“Are you allowed to be here anyway?” I whisper, trying to glance out to the hallway filled with a few other doors. I’m unsure if any of the chosen reside there.
Theon grips the edge of the door frame, his lips tugging into an amused smirk. “As the son of Queen Antivianna, I am allowed anywhere. Plus, Kaine is still healing, so he needs to stay by the menders for now.”
“Ah.” I kick my head back. “You two would miss me too much, that’s all.”
Kaine shrugs, tossing his lengthy strands away from his face. “It’ll be boring once we head back to the remaining few, I will say that.”
I stare at my friends.
My heart beats with joy knowing he is alive. They are alive. And safe.
However, inside me, I scream to tell them what happened last night. The fire darkling. Koen. Him…shifting. But I stay still. I stay silent.
I keep the secret. But I fear I shouldn’t.
Theon’s lips part to speak, but his eyes widen as he flinches away from the wall. “Damn it, a spider!”
The midnight-black spider climbs the edges of the cobblestone wall, its legs pulling and tugging around to make its web.
“Kill it!” Theon shouts, hiding behind Kaine. “I hate those things!”
I roll my eyes. “It’s just a spider. You will live.”
“I certainly will not,” he stutters, walking backwards to head towards the stairs. “I will be down at the Pyre.”
“I’ll head down there with you, I need to loosen up before I ride one of the four.” Kaine takes his arms, stretching them across his chest before nodding his head for me to follow. “See you down there?”
I inhale deeply through my nose. “See you soon. I just need to throw on my boots.” My eyes follow them, watching as they shove and push each other down the stairs. With a deep exhale, I turn to head towards my bed. My knees shake as I sit, grabbing the edges of the mattress and letting my head hang down.
My body hurts.
My head aches.
But also, my heart breaks. How the hell could I forget what my sister has done?
I vow to myself to never forget again.
And I will have my revenge on her.
The slow, brutal death that she deserves.
And it will be from my hands, from my dagger, that will pierce that black heart of hers.
She will never be Queen, I will make sure that never happens.
I clench my eyes shut for a split second, the memories of my life are so clear yet so foggy. Almost as if I can’t remember everything, only what Tilly wants me to remember. And that makes my blood boil.
My lips tug into a disgusted frown, thinking about everything I have gone through just to find her. It was all for nothing.
But as I stare at my worn, leather boots, other footsteps beat against the ground, getting louder and louder. My neck shifts side to side, cracking the bones inside that are tense before catching sight of a few onyx boots at my door.
“I told you I’d be—” But as soon I notice six men, standing with daggers, I freeze. It’s when I see Death that my heart plummets. “Well… you are not Kaine or Theon.” My voice shifts to a sarcastic tone, brows rising as I stare at the men.
Their lips pull into a satisfied grin while their eyes scan my body.
“We’ve been looking for you,” Death grumbles, taking his dagger to his palm and twisting it. “Of course the Queen would throw you here for protection.”
My eyes scan each of their faces, only recognizing Death. But I do know, they are men who fight in the battle games. How the hell did they find me here?
