Nic shrugged. When I was a kid, I remember reading a story that was very similar. But there are thousands of legends that arent true.

The Watchers are a legend thats true, Jonas pointed out.

Yes, and its possible that this phoenix tale could be the same. He noticed Jonas still scratching his chest. Do you have a rash?

Jonas grimaced. No. I guess this long journey to Mytica is making me itchy with impatience. He paused. Listen, you know Prince Ashur better than any of us. Right?

Well, Ive known him longer, Nic allowed.

I need to know more about his plans. If he sees you as a friend, hell trust you. You need to uncover the truth about why hes not simply marching up to his evil sister and taking his rightful place as emperor.

I can tell you why. Because Amara would try to kill him again. Besides . . . I dont think he wants to be interrupted when hes meditating.

Just the word meditating raised Jonass hackles. That was what Chief Basilius claimed to be doing when he believed himself to be a prophesied sorcerer who would save the world.

Hed been certain the chiefs belief had to do with Princess Lucias prophecy, but perhaps this phoenix legend had further reach into Paelsia.

Talk to Ashur, Jonas said. Seek his guidance. Rekindle your friendship.

You mean you want me to spy on him for you.

Yes, exactly.

Nic let out a long, shaky sigh.

Jonas frowned. Unless theres some reason why youd rather keep avoiding him. Is there something I need to know?

No, no, Nic said, perhaps a bit too quickly, Jonas thought. Ill go now, see what hes up to. You can depend on me, Jonas. Whatever I have to do to ensure Cleos safety, Ill do it.

Jonas nodded. Glad to hear it.

He watched as Nic nodded and left, his steps tentative at first but growing more purposeful as he disappeared around a corner.

Somethings up with those two, said Felix, sidling up behind Jonas. I dont know what it is, but Ill figure it out.

The sour scent of seasickness hit Jonas like a slap, and instinctively he covered his nose with his sleeve and glared at his friend.

You stink, he said.

Felix shrugged. Sorry.

Do you mean youll figure out whats going on between Nic and Ashur?

Yeah.

Friendships can be confusing"especially when they involve royals.

Wouldnt know. Never been friendly with a royal before.

What about Amara? Jonas regretted his question the moment it left his lips. A stony look crept over Felixs face, obliterating anything soft or lighthearted. Apologies. Forget that I mentioned her.

Wish I could forget her. A muscle in Felixs right cheek twitched. He stroked his eye patch as his good eye glazed over with deep thoughtfulness.

It was that same unsettling, blank look again, one Jonas had seen several times on his friends face. It was the look Felix got just before he killed someone.

Olivia had healed Felixs superficial wounds, but some injuries went deeper than skin and bone.

The young man Jonas had found in that dark dungeon was not the Felix he remembered. When he was rescued, there was relief in his gaze, but there was also a deep anguish there. And that anguish remained to this day.

If youre worried I still have a soft spot for her, Felix finally said, dont be. Ill be happy to tear her apart with my bare hands if I get the chance.

Jonas put his hand on Felixs shoulder. Youll get your vengeance.

Felix laughed humorlessly. Yeah, thats the plan. If I can get her, then get this fire bastard too, well . . . thats all I could hope for in what remains of this pathetic life of mine.

Kyan is dangerous. Jonas hadnt figured out how exactly to deal with the fire god yet. In fact, he had yet to fully come to terms with the idea of a Kindred transfigured into flesh and blood.

Yeah? So am I. Felix cracked his knuckles. All I need is a few moments with him. If he looks like a man, walks and talks like a man, he might have a heart like a man that I can rip right out of his chest.

Youll be killed before you have the chance to lay a finger on him.

Then Ill be happy to meet up with Lys in the everafter much sooner than I thought.

Jonas surprised himself by letting out a snort at that, which earned him a sharp, searing look from Felix. Shed be surprised to know how much you cared about her.

I didnt just care about Lys. I loved her.

Sure you did. What happened to Lysandra was still an open wound to him. Even her name spoken by someone else made him flinch. You barely knew her.

I know how I felt. You dont believe me?

Jonas knew it would be best not to lose his composure by engaging in an argument about Lys, but he feared he was too close to the edge to control himself. If you really loved her, perhaps you should have been there to help protect her.

Felix narrowed his eye, making his glare even more menacing. You dont want to start this with me right now.

Perhaps I do. After all, you suddenly claim that you were in love with her. Jonas stared at him for a long, silent moment, his forehead growing hot. But Im the one who had to stand there and watch her die.

Yeah, you watched her die. If shed been with me instead of you I know shed still be alive. Felix took one threatening step closer, and then Jonas saw his gaze go blank like the skilled assassin he was.

Jonas wasnt afraid, though. This conversation had quickly made outrage flare up within him. True love, huh? Were you thinking about Lys while bedding Amara? Or was it only after you heard she was dead?

He saw Felixs fist only after it had already connected with his nose. He heard a crunching sound, felt a wash of pain, and then a rush of hot blood trickling down his face.

You know what the worst thing is? Its that Lys didnt love me, she loved you, Felix snarled, and you let her die, you useless shit.

The splitting pain of his broken nose"of Felixs accusations, of the memory of Lyss final horrific moments"hit Jonas like a cannonball to his gut. Rather than drop to his knees in the face of this pain, he clenched his fists and threw a glare of sheer hatred at his accuser for making everything more painful than it already was.

All of a sudden, without Jonas making a single move, Felix gasped. His smug look vanished, and then"as if an invisible giant had scooped him up off the ships wooden deck and tossed him like a rag doll"he flew backward twenty paces. Felix had to grab onto the railing to keep from falling off the side of the ship and into the sea.

What the hell"? Tarans voice called out from behind Jonas. What just happened?

Jonas couldnt find the words to reply. He could only look down at his tightly clenched fists. In the fading light of dusk, he realized with stunned disbelief that they were glowing.

He turned to Taran with wide eyes. Taran, his sword held loosely at his side, stared at Felix, slack-jawed.

He hadnt noticed Jonass glowing fists.

Felix gingerly pushed himself up from the deck, his attention fixed on Jonas, a thousand unspoken questions harbored within his confused expression.

Without uttering another word, Jonas turned and hurriedly made his way to his cabin, stumbling over his own feet to get there. He swung the door open and went immediately to the tarnished mirror in the corner, by the small porthole.

His hands, though no longer glowing, trembled violently.

Jonass chest burned and roiled, felt as if there was a swarm of maggots trying to bore directly into his heart. He grabbed his shirt and tore it open, not bothering to unbutton it first, to expose the creatures that tormented him.

But they werent there.

Instead, there was a mark. A mark that hadnt been there until now. A black swirl, the size of a mans fist, in the center of his chest.

The mark of a Watcher.

The sharp sound of a gasp wrenched his attention away from his reflection and to the open door. There stood Olivia, now in mortal form and wrapped in a dark gray robe.

What is happening to me, Olivia? he managed to blurt out.

Olivias emerald-green eyes were wide and glossy as her gaze moved from his bare chest up to his face.

Oh, Jonas, she whispered. Timotheus was right.

What is this mark on me?

She drew in a shaky breath, then closed her eyes with forced calmness. She raised her chin slightly and looked him directly in the eyes. Im sorry.

He was about to say For what? when the image of Olivia blurred and darkened at the edges.

Jonas didnt remember falling, but he felt the rough floor against his face for a brief moment before unconsciousness claimed him.

CHAPTER 7.

LUCIA.

THE SANCTUARY.

Before Timotheuss large and shining image vanished from the tower, he asked Mia to accompany Lucia inside. While all other immortals kneeled before her, their heads bowed, she nervously followed the Watcher to the base of the elders residence. A door in the surface of the tower, invisible to her until she was only an arms reach away, opened before her.

The tower itself was fifty paces in circumference and bare of any furnishings on the ground floor. Bare of anything except smooth white walls and a mirrored floor that matched the ground outside. She followed Mia into a room so small that she knew she could nearly touch each wall if she stretched her arms out to either side of her. Lucia eyed the opaque crystal doors uneasily as they slid shut.

Can you speak now? Lucia ventured. Or are you still under Timotheuss spell?

I can speak, Mia said, her voice hushed. And in the short time we have together, I must urge you to be careful.

Lucia searched the immortals face, frowning at her troubled tone. What do you mean?

We needed the prophecy to be true, to be proven, and youve finally arrived. Yet I now worry that what happened to Melenia, whatever Timotheus did to her, the same could happen to you. Be careful with him. No matter what he might tell us, we no longer trust him.

Lucia grappled to find the words to speak, to ease Mias mind that Timotheus didnt harm Melenia, that the elder had chosen her own fate by being greedy, malicious, and bloodthirsty, but the crystal doors slid open before she could say anything at all.

They were no longer on the ground floor. Lucia stepped past the doors into another white room, this one easily the size of all her palace chambers combined. From the floor-to-ceiling windows at the far end of the room, Lucia could see the entire city"the mirrored square, the intricate maze of crystal buildings, and the rolling green hills beyond the gates.

Lucia turned only to see the barest glimpse of the girl before the doors shut behind her. She rushed back to them, pressing her hands against the smooth surface and trying to pry the doors open again.

How did you get here, Lucia?

Timotheuss voice made her freeze in place before she slowly turned to face him. Across the room"and no longer a flat, two-dimensional projected image"stood the last immortal elder.

She wasnt sure if she should feel relieved to be in his presence or awed by the magic shed witnessed today. Im sure youre surprised to see me here, but"

Timotheus raised a glowing hand and, flicking his wrist to his right, sent her flying sideways with great speed. She hit the nearest wall, hard. Though her feet were now firmly on the floor, she found that she was stuck there, an invisible force pressing her up against it.

Timotheus then raised his hand again, his eyes narrowed to slits, and her feet left the ground. Her throat constricted, and suddenly she couldnt breathe.

I dont know what dark magic you used to travel here, Timotheus growled, but did you honestly think you could just stroll into my city and murder me? That I wouldnt try to defend myself? Youre more of a fool than I already thought you were.

N-no! Lucia struggled against the invisible choke hold hed trapped her in. Thats . . . not . . . why . . . She tried to get the words out, to explain herself, but she didnt have the breath to speak.

His expression held no kindness at all. You already made your plans for me very clear in your dreams. Still you know nothing, child. You would rather believe a monsters rant than your own eyes and ears. And now youve put me in quite a predicament. My fellow immortals believe you to be the salvation for which theyve waited a thousand years. Little do they know youre nothing but a disappointment.

With the shreds of strength she still possessed, Lucia summoned her own magic. Clenching her fists, she conjured fire, the blazes jumping high from both of her hands as she glared at the man whod just thrown her around like a rag doll. Remembering Alexiuss most important lessons, she placed all her focus on absorbing rather than resisting Timotheuss magic. With a mighty heave, she inhaled the air magic that held her to the wall, and as the grip on her throat began to loosen, she found that stealing this immortals magic was nearly as easy as smelling a fragrant rose from the Auranian palace courtyard.

Moments later, her feet were back on the ground.

She watched him warily, her fists blazing. You assume the worst of me, and I cant say that I blame you for that. But did you ever see me kill you in your visions?

I will douse your pathetic flames, he said, ignoring her question. A small tornado of air now swirled around his hands.

And I will steal your air and use it to smother you, right before I set you on fire.

The barest edge of worry slid through his gaze. The realization that this immortal feared her fueled Lucias confidence, and her fire magic burned brighter.

Kyan has taught you much, he said.