“It’s the prophecy, Daire … It just needed a little push to get started.”
“Cade forced the prophecy so he could put his plan into motion.” Paloma fights to keep her expression steady, but the grim look in her eyes betrays her worst fears.
“Maybe so,” I say, desperate to hang on to what I once thought was true. “But I was there, and I’m telling you it played out just like it read.”
“Nieta, the night you disappeared, the night the snow began to fall, the prophecy vanished from the Codex. Chay and I watched as the words lifted right off the page.”
“And now that you’re back, they’ve returned!” Lita jabs a thumb toward the office where Paloma keeps the ancient tome, wearing the excited, clued-in look of someone newly admitted to a clandestine club denied them too long. Clearly Paloma and Xotichl have filled her in on some of Enchantment’s more mystical secrets.
“And, what does it say?” I ask, voice weary, head spinning, trying to make sense of everything I’ve just learned.
“It’s…” Lita pauses, bites down on her lip, looks to Paloma and Xotichl to say what she’s unwilling to.
“It’s in transition,” Xotichl says. “Blurry and unclear. Which makes me think it’s malleable—possibly up to you to decide.”
I stare at them, speechless. All too aware that if what they say is true, if that wasn’t really the prophecy, then it’s quite possible that my perceived death didn’t actually serve to avert anything.
Which means …
“Where’s Dace?” My gaze moves among them—suddenly realizing that up until now, they’ve successfully avoided answering that very question. “Where’s Dace?” I leap from the couch, finding no comfort in the three sets of grief-stricken faces that meet mine. Voice shaking, I say, “Somebody better answer me quick, because I’m assuming the worst.” I look frantically between them. And it’s only a moment later when Paloma is beside me, lowering me back to the couch, and to my surprise, I allow it.
“No one has seen him, nieta.” Paloma clasps my hand between both of hers.
“No one? What about Chepi, Leftfoot, Chay?” I ask, knowing how stupid that sounds, I’m sure the elders have been in touch daily.
“No one has seen him since the night you disappeared.” Paloma’s voice is as gentle as her touch.
“And how long has that been? How long have I been gone?”
“A few days. You disappeared on Christmas Eve,” Xotichl says.
A few days. Not as long as I feared, but still longer than I’d hoped.
“And Cade?” My heart stops, refusing to beat until someone answers me. “Please tell me someone has seen him! The twins are connected, if Cade dies, Dace dies. But only if Cade is in human form. If he’s in demon form, then Dace can die without him—” The words sound jumbled, making sense only to me.
“Actually … someone might’ve seen him,” Lita says, causing Xotichl and Paloma to whirl on her in shock. “And, if it’s true, then apparently he’s spreading a rumor that Dace is dead.”
“Dace is not dead!” I say. “He can’t be!” But just after it’s out, I realize my gut instinct is my only real proof to back up my words. I pray it hasn’t failed me.
Xotichl whirls on Lita, looking as furious as she’s capable of being. “And you’re just now telling us this, because…”
Lita lifts her shoulders, blows her long, angled bangs out of her eyes. “It’s not like I’m the one who saw him. But I overhead Phyre talking about it at the Rabbit Hole. I didn’t mention it because I assumed she was just making it up to sound important, and I saw no use in upsetting you and Auden over what I was sure was just a rumor. Anyway, from what I could hear, she claims she ran into Cade a few days ago, and that’s what he told her. She said it’s the reason he’s been laying low. Despite the fact that he and Dace were never close, he’s surprised by how devastated he is over the loss. Says it must be something to do with the strange connection twins share … blah, blah, blah. Oh, and the whole time she was telling the story, she really played it up big. Doing her best to appear heartbroken, but I’m telling you right now it was a total fake out.” She shakes her head and scowls. Then seeing the way Paloma and Xotichl react to her words, she says, “What? I don’t see the point in beating around the bush. Daire’s the Seeker … a bit of a banged-up Seeker, but she’s still our only hope left. Lying to her is not going to benefit anyone. And the thing is, with Cade and Phyre both claiming that Dace is dead, doesn’t it make you wonder if they might be working together?”
“I don’t believe Dace is dead,” Xotichl says. “I don’t care what they say. I think I would’ve felt it.”
“I know I would’ve felt it,” I say, struggling to rise once again.
“Nieta, please.” Paloma tries to force me back onto the cushions as Lita shoots a dubious look toward my dress.
Oh, right. The dress.
With a firm but loving hand placed on each of my shoulders, Paloma looks at me and says, “Nieta, listen—I understand you’re upset, and you have every reason to feel the way you do. But the problem is, you’re acting on pure emotion and fear, and that will never lead to anything good. If you want to find Dace, if you want to help Dace, you’ll need to set your emotions aside long enough to take the proper steps to come up with a plan.”
“And what would those proper steps be?” I ask, surprised by the soothing effect of her touch, her voice, the undeniable wisdom she speaks.
“First you will use the time it takes me to prepare a proper poultice and a light meal, to rest your weary body and calm your frantic mind. Then, after you’ve eaten and I’ve tended to your wound, I will prepare some things for your trip.”
“My trip?” I look at her, having no idea what she’s referring to.