The pages seemed heavier as Erador turned them. His eyes glossed over the same passages afraid he’d missed a keyword. He doubted information on witches and crystals were in any of these books, but he kept thinking of Yuni’s smirk that set a fire to his chest.

  Erador set the book on a stack that reached above his head. He sat on the table’s edge and let his head fall back. Candlelight flickered across the ceiling. Wooden arches separated the fourteen murals. Each area had a dozen different animals painted on the distinct colorful backdrops. The center mural’s bright greenery and the blue waterfall had been burned into his head. It wasn’t the first depiction of Paradise he’d seen, and he was tired of it. The idea of living in peaceful eternity belonged in fiction.

  The sounds of footfalls echoed off the arches. Eli moved into his peripheral vision, watching with him. Erador was calmed by his presence, and he allowed the resentment from his father’s attempts at indoctrinating him slip away.

  “Still looks good, doesn’t it?” Eli said.

  “When did you last touch it up?” Erador said.

  “Never, but I think having the windows covered helped.” Eli glanced at the black curtains that reached up two stories. “It took us a few days to finish.”

  Erador admired every detail. “It’s beautiful.” Not that any of his paintings weren’t. “Which mural is your favorite?”

  Eli touched his lips and gazed upon the paintings as if they were his own child. “Probably the center because they’re one with Paradise.”

  The green-winged moth in the darkest mural made Erador’s skin crawl. It mirrored an enemy rather than an equal. It made him appear weak. Other nocturnal animals surrounded the furry insect. He recognized the bat—Eli’s mark. But it was the panther that was in the center.

  “Why did you focus on the panther?” Erador asked.

  “I wanted something larger to fill the space.” Eli swallowed and clenched his jaw. “Your father wanted you to have a panther especially after you know what,” he said, looking at Erador’s face scars. “But I told him a moth would be more suitable.”

  Cheeks hot, Erador hid them with his hand though Eli was aware of it since the day it happened. Erador didn’t feel like a panther. His gut dropped at the idea that his father considered them to be a suitable match but it’s not like the moth was better. It made him feel pathetic and weak.

  “I wasn’t a fighter, but a moth?” Erador said.

  They were drawn to light like lurkers. It didn’t represent him.

  “They need light and darkness just as much as you, even if you don’t see it.” Eli sighed and looked back at the mural. “Creatures are not mindlessly brutal like your father expects you to be.”

  “People can be.” Erador sighed and faced a shelf as his voice dipped. “They don’t make us feel equal to animals.”

  The animal marks were meant to keep them from believing they were superior to other living beings. He could hear his father now; his younger voice was an idea of what he thought it sounded like: When you see a creature and feel that you’re above them, look at your arm to remind yourself that we’re the same. Treat every creature with respect. As Erador looked at the moth on his arm, it brought hatred and disgust for his father forcing him to be a Paradin, to help uphold his image as Judgment. His views on equal treatment were lies, and Erador felt like no one saw that but him.

  “Other’s actions do not equate to all,” Eli said. “But sometimes the most selfish acts further prove that we’re not perfect just like animals.”

  Eli’s gentle grasp on Erador’s shoulder, caused uncomfortable prickles under his skin.

  “There are many ways we’re imperfect,” Erador said, shrugging him off. “And it doesn’t have to be senseless murder, destruction, torture.”

  “I see what you mean...” Eli released a breath. “But you can’t control everyone. Focus on your equal. Let it ground you.” He traced his bat mark delicately, appearing lost in it like his art. “I don’t mean to rush you, but… everyone is waiting.”

  Erador glanced at his tattoo as Eli walked away. He didn’t need some animal to prevent him from becoming egocentric. The permanent ink tainted his blood and any chance of him becoming something else.

  “Wait,” Erador said, walking after Eli. “Why do you hold on to Paradise when you’re at your end?”

  Eli stopped. He met Erador with glossy distant eyes. “So, I can finally be at peace knowing there’s a place my son won’t suffer.”

  “I thought he was dead.”

  “He might as well be.”

  Eli left. His footsteps dissipated into the hall. Erador couldn’t bring himself to ask what happened to his son. Not when it brought tears to Eli’s eyes.

  The voices reached Erador by the time he entered the rounded archway behind the throne. Chairs were set in a “V” shape facing it. Paradins waited around the room. Erador walked into the flickering lights as an arm hooked around his shoulder. Once the stale breath reached Erador’s nose, his stomach rolled with regret.

  “Erador!” Jerus’s beard brushed his cheek as he guided him toward the chairs. “Saved a seat for you next to me and Fedra.” He gave Erador’s back a pat and plopped on the end seat.

  “Thanks...” Erador said.

  “So the prince decided to show.” Fedra’s crossed leg shook with impatience and her gaze followed Erador as he sat. “Did you rest enough?”

  Erador ran his hands through his hair. The paper cuts on his fingers stung. “You and I both know we don’t get enough sleep. This meeting will make things worse.”

  Fedra threw back her black braids and sat straight. “Worse? What’s going on?”

  “Heard it’s serious,” Jerus said, crossing his arms. He tugged his sleeve up to further uncover his scorpion mark. “You’re supposed to keep your mark out.”

  “Out?” Fedra raised her eyebrows at Erador and whispered, “You told us to hide it.”

  “Change of plans.”

  Fedra pulled up her sleeve. Erador looked away from the white and black rabbit. Each chair was occupied, except for three. Dethil lifted a hand in greeting across the way. Erador forgot to return the gesture as he found Hawth next to him. His forearm had broken free from his jacket’s red sleeve and contrasted with his tanner face. His skin appeared as if it had been in the dungeon for decades, but it wasn’t the pale color that bothered him. Hawth didn’t belong in a Paradin meeting.

  If that wasn’t enough, Gillian sat to his left. She locked her hands in her lap and kept her head pointed at the ground. Where it should’ve been, not elevated in a seat at the Paradins’ sides. She knew her place without a mark on her arm, but Hawth’s high shoulders made it seem like he belonged here.

  “Hawth and Gillian too?” Erador forced his voice to carry to the impostures and Gillian flinched.

  Loma’s head popped out from next to Fedra. “They live here,” she said. “It’s important they know.”

  Canes laid on the ground beside Loma’s feet. Erador leaned back too see around her. Cade had his head down as if he was asleep, but his pouting lips twitched.

  Erador leaned toward Loma. “Is he all right?”

  “He couldn’t sleep, so he says.” Loma gave Cade a side eye. “I caught him playing with lumin crystals last night.” She sighed and mumbled, “I’ll never understand that boy.”

  Cade turned away from her, arms crossed. Erador continued his search and found Haven. Two braids reached past her lap. Haven’s lips lifted but he could only wish it was for him. His fluttering stomach desired for her to look his way, but Eonidas consumed her attention. Their conversation faded as Erador recalled his last encounter with her. It crushed his heart to think she was uncomfortable around him now.

  An echoing whistle ripped him from his thoughts. Sescina stood in front of the throne and pulled her fingers from her mouth. The talking ceased and every standing Paradin took a seat.

  “Lord Judgment will be out shortly.” Sescina looked over the chairs as complaints sounded. “Where’s Aminria?”

  Erador searched for curly red locks but Aminria wasn’t the only one missing. There was another empty chair and that didn't include Pia; she was helping his father.

  “Mikra is missing too,” Eli said from beside Haven. He revealed the name before Erador had a chance to open his mouth.

  “I’m aware,” Sescina said. “That’s why it’s taking longer.”

  Pia emerged from Judgment’s room. “He’s ready.”

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  Sescina looked around, her gaze lingering on the entrance doors. She waved Jerus to the bedroom and he came back with Judgment who was limp like a rug in his arms. He set him on the throne and Sescina propped him up with pillows.

  Pia took a seat at the front across from Jerus. Her mammoth mark with long tusks was coated in fur. Her delicate figure and worn hands couldn't convince Erador that she was a Paradin. An intelligent and strong animal was meant to boast her capabilities, but it didn’t suit her. Her emotion element, she used to keep Judgment calm, wasn't threatening. Maybe the mark was forced on her because so few Paradins were left.

  Having two less in the room, set Erador sitting on the seat’s edge. He stared at one of the empty chairs, but he tried not to worry about Aminria. She was fine. She could handle herself, but it wasn’t like her to miss a meeting.

  “I guess we’ll start.” Sescina cupped her hands. “I know it’s inconvenient to show your marks, but I assure you it’s for good reason.”

  A green glow spread across the arches as feet clicked behind the throne. Yuni emerged beside Sescina. Erador didn’t care about her matching purple and black attire she had probably chosen with meticulous care. His gaze honed in on her sleeved right arm.

  “Why isn’t her sleeve up?” Breck said, leaning out from next to Cade.

  Of all times Breck could interrupt, now was the best. His short brown locks crested at his head like the raised hairs on a wolf’s back. It appeared as if he had rolled out of bed, but paired with his fierce growl and flaring nostrils, it could be enough to threaten someone to cooperate. It seemed to work as Yuni reached for her wrist but Sescina grabbed her arm to stop her.

  “She was in the bedroom with me sleeve up.”

  Erador’s lips tightened. “She should show her arm like us.”

  Eonidas hummed in agreement.

  “Stop vilifying her.” Sescina glared at Erador but he returned with a hard stare, seeing it as a challenge.

  “It’s fine.” Yuni unbuttoned the wrist cuff and rolled up her sleeve. Erador leaned on his toes as the fabric moved up her arm. As she stopped it at her elbow, Erador knew it was too easy. Her skin was clear.

  Sescina’s puffed chest deflated, but her rigid stance remained. “Whatever you hear today may not be spoken outside of this manor to anyone.” She looked at each person to confirm they were listening. “It’s come to our attention that the Raven escaped.”

  Everyone shifted in their chairs and mumbled.

  “What?” Dethil said. “How did he get out?”

  “We aren’t sure.”

  “Really?” Breck said, standing. “You’re telling me the Raven who has been locked in his cage for fifty years broke out and you don’t know how?”

  Sescina fidgeted with a curl that had broken loose from her bun. “We’re working on it.”

  Fedra pointed at her rabbit tattoo. “So, what’s the point in showing our marks?”

  “The Raven can’t shift away his mark, since it’s crystal ink. It’s how we can identify him.”

  “That still sounds too easy to hide.” Eonidas shifted up in his seat. His shoulders reached far above the backrest. “What if he... paints over it?”

  Breck sat and leaned his arms on his knees and nodded. “Or he could cut it off and it would heal like new.”

  Judgment hit his arm rest. His choked voice was lost in the Paradins’ worries. Erador scanned each person, but they were upset by the news, except Cade who appeared annoyed that Loma was doing a poor job attempting to be surprised when Erador had told them. Hawth hadn’t said a word and Gillian appeared more nervous.

  Judgment reached out and clenched Yuni’s arm. She leaned her ear toward his mouth. Erador searched for the slightest slip in her demeanor but she played the part well, appearing as concerned as everyone.

  Yuni clapped several times to get everyone’s attention. “Judgment said quiet.”

  The voices dissipated as everyone turned their attention to Judgment.

  He lifted a shaking finger, but it fell before he could open his mouth. “The Raven can’t regenerate.”

  Erador stiffened his back. “Are you serious?”

  “Yes,” Judgment paused to catch his breath. “Only his bones can reshape and renew when he’s shifting, but the special ink remains.”

  Fedra blurted a fit of uncomfortable laughter. “Then why did you imprison him?”

  “Either way you could have lopped off his head,” Jerus said, running a thumb across his beard that covered most of his neck. “We’d be celebrating his beheading each year instead of a fucking capture.”

  “We can’t change that,” Erador said, rising and moving in front of the throne. “This is serious.”

  Wrappers crinkled behind him and he shot back a glare. Yuni dug in her satchel and pulled out a piece of candy.

  “Are you done?” he said.

  She smirked. “No ones stopping you from talking.”

  Erador let out a rough sigh and raised his voice to drown out the crinkling. “The Raven, whether he can regenerate or not, is out there. I saw the messages in his cage. He wants us dead and he could be anyone.”

  “What are we supposed to do if we can’t catch him?” Haven asked.

  “What we can do,” Erador said. “Keep the manor locked down. More patrols.”

  “More patrols?” Dethil said, slouching. “Shouldn’t we get the followers to do it? We do enough.”

  “No.” Judgment coughed. “No one can know he’s free, or it’ll be chaos.”

  “What about telling them to keep an eye out for Odinaty?” Erador suggested. “That way we’ll know when they come.”

  “That can help.” Sescina moved next to Erador. “With our Lord ill, the most we can do is keep the Raven from coming in the manor.”

  “Do you think he will?” Eonidas said.

  “He spent years in that cell on one measly meal a day. He’s weak.” Jerus slid his tongue across his smiling lip. “Revenge probably isn’t the first thing on his mind.”

  “He probably can’t shift yet or at least not well.” Loma added. “It won’t be easy for him to get food, not when we have hardly any.”

  “At least that’s something.” Eonidas looked at Gillian. “Now, if we can get that blood and help Judgment…”

  Gillian’s clenched her knuckles that had gone white. Erador knew why she didn’t want to be here. She had no plan.

  “We’ll get it eventually.” Sescina blurted above the whispering. “I think it’s best to wait and see if Odinaty takes action before we try. We don’t know when or if they will come. We can work on a future plan in the meantime.”

  “But she was supposed to have one by now,” Erador said, keeping his sharp gaze on Gillian as he walked in front of her chair.

  Judgment grunted. “No one said that.”

  Erador turned around, raising his voice. “How are we supposed to help you then? The Raven is loose, and every damn kingdom wants you dead. We’re already fucked.”

  “We will not take more risks,” Judgment said. “I realized it too late.”

  “Locking up the Raven was a stupid mistake,” Erador snapped.

  “He’s my brother.” Judgment breathed heavily. “I wasn’t going to give up on him.”

  “You sacrificed Lucrethia for him, for Gillian, and now,” Erador stared intently at Yuni, “it’ll be the end for all of us.”

  When Judgment was about to speak, he gripped his chest that heaved. His wheezing breaths bubbled as blood spilled from his mouth.

  “Stop it!” Sescina rushed to Judgment’s side. “The meeting is over.”

  Some of the Paradins left. Any who lingered turned away from the scene with uncomfortable and worried faces. Pia rushed to calm Judgment with her element, but she wouldn’t have to do this if his father didn’t overreact. Erador slumped in his chair. A hand touched his shoulder and he looked at Eli’s enthusiastic eyes.

  “I’ve got something to show you.” He looked at the bustling caregivers and Yuni as she moved to a pillar. “Follow me.”

  Erador followed Eli through the arched doorway, to the corridors of the second floor, and into Eli’s bedroom. Erador had passed by his room many times but never went inside. The lamp on the desk flickered as if it was barely holding onto life. Eli turned the knob and the fire grew, stretching light to the corners of the room. It was how Erador imagined it—simple with a small bed, desk, and dresser. His art supplies were in a different room except the sheet-covered canvases in the corner.

  Eli checked down the hall and shut the door. “I noticed you were looking for something in the library.”

  “Isn’t that normal of me?” Erador said.

  “The old you. I know better those books don’t have much to offer you. Not anything you haven’t seen.”

  Erador licked his lip as if the air would feed him knowledge. “Then what was I looking for?”

  “Something unique.”

  Eli reached under his bed and pried up a floor board. His head disappeared as he ducked under the hanging sheets, and rummaged around. Erador scanned the bedroom again. A glimmer on the desk caught his attention. Two metal pointed tips curved together like a crescent and joined at the straight center that disappeared under the paper. It was some sort of jewelry of an anchor—not typical of Eli to wear.

  “I was wondering,” Erador said. “Has the Raven been the only prisoner in that dungeon?”

  “That I’ve heard of.” Eli peeked out. “Why?”

  “It’s such a large dungeon. I thought… there would more use for it.”

  “Well…” Eli said, his head disappearing back under the bed. “Judgment didn’t have it built.”

  He shouldn't have expected Eli to know about the prisoner. Erador couldn’t stop thinking about him since they dug up that corpse last night.

  Eli returned with a book and handed it to Erador. He dusted off the cover, and the spine cracked as he opened it. Images of crystals boarded the text. Erador tensed his fingers, afraid any movement would make him drop the book that was worth more than food in this town. This forbidden book should only be touched by flames. He couldn’t process that this blasphemous information was ready to be consumed.

  “A witch book?” Erador whispered, afraid saying it would light the book on fire. “How did you get this?”

  “Let’s say I forgot to include it in the cleansing of banned goods. I was hoping someone could use it.”

  “You truly are a sneaky bat. What made you think I was looking for this?”

  “I don’t trust her either,” Eli said, leaning toward him. “Wish I could do more.”

  Erador closed the book, carefully. “It’s good to know I’m not alone.”