>>Ariston
I stood over Aelin's unconscious body, sword still raised, every part of me screaming to run him through for what he did.
But the fire in me faltered, just a little.
Because he was right about one thing.
I had wanted answers for as long as I could remember.
And now, finally, he was ready to give them.
"Fine-" I lowered my sword. Not because I trusted him, but because I wanted to.
Because he was Rael. My father, in every way but blood.
And then I saw it.
The cut I'd landed, clean across his ribs, had begun to bleed. It was a slight cut, one I didn't realize pierced through the skin but it did.
But the blood… wasn't red.
It was black.
!!!
Thick. Ink-dark. Viscous.
My breath caught in my throat. My voice came out in a whisper, drenched in dread.
"Your blood… it's, "
Rael glanced down, then clicked his tongue like I'd spilled water on his boots.
"You weren't supposed to see that."
My legs felt cold. My pulse dropped.
