“Maybe you can? You owe me anyway.” My shoulders shrug, and a teasing grin paints along my lips.
She leans forward, brows raising. “Oh, now do I?”
“I mean, you did try and kill me, as well as Koen.”
She inhales deeply, eyes rolling to the ceiling. “I mean… you did deserve it.”
My eyes narrow. “Did I?”
“What do you need?” She crosses her arms.
“I need these stones in the Queen’s archive, or the Realms won’t remember who I am. I believe Theon will help as well.” My eyes slowly rise to meet her grey hues in her eyes that glint mischievously. “We have never met before, but you might remember me if I get those stones. I believe this is the only way we can all be for certain what truly happened the day of the battle.”
“Sounds easy.” She shrugs. “One of the guards has a thing for me, so I can use that to distract him.”
“Are you sure you would?” One brow of mine lifts. “Why now all of a sudden would you want to help?”
“Because even though you killed my brother, he was kind of an ass anyway. I almost killed him myself a few times. He was kind of a jerk, had it coming eventually.”
“Are you serious?” I lean on my knees, shifting towards her. “And you attacked me anyway?”
She takes her arms, crossing them side to side as she stretches. “I needed to release some anger, that was all. Seems like you need to release some of the rage as well.” Her eyes drop from mine down to the blade that was once in the crack of the window sill.
She’s right. I do need to release this anger.
“You almost killed Koen.” My eyes narrow.
“Now do you wish I did?” Her head cocks to the side and we both let out a sudden, breathy chuckle.
“Sort of.” I rub my hands over my face. “It’s complicated.”
“Seems like it. All I know is that I have never seen Lykia blow up like that before.” She tosses her legs over the bed, standing straight up as she reaches her hand out towards me. “I’ll help you get the stones if you help me take her down.”
“Why do you want to take her down so badly?” My chin rises to meet her gaze.
“Because I am from the Sea Realm.” Her brows deepen. “And trust me, she does not need to be Queen of the Sea.”
With a sigh, my leather glove wraps around her hand and she yanks me up with force.
“But I need to find Alice first.” I lock eyes with her intensely. “Then we can take her down.”
DAMN IT. I HATE BEING back here.
The fire of the torches flicker in the breeze from the outside. The remaining men, twenty-six left, stretch their arms wide, tie their laces tightly, and place their daggers in their sheaths. They are preparing. As well as I.
I pick up my last dagger, swiftly sheathing it as I rest against my bed.
Death rests above me, his legs crossed as he picks up remaining meat with his dagger blade. We locked eyes the moment I arrived back, but both silently nodded, knowing we must keep our distance. The Queen can not know what I know.
The oracles not being able to see me, might be the Gods protecting me. I wonder if they knew I would have people trying to kill me for who I am, and for the blood that courses through me.
A Fallen Ember. A descendant of the Gods, but little do the people know, the Deskyiara are the closest bloodline to the Gods. And that should fear them for what they have put me through.
What they have put my family through.
My stomach twists as I catch sight of multiple men staring at me. Their jaws tick with rage, their lips twisted into disgusted frowns. Maybe I killed their friends and they know. But with Dryden in the far corner, near the arched entrance to where we will leave, it makes the knot inside my throat grow. I don’t fear him. Shit, I don’t fear any of them. But if he sees me near Koen, Lykia will kill me for sure.
How the hell did I piss off the two Royals, who are cursed with the ability to take the air I breathe and make it toxic? The ability to kill me within seconds without laying a damn hand on me.
