with Piper. Do you think she’d betray the world by opening the Rip?”
Lydia scowls. “I hardly see how that’s relevant.”
“Of course she wouldn’t open the Rip,” says Marcus. “But if you think that means she deserves to be abandoned, just because we have confidence she won’t betray us, I have to say I’m rather unimpressed by the King of Naenden. I guess you live up to your reputation, don’t you?”
I expect heat to come rushing out of Kiran’s hand, but that’s not at all what I find.
There’s no amount of anger that can drown out the crippling fear.
“I’m not saying we do nothing,” says Kiran. “Between Naenden and Dwellen, we have plenty of resources to send after Piper.”
“You just don’t want Asha going,” Blaise says, her voice warbling from across the room.
“Blaise,” I hiss in warning, but she doesn’t back down.
“This is bigger than any of us. Can’t you see that? You weren’t there, with Abra. You didn’t see what I saw. You can’t just ignore away the problem until it doesn’t exist. Trust me, I would know. Asha,” Blaise says, looking at me, “I know you understand. You’re the only one who can ensure that Rip stays closed. I would go with you, I would—”
Kiran scoffs. “You almost tried to eat her, Blaise.”
“Just don’t let him control you like that,” Blaise whispers. “Please.”
Kiran’s face flashes with something that almost looks like hurt.
I stand, letting go of Kiran’s hand. “Thank you for your input, Blaise. But this decision is between me and Kiran, and frankly, I don’t remember you being part of our marriage.”
Blaise’s face goes pale, and something like fury and desperation flickers behind her eyes.
“Piper is a decent person. One worth saving,” is all Lydia says, directing her gaze at Kiran.
“I could go,” Evander pipes up, Ellie squeezing his hand. “Lydia, Elias, Blaise. If we hurry, we might be able to intercept the queen before she reaches the Rip, assuming Piper is putting up a fight.”
“Oh, I imagine she is,” Marcus says, something like adoration mingled with exasperation in his voice.
“It’s not going to be enough,” Blaise whispers. Then she turns from the library, slipping out of the oak doors.
She’s right, my magic whispers to me. It’s not going to be enough.
CHAPTER 18
ELLIE
