Gathering Darkness (Falling Kingdoms 3)

“His name is Alexius,” Cleo said.

“That’s right.”

“That’s the same name as the Watcher you told me about.” Lucia spun back around, and Cleo held her gaze unflinchingly. Lucia’s heart began to pound, hard and fast. “It appears that he’s real, and not just a dream,” Cleo finished.

Lucia grabbed Cleo’s arm and pulled her into the room. She’d entrusted Cleo with that secret in a moment of weakness, never thinking that Alexius would actually appear. “I shouldn’t have told you about him.”

“Don’t worry.” Cleo’s smile was calm as she reached down to take Lucia’s hand. Immediately, a sense of serenity spread through her. “I won’t tell anyone else. I swear it.”

Lucia searched Cleo’s face and found only sincerity. “Good.”

Alexius now approached the two girls. “Will you introduce us?” he asked Lucia.

“Of course.” Lucia hastened to find her manners. “Alexius, this is Princess Cleiona—Cleo—my brother’s wife. Cleo, this is Alexius.”

Cleo gave him a sweet smile and extended her hand. “It’s lovely to meet you.”

“And you as well.” Alexius took Cleo’s hand and frowned down at it.

It charmed Lucia to see this, an ancient boy seemingly uncertain of how he should greet an unfamiliar princess.

“Is everything all right?” Cleo asked after a moment, when Alexius didn’t release his grasp.

His frown only deepened. “It’s just . . . your ring.” His quizzical gaze snapped up to hers.

Cleo yanked her hand away and tucked it behind her back. “I should go. I didn’t mean to bother you.”

Lucia watched the pair with confusion. “Her ring? What are you talking about?”

Alexius continued to stare at Cleo. “How did you get that? Where did you find it?”

“I don’t know what you’re talking about. This is my mother’s ring, passed down through generations. It’s a family heirloom.”

“Of course,” Alexius murmured, as if speaking to himself. “It’s all a matter of destiny, isn’t it? You’re here. Lucia is here. Melenia had to have known this already, I’m sure of it. But I didn’t.”

“Anyway,” Cleo interrupted, a cool smile on her lips. “I must be going. Have a lovely day.”

She turned for the door and opened it slightly, but Alexius darted in front of her to block her way. He shut the door and flipped the lock. “Not so fast, princess,” he said.

“Explain yourself right now, Alexius,” Lucia demanded, shocked by his unexpected rudeness. “What about Cleo’s ring has you acting so strangely all of a sudden?”

His gaze shot to hers and he took a deep breath as he rubbed his chest again, as if the golden mark on his flesh caused him deep discomfort. Slowly, he gained authority over his expression.

“Eva once possessed a ring that helped control her overabundance of magic. The ring is said to have been created from pure elementia, drawn from the Kindred themselves. As such, it allowed her direct contact with the Kindred without any ill effects. But after her death, the ring was lost.” He glanced at Cleo, who still had her hands tucked behind her back. “And yet, here it is now. Resting on the hand of your brother’s wife.”

CHAPTER 20

CLEO

AURANOS

Cleo was reminded of how she’d felt when she’d stood up on the dais next to the execution stage as the detonations went off, causing bright, fiery plumes to rise up before her eyes.

Her world was exploding all around her.

She fought with every last ounce of strength to remain impassive in the face of the Watcher’s revelations.

He knew. There would be no denying this, no way to get out of this situation unscathed. She’d reached the end of the road.