The wind chimes on Loma’s porch clanged violently from the strong breeze. It was like a warning telling him to not come.

  “Why are you helping me,” Erador said.

  Aminria dodged his look. “I… just thought of what you said the other night.”

  It felt like she was unwilling to tell him more, but he wouldn’t press further, afraid it would make her leave again.

  “It’s late.” Aminria rubbed her arms as she shivered. “You think she’ll be up?”

  Without responding, Erador pounded the door. He peeked through the open window as a silhouette shuffled across the living room. The door opened and Loma looked out, holding a lit candle.

  Loma's curious eyes shifted to frustration when she saw Erador. “What are you doing here?”

  “I need to see your crystals,” Erador said.

  “Shh…” She looked back in the house. “You can’t.”

  “I want to see where you sourced them from. The one I found in the cage had an etch but it was destroyed.”

  Loma sighed and hesitated before opening the door. “Come in quietly. I don’t want Cade to know.”

  Loma shut the door carefully after they came in. She moved to her room and waved them inside. She set her candle on the dresser and opened the trunk, removing linens from the top. The bright colored lights drew Erador closer, while Aminria kept distance. Erador reached for a crystal among the dozen or so, but Loma slapped his hand.

  “Don’t touch. The efficacy wears faster.”

  She put on a glove and chose a red crystal, turning it to show the etched anchor with the symbols of the death gods: eye, whip, and wings. It looked like that anchor from Medina.

  “Where is this from?” Erador said, pointing at it.

  “A reputable coven.”

  Erador looked inside the chest. The other etches matched the one Loma held and the sizes were smaller than the one from the cage. “Are they all the same?”

  “Yes,” Loma said, setting a crystal back in. “I got them a long time ago.”

  “You knew a coven?” Erador raised his eyebrows.

  Loma placed the linens on top smothering the colorful lights “I... did.”

  Erador cocked his head.

  “Don’t get any ideas."

  Erador recalled that same symbol on the pamphlet from New Akthelia. “These are from the Coven of Rebirth?”

  “You knew this…how?” she said in a high pitch, looking to Aminria.

  “Ask Erador.” Aminria moved her gaze away. “He wanted to go to New Akthelia.”

  Loma’s mouth widened. “You went where?” she said in a deep tone.

  “It was nothing.” Erador scratched his head, avoiding Loma’s furious gaze she had given to him after she was relieved he had woken from almost dying.

  “Nothing?” Loma shrieked. “You’re going to dangerous places you don’t belong.” She looked him over. “You think I don’t know what happened to you and Dethil?”

  “Nothing happened.”

  Loma studied him. “I heard Dethil was injured. Doesn’t sound like nothing to me.” She studied him too closely he couldn’t help but look away even when he didn’t want to and was afraid she would notice the truth. “You were attacked by a lurker. How could you not tell me?”

  “I’m fine. You implied I could go to the realm.”

  “Not outside the manor!” She let out a breath. “How are the visions?”

  Erador glanced at Aminria who looked intrigued. “They aren’t that bad.”

  Loma shut the chest. “I just hope Dethil came out of there without venom but something tells me that isn’t the case.”

  “You sent him.”

  “To keep you from going outside but apparently, neither of you listen.”

  Aminria seemed amused by the conversation but straightened her face when Loma looked at her.

  “Don’t you act innocent, princess. You could’ve been in trouble too.” Loma pressed her hand to her chest and touched Aminria’s shoulder. “My gods if your aunt found you…”

  “If it’s any relief, we went with Hawth,” Aminria said. “He took us through a back route. No one knew we were there.”

  Sighing, Loma sat on her creaky bed and reached out to Erador. “I don’t know what I’d do if something happened to you.”

  “I’m fine,” he said, taking her hand and allowing her to guide him to the bed. “We need to worry about Yuni.”

  “Right,” Loma said, patting his hand. “Show me that crystal.”

  Erador took it from his pocket and handed it to her.

  She turned it to the copper moonlight that shone through the open window. “Ah… The seal has been ruined. We can’t find its origin.”

  “Why didn’t you tell me they had etches?”

  “I didn’t want you going to places you don’t belong.” She stared at him long, as if hoping he would be ashamed of his actions. “Plus, it’s not easy to find where someone bought it from. There are too many sellers.”

  Erador took the crystal. The moon shined on the religious items hanging on Loma’s walls. The gods were watching, what Loma always told him. He had no idea the religion his father stole from was over his head this whole time. To his father, the moons were a desolate planet that provided light in the darkness. To Loma they were the death gods.

  “I heard about the witches’ religion,” Erador said, without hesitation because Loma would be furious no matter how he said it.

  You might be reading a stolen copy. Visit Royal Road for the authentic version.

  Loma shut her eyes. “You weren’t to know.”

  “Why?” Erador said harshly.

  Loma flattened her lips and looked him over as if it was his fault for knowing the truth. “Your father told us not to speak about it.”

  Erador shook his head. “Yet you do. You tell me to be careful because the moons are watching, but you never said the gods’ names.”

  “I don’t because it’s bad luck!” Loma’s face fell. “But yes… your father took it from the Seniths and witches. He thought it would be an effective way to build his society.”

  Erador looked to Aminria to see if she knew this, but she appeared curious. She had to know the moons too but he didn’t bother to ask.

  “He wanted a place where everyone could be accepted,” Loma said. “What Lucrethia wasn’t before he took it.”

  The manor had a dark history. It was something he heard of occasionally but it was taboo to speak of and they would have to face Retribution if they did.

  “How did Judgment take it?” Aminria said.

  “I think you can imagine. It wasn’t peaceful. The other ruler was a violent man,” Loma said. “Some of the original manor is intact, but your father had redesigned it.”

  “How do you know this?” Aminria said.

  “I was there.”

  Erador looked to Loma’s hands in her lap, the veins and sunspots that could tell her age. He never knew how long she’d known his father. But he also didn’t know how long Lucrethia had been around or when his father took it.

  Loma smiled. “It was so long ago. I was about your age, Erador, when I met your father.”

  “How old are you?” Aminria said.

  “Old enough,” Loma said. “I was an immigrant. I lived in a small farming village with my family. One day, your father came to our stand… He was quite handsome. I wanted to talk to him but I couldn’t speak Harian well.”

  Aminria scooted closer. “What did you do?”

  “I said nothing.”

  “Nothing?” Aminria said, disappointed as she pressed her chin in her hand. “You let him go?”

  “I was too nervous, but...” Loma grabbed Aminria’s arm. “When he looked at me my heart melted.”

  Erador rolled his eyes at Aminria’s giggle.

  “I learned he was from Lucrethia,” Loma said. “At that time… no one went near it because anyone who did disappeared.”

  “They were kidnapped,” Erador said.

  “Tortured and who knows.” Loma waved her hand. “I knew the rumors, but when you’re young you don’t always think of those things. Your father came back the next week when I was running the stand alone. He became a regular and was quite generous. All the woman were mesmerized by him, which worried my father. He warned me not to talk to him.”

  Aminria’s lips raised behind her hand. “You didn’t listen.”

  Loma laughed. “Would I be here if I didn’t?”

  “Look where I learned that from.” Erador half-grinned. “I’m sure your father was pissed.”

  “When I ran away.”

  “Oh my…” Aminria pressed her fingers to her lips. “What did your parents do?”

  “They said I shouldn’t mingle with a man, and wait until I marry.”

  Aminria raised her eyebrows. “You didn’t, did you?”

  Loma tightened her lips that fought to rise.

  Aminria gasped. “You were naughty.”

  “Speak for yourself,” Erador remarked and wanted to laugh when Aminria narrowed her eyes at him.

  “Your father told me he wanted to take Lucrethia back because it was built by his father. It took a couple years, but your father finally achieved his dream. Lucrethia would no longer have a dark reputation.”

  A stolen cult. It was nice to know his father built his society on lies. So many were fooled like Loma.

  “You knew Lord Judgment before the Raven sabotaged Lucrethia?” Aminria said.

  Erador wanted to hit himself for not thinking of that sooner.

  Loma nodded. “I didn’t know the Raven well, but he wasn’t always bad. He was once dedicated to the Ring of Awakening but that changed when he thought Judgment wasn’t being honest.”

  She touched Erador’s cheek. Her painful smile and touch caused his stomach to tighten when he realized she was worried he would become like the Raven. Everyone was always disappointed in him. If he wasn’t like his father, he was like someone else. He didn’t want to be compared to anyone.

  Loma pulled away, leaving his cheek cold. “The Raven argued with Lord Judgment and next he was killing the royal family of Odinaty. Some believed the Raven’s views and left with him. He ruined Lucrethia’s contracts with other kingdoms.” She shook her head and gripped her knees. “Your father was devastated.”

  Is what Haven said true? Were the Raven’s choices caused by his father’s lies?

  “Did you love Judgment?” Aminria said.

  Loma looked surprised by her question. “In a way... I do. I respect your father for helping many people.” She looked to Erador. “I know it’s hard for you to see that, but he was a good man.”

  “He gave people a purpose.” Aminria touched her chest. “I thought I would’ve been dead by now.”

  Erador crossed his arms. He cared about helping everyone else and not his own son.

  Loma nodded and grabbed her hand. “This is why he gained many followers and allies who believed in his cause. His methods became a valuable part of Lucrethia and taught people how to respect and value others.” She sighed and turned to Erador. “I believe your father has more to offer this world. We will help him, Erador.”

  She touched Erador’s shoulder but he remained stiff not giving into her kindness. His father couldn’t change, so why should they help him?

  “The witches don’t like what your father took from them,” Loma said. They’re one of many that want him gone. It’s possible that crystal is from them.”

  “What happened between them?” Erador said.

  “I might’ve known your father a long time, but he has kept a lot from me. My religious beliefs didn’t help.” Loma studied Erador. “Don’t you go to that coven.”

  “I won’t.”

  Loma cocked her head giving him a look of disbelief. Erador had no plans to go to the Coven of Rebirth, not that he had any idea where it was. Though he could get that information from Medina. Erador doubted witches wanted a Lucrethian there anymore than New Akthelia.

  “I know having Yuni here is uncertain, but we’re doing fine.” She turned to Erador and smiled weakly. “We’re safe.”

  Erador felt betrayal from her, as if she didn’t believe him either. Maybe what Yuni wanted was for everyone to trust her, so no one would blame her if his father was murdered.