Which was curious. "Why?"
"Because he is Aedh."
"A fallen Aedh."
"Exactly. The Aedh do not tear wings off lightly."
"He’s already explained that. He hunted down and killed the people responsible for his sister’s murder."
His gaze flicked to mine once more. "And you believe him?"
"Why shouldn’t I?"
"Because full Aedh do not live in familial groups or feel love."
"Which doesn’t mean it can’t be true."
He studied me for a moment, then shrugged. Oddly enough, it seemed more an angry gesture than a casual one. "I shall bow to your judgment, as I have no knowledge of this Aedh." And didn’t really want any, from the sound of it. "Now can we keep quiet and concentrate on finding this book before the priests return?"
I shut my mouth and walked on, my footsteps deadened by the slimy concrete. The air became fouler, clogging my lungs with its putrid stench. "God," I murmured, raising a hand to my nose and pinching it shut. It didn’t help a whole lot—the smell still clawed at my throat and seared my lungs. "It smells like something massive has died down here."
Azriel didn’t say anything. Maybe he was hoping I would follow suit. The tunnel widened slightly and my steps slowed as a sense of greater space hit me. But the darkness was still intense, and I couldn’t see any farther than my hand.
But I didn’t need to, because I could feel something. It was a presence—an energy—that tingled across my skin like fire and made the dragon on my arm stir and writhe within my flesh. It was a weird sensation.
"I think it’s here," I said softly.
Azriel drew his sword and Valdis flared to life, blue flames caressing her razor-sharp sides before spreading out across the darkness.