“The last prophecy was thwarted in part because of me.” Axel’s expression turns guarded as his eyes glow dark violet. “I broke one of my most sacred vows. I interfered in that which is considered strictly forbidden.”
A solemn hush descends on the room as everyone takes a moment to consider his words. But I’m focused on the words he failed to speak.
He’s one of us now.
His celestial pass, along with his celestial powers, have been revoked.
Which means there’s no one left to guide me.
No one left to step in and save us.
And, from what I’ve seen, no one should so much as attempt to spare me.
The Codex mimics the exact same story I read in the bones.
The glorious feather-crowned beast that dwells deep inside, is morphing into something else en
tirely.
Something wicked and foul.
Something capable of dark, malevolent deeds.
Everything I professed to believe just twelve hours ago has been flipped upside down.
Turns out, I’m not the man I thought I was destined to be.
Rather than a creature of light, the savior I imagined—I’m well on my way to becoming the very worst enemy mankind has yet seen.
When Shadow eclipses Sun—the Seer shall fall
It’s the takeaway line that says it all.
Somewhere within me stirs the darkness men fear. And it’s that very darkness that will eclipse the light of the world and cause Daire to fall.
The girl I’ve sworn to protect—the girl I’d give my very life for—I’m now destined to destroy.
The countdown has started.
It’s just a matter of time before my darkness is unleashed on the world.
Funny, how the last time I saw Cade he was unable to shift, yet now I’m destined to transform into something so heinous it’ll make his two-headed, snake-tongued beast resemble the punch line to a really bad joke.
Is it possible the beast that once lived inside him has found a new home in me?
One where it could flourish and grow and turn my light against me—against all of us?
“So what do we do now?” Auden asks. Those six simple words heralding the moment I’ve tried hard to avoid.
Hoped I could delay just a few minutes more.
It’s the reason I’ve been acting so sketchy and distant. I know exactly what comes next and I can’t bear to face it.
It may be inevitable, unavoidable, but it’s shredding my insides—pulverizing my heart. And worse, it’s turned me into the worst kind of liar.
Just this morning I swore to Daire that I would always be with her, would never leave her, that we’d get through this together—and now I’m about to break every vow.
Daire deserves better.