ArcKnight (The ArcKnight Chronicles #1)

Chapter Thirty-three

Lilliana

I stared at the growing fog swirling before me. I hadn't returned to Ephrem's apartment. Instead, with both talismans hanging from my neck, one ArcKnight, and one KelHan, I found myself making my way back to the forest. Back to Grayson. He had so much to answer for, and I was angry he'd withheld so much from me. My heritage and my entire existence.

"Grayson!" I stepped into the dense cover of mist, heart pounding in my ears, for I'd run the entire way from the ArcKnight palace to the edge of Temple. "I know what I am now," I called out into the woods. "You need to tell me why."

I waited, feeling the rush of cool air and moisture swirling around me, clinging to my clothes and exposed skin. I felt the rune on my hand grow in intensity underneath my leather glove. If I pulled it off now, it would surely be glowing brighter than the moonlight filtering through the canopy.

"Grayson!" I yelled out again.

"I knew you'd return."

I whirled around, startled by his sudden appearance.

"You knew. You knew I wasn't born into my pack, but yours. The KelHans."

Grayson's stoic face told me nothing. He dropped his eyes to the ground. "I'm sorry if the news is less than comforting, but there's also more to it." He peered back up again, but before he could continue, his eyes settled on my necklaces.

"Two talismans. One ArcKnight,"—he tilted his head, giving me a tiny smile—"... one KelHan." He fingered the KelHan talisman. "This one belonged to my sister. Did you know that?"

I reached up and grasped the pendant from his grip, feeling its pulse beneath the surface. "What do you mean?"

"My sister Malia sacrificed herself to save us. When she returns, she will be free of the curse that holds us. Most of my family has chosen to sleep, frozen in stone to await my sister's return. She was part witch and wove spells to keep us safe. Then she died, leaving me to endure immortality to await her return. My pack will rejoice to know our wait is over."

I stepped back. "What are you talking about?"

"My sister has been reincarnated. You are the exact duplicate of her, down to the rune glowing on your right hand. Reborn into this world free of the curse. Now you can ignite the path to freedom for our pack and release them all from their stone prisons so we may roam the earth again. It won't matter if it's day or night, we will be able to move and transform at will."

"I still don't understand. I'm not her." Was I? I could sense there was a spark of truth in what he was saying, for his words stirred something inside my marrow and dislodged old memories from the back of my mind.

"You are Malia, my sister," Grayson said. The corners of his lips upturned, and he reached out toward me. "You've been reborn and must prepare to lead us as we seek our revenge. We will have our vengeance against the MarkTiers. You made it all possible."

I continued to shake my head, baffled by his words. "I would never go against the MarkTiers. Ephrem is a MarkTier. We're engaged."

"You will do it. You are bound by blood to do so. But first, you will free our pack." He reached into the pocket of his jeans and pulled out an old, rusted key.

"How am I supposed to do that?"

He gave his head a small tilt, smiling with amusement. I bet he was enjoying my confusion; I could see it in his face.

"Come with me, and we will save our people and claim our vengeance."

My talismans hummed against my skin. I clutched them in my hand, wondering if they were going to explode with the amount of energy they were emitting. Peering down to my chest, I saw that both had melted together. Two stones, side by side, surrounded by the platinum encasement. I didn't know what it meant. One had been MarkTier, turned ArcKnight when Ephrem gave it to me, and one was KelHan, but both were mine. Since both were bonded to me, Ephrem's was mine more than his now. Just as my own ArcKnight talisman was now more his than mine.