The pathway on the edge of the hill that leads to the top of the mountainside is right along the edge of the cliff, and rocks trickle off the land and down the rolling hills we were once on.
One wrong move and down we go.
We enter a forest, riding deeper into it before a pathway opens up, and I meet the Royals waiting for us on the highest part of the mountain. The flags whip in the violent breeze, the guards holding still on each side of the royals, their hands firmly gripping the poles.
Queen Antivianna is in the middle, her royal-blue gown glistening in the night. Skie is beside her, in a similar gown, but when my eyes glance towards Florian, rage shoots through my veins.
I dismount from my horse, violently hustling up to them and the closer I get, the more I see Florian’s weary, weak eyes.
A fresh cut is across his forehead, his dark, onyx suit has a few grass stains, and that’s when I notice the wooden cane he grips onto before stumbling forward to catch his balance.
My lips part, eyes widening at the condition I see him in, and the Queen notices.
“You lied!” my voice rips through the air, blood rushing to my head.
“How else are we supposed to get all the Royals to this side of the land, Serene?” Her arms fold across her petite body.
“I should burn you!” I try to catch my breath. “How dare you do this! You promised me you would never make him shift!”
“As long as I needed you, Serene.” Her head tilts to the side, the breeze catching the loose strands from her braided crown. “Now you are a chosen, your blood is sealed to the fire, which means you are forbidden to leave the Pyre for the year. You are bonded to the chosen now, and if you dare leave, the God of Fire will scorch you alive.”
I stumble back, catching a rock underfoot as my eyes widen. Florian’s head hangs low, gripping the wooden cane tighter by her words.No one told me this.
“You allow her to speak to you this way?” the King of the Sky mutters towards her, his brown, braided hair casually blowing in the breeze. “I’d take her head if I were you.”
“Of course my father would choose death,” Kaine mutters, his boots digging into the ground as he walks up behind me.
“This is what is wrong with the Realms!” I stride towards them. “All you want is bloodshed! This is not what the Deskyiaras wanted! This is not what our Gods wanted!”
“And how the hell would you know this, woman?” The Sky King snarls, his lip rising with disgust.
“Do not speak to her that way, Father!” Kaine lunges forward, his jaw ticking as his skin turns a crimson red.
“I am not your father, no more,boy,” the King bellows, the golden chains with wings beating against his chest as he moves forward with rage.
Kaine scuffs, crossing his arms across his onyx suit. “Yeah, you never acted like one anyways. I’m not losing anything.”
I go to speak, but an arm grips the scaled fabric of my suit. “She just needs sleep, that is all. It’s been a long journey to get here, so let’s start the race.”
Koen.
My eyes glance towards his hand before meeting his emerald eyes. Instantly, the burning desire to destroy these royals vanishes. But the spark that flutters in my chest, begging to kill the Queen, is still there, scorching my heart until there is nothing left but a charred heart. I want revenge.
Ibegfor revenge.
I am unsure how much longer I can hold this in before I explode.
“Ah.” The Queen pauses, shifting her gaze towards him. “Where did the two of you run off to last night?”
My jaw ticks, chest heaving as my mind races with the thought of unleashing my dragons on her, watching my one of fire burn her to death. It would be so satisfying to watch.
“We went for a walk,” Koen casually says.
Lykia’s lips curl, crossing her arms as her pointer finger taps against her arm. “Good to know, Koen.”
She can’t use her curse, not in front of the Royals. It’s forbidden. But when she is free from their sight, she will stop at nothing to kill me.
“Mount your horses, the race starts soon.” The Queen’s brows raise, eyes locking on to mine as I spit at the ground towards her.
