Wrath of the Forgotten: Descendants of the Fall Book II by Hodges, Aaron (best romance books of all time txt) 📕

week by his best approximation. Without any hints from the outside, Sophia’s daily visits were his only measure of time. He said nothing during those occasions, though Sophia spoke sometimes, talking of the goings on in the city above. Lukys could do nothing to prevent the whispers from entering his mind, and so he would sit in silence, staring into the distance, determined not to acknowledge her presence.

But even Lukys’s anger could not last forever—particularly when the Tangata was his only source of light and food and water. The food was mostly fish, trout and salmon caught in the crystal waters of the surrounding rivers, along with tubers and the occasional helping of red meat. In fact, he had to admit the food was far better than anything the Flumeerens had ever fed him.

That thought ate at him during those long hours beneath the earth. What reason did he have to be loyal to humanity? Had his own kind not failed him at every turn? The Flumeerens had refused to train him, to prepare him in any way for the battles to come, had even sent him on the suicide mission that had ended in his capture. Even the Sovereigns that claimed to rule Perfugia for the good of all had betrayed him, ordering him to the frontier to die.

Yet despite Sophia’s apparent kindness, he could not submit himself to the Tangata. After all, they too were guilty of terrible deeds, of driving the Calafe from their lands. Even before the war began, they had raided the Calafe southlands. No, to give in to the Tangata would be to betray everything and everyone he had ever known. And yet…

…gave us a long chase. It might have escaped had it made the river, but its heart gave out.

Lukys blinked, pulling himself back to the present. Sophia sat across from him, lips pursed, eyes on the wall as she recounted the story of a stag the Tangata had brought down that night. Apparently she had been assigned to a hunting pack. Lukys’s attention was drawn to the wooden plate she had brought for him, where half the venison lay uneaten.

“Has Adonis returned?” he asked suddenly.

His sudden communication shocked the Tangata so much that she half leapt off the bench. Gasping, Sophia sat upright for a moment, hand on her heart. It was the first time he’d said anything since that first day in the cell.

What? came her voice to his mind.

Adonis, Lukys repeated, looking her in the eye. The Matriarch sent him to seek the Old Ones. Was he…successful?

Sophia stared at him, as though suspicious he had come up with some secret plan to escape. Finally, though, she shook her head.

No, he has not returned. The Birthing Ground is many days’ journey from here, even for a Tangata.

Lukys nodded. “Good,” he murmured, turning away for a moment. “Were you…with him, when they woke the others?”

Images flickered into his mind by way of response, memories that were not his own. He found himself looking at two giant cylinders filled with liquid, lit from below by magical lights of purest white. Within each of the cylinders, two seemingly human figures stood suspended, eyes closed, their bodies somehow sustained for centuries by the magic of the Gods.

Shuddering, Lukys tore his mind from the horror. “A simple ‘yes’ would have been sufficient,” he said softly.

Sophia nodded and rose. She began to pace the cell, moving with the graceful, balanced posture he had only ever seen amongst the Tangata. Well, the Tangata…and Cara. Jealousy touched him as he watched Sophia’s movements. He had spent weeks with Romaine training to improve his balance, to give himself a fighting chance when the Tangata came. He’d improved slightly, but Sophia moved with a natural fluidity he could only ever dream of.

I know you can’t understand it, but what Adonis does is necessary, Sophia said at last, though Lukys could still sense the fear radiating from her.

He only nodded by way of answer—it was clear that the Tangata would divulge the true reason they were seeking the Old Ones. After a moment, Sophia sat once more beside him.

So, you’re speaking again?

Lukys sighed. Sophia sat with one leg propped up on the bench, elbow leaning against her bent knee, chin in her hand. She arced an eyebrow, obviously expecting a reply.

Lukys rolled his eyes. Carefully he picked a piece of venison from his plate and began to chew. It was cold as always, but the rumbling in his stomach hardly cared. Was he speaking again? There seemed little point in his silence now. He wasn’t going anywhere regardless.

“I guess so,” he muttered finally, flashing her a glare, “but it changes nothing.”

Very well. Despite his hard words, a smile tugged at the Tangata’s lips. Though you should know, the last of your friends have now sworn to their assignments.

A chill touched Lukys and for the first time, he felt truly alone in that cell. He was the last one, the only Perfugian that still refused to accept his new place in the world. How could the others have given in so quickly? Unless Sophia was lying, trying to convince him to do the same. But there was a ring of truth to the Tangata’s words, and he shivered, unconsciously hugging his arms to his chest.

Are you okay, Lukys? Sophia whispered, concern showing on her face.

He shook his head. I’m glad you did not kill them. The words slid from his mind. It…is more than my people would have offered your kind.

A visible shudder shook Sophia and he caught a wave of revulsion from her. Yes, I saw what you showed Adonis.

Showed him? It was a moment before Lukys realized what she meant. Of course Adonis had seen images of the Tangatan captives in his mind—Lukys had known nothing of his strange skill that day in the clearing. He swallowed. I am sorry you had to see that. We…do not all support such atrocities. My own kingdom does not take Tangatan prisoners.

Perfugia…The word slipped