The light is almost blinding compared to the darkness of the halls. But when my eyes adjust, I see a simple golden throne on a marble dais. And in it sits Altair. A sob slips from my parted lips and I cover my mouth with a shaky hand. His hazel eyes dart towards me, wide with worry. He rises and holds a hand out towards me.
“Verity?” His voice echoes through the grand hall.
“Altair,” I whisper, rushing towards him.
I cover the distance in seconds, and he wraps his strong arms around me. “Verity, what’s wrong?” His voice is laced with worry and fear.
“I thought you were gone,” I whisper, trying to control my ragged breathing.
“No.” He strokes my hair gently as I lean into his chest. “No, I wouldn’t go without saying goodbye.”
I push him away from me, my fear giving way to anger. “Don’t do that to me!” I shout. “God, I- I was so scared, Altair.”
“I’m sorry.” His brows crumple.
Silence falls between us, hollow and loud in the massive room. I break my gaze with him and finally take in the space. Marble columns line the length of the room, the floor is inlaid with a detailed tile mosaic of a hawk. Altair perches on the armrest of the throne, watching me.
“What is this place?” I ask, my voice echoing through the room.
“My throne room,” he says, gesturing grandly. “I haven’t used it in years. This is where Maaz cursed me. I’ve kept it locked ever since. It seemed a fitting place to meet my end.” I stare at him. “Parallelism and all that.”
“Are you okay?” I ask softly, moving closer to him.
He reaches for me, trailing his fingers down my arm tenderly. And I remember his words. Everything. “I’m fine, Verity. But we should get you home soon.”
“I know where the portal is.” I clench my hands into fists, forcing the well of emotions back. “When it’s done, I’ll go. But I won’t go before.”
“You want to stay with me? Watch me waste away in a matter of seconds?” He cocks a brow. “Absolutely not.”
I drop my voice to a whisper. “You can’t decide what’s best for me, Altair.”
He chuckles. “In this case, I can, and I will.”
“No,” I say forcefully, crossing my arms.
“Verity,” Altair growls. “Don’t be stubborn. Please, just once, listen to me.”
I eye him. “Where is Navi?”
“Navi is performing her last watch. That was her wish,” Altair says stiffly.
I can picture her now, on the battlements, her sword in hand, standing proud and strong. “I wish I had gotten to know her better.”
“Perhaps it’s best that you didn’t,” Altair says as a smile tugs at his lips.
“Altair,” I say. I grab his hand tightly in mine, my gut coiled with nerves. “I have to tell you something. Ask you something. I don’t know.”
“What is it?” His brows furrow with concern.
But before I can speak, the doors at the opposite end of the hall slam open. They smash loudly against the walls, the sound echoing through the throne room. Fear courses through me as Maaz saunters into the room. She has a broom in her hand, a slight thing of pale wood. When she sees us on the throne, she grins broadly; a smile so wide it looks like a crocodile grinning at me. I shudder as she tosses her broom aside and stops at the foot of the dais.
“Hello, darling,” she says sweetly.
“Maaz,” Altair growls. He pushes me behind him protectively.
Her eyes glitter. “I’ve come to collect.”
“I’m afraid that you’re several hours too early, Maaz,” Altair snaps. “You grow so impatient just before the end. You’ve waited a thousand years, surely you can wait a few hours more.”
Maaz taps her chin, feigning thoughtfulness. “You always made such excellent points, Altair. Really, but I simply don’t see what another hour is to you. You’re dead anyway.”
“Not. Yet.” Altair stands taller.
Maaz sighs dramatically and turns her cold eyes on me. “I saw you at the ball. Sniffed out your Bloodbane blood a mile away.” She tosses her blonde hair over her shoulder. “If I had wanted to, I could have cut you down that night.”
I narrow my eyes at her. “Aren’t I lucky.”
Maaz laughs, tossing her head back. Suddenly, her laughter falls silent and she snaps her head back towards me. A chill curls down my spine. “You think you’re funny. Do you know who I am?”
“Maaz,” I say stiffly. “Leader of the Bloodbane.”
“Of which you are one,” she snaps.
“Not yet,” I breathe.
She pauses, her head cocked to the side. “What did you say?”
“I am not a Bloodbane yet,” I say, louder this time.
Maaz purses her lips and falls into a more relaxed stance. She picks at her nails. “It doesn’t matter now, does it? You’ve already lost, Altair. And I’ve won.”
Altair shakes his head as his hand reaches back to close over mine. “Not completely, Maaz.” He grins. “My heart belongs to another. Even in death, you can never have it.”
Maaz colors, her shoulders stiff. “As if I would want it, anymore. Now you’re weak,” she spits. “And I have no more time for you.”
I narrow my eyes at her words, suspicion tickling my mind. But Maaz puts a hand on her hip, surveying us. Altair releases my hand and clenches his own into fists at his sides. I can feel the anger rolling off of him in waves. But Maaz seems unbothered. Her eyes glitter.
“Altair,” I whisper as the realization hits me.
But it’s too late, Maaz flings the dagger that was strapped to her back at Altair. The metal sings as it tumbles through the air, silver and blinding. I scream, the sound shattering the silence.
