I suck in a deep breath while I cross my arms, catching up to him as I ignore his question on purpose. “Quit calling me Queen.”
He pauses, turning fiercely towards me. “I know Death came to see you.”
My hands toss outward, rage shooting up my throat as I mutter. “And how the hell do you know this?”
“I suppose it's time to tell you.”
I cross my arms, annoyingly glaring at him. “Tell me what, Kaine?”
“I know he went to see you, because I have been working with the Sea. Theon doesn’t know.” He glances around me. “When I met you, we had no idea who you were.Whatyou were.”
“You are working with Death?” My voice drops to a sudden whisper, my eyes glancing between his, watching his brows pull inward as if he is at war with his thoughts.
“I have for many years now.”
“And Theon doesn’t know?” I cross my arms. “He’s going to hate you for that.”
“I fear his mom, the Queen, will see what we are doing. She is always with the oracles, watching every movement of Theon and Skie ever since the other brothers died.” His lips pull between his teeth. “I can’t risk that. I can’t risk the plan, he has to forgive me eventually. I don’t trust her and neither should you.”
“And you think you telling me this might not risk it?”
“The Queen already said the oracles cannot see you.” He strides towards me. “Which means, you being around us at the Sea will protect us more than anything else ever could. You can save us. Only you.”
My head falls back, letting out a deep sigh. “What if I am not what you all expect me to be? What if I can’t do it?”
His ocean eyes mixed with amber hues soften with a gentle grin. “You are. You will be.”
I suck in a sharp breath, flashes of Koen attacking me in the Vitaei with the fire darkling tightening my stomach. My palms sweat when I realize I almost didn’t make it out alive. My heart could never make me hurt him.
But him, in transformation with no control, he could kill us all.
My lips roll between my lips before I mutter. “I fear something dark is brewing, something inside me is telling me that more people will die, and I am unsure if I can protect you from it.”
“Then I will die to make sure you live.”
“I can’t ask you to do that.”
“You don’t have to.” His eyes meet me with such sincere intensity, I know he means every word he says.
Tears burn at the edge of my eyes, holding my breath tightly in so no tears will fall. “Just quit calling me your Queen.” I lean in towards him, sniffling as my lip pulls into a heart-warming grin. “I am your friend. Always. And my friends will not bow to me, but stand beside me. Do you understand?”
His head tilts to the side, leaning in closer to where no one else can hear the words he says besides us. “I understand,your majesty.”
“I’d hit you right now if I could.”
“Yet, you can’t.” His shoulders shrug, spinning around as he heads into the Pyre.
“Be thanking the Gods you are my friend, not my enemy, Kaine,” I hiss, teasing him as I catch up to him.
“Oh trust me.” He turns, walking backwards. “I thank them everyday for that. My biggest fear has always been burning to death!” He lets out a hysterical laugh and turns on his heels to jog into the Pyre.
We both walk in, even though I dread every minute of this.
But the Pyre is breathtaking. I will never get over the view of this place.
In the far right corner is the lush, green tree that is one with the stone wall, its branches climbing up the towering edge as if reaching for every light of the sun. I count around twelve branches, the leaves trickling in the subtle breeze but as my gaze drops, I catch sight of Theon with Klayra. She casually rests her bulky boot against the stone wall while fiercely carving a stick with her dagger, sharpening it with such force that it seems she might use it to stab me in the heart.
Her piercing gaze meets mine, unflinching and bold.
