She finally stepped close enough that he could make out details. Beneath a crown of iron and ivory spikes, raven hair fell thick and shining all the way to her knees. Skin paler and more porcelain than any he’d ever seen peeked out here and there from her onyx gown. The fabric was gauzy and transparent, her slim body exposed through the useless garment.
“She doesn’t matter anymore.”
He jerked his gaze away from her gaunt nudity and beheld her face. She had to be closer to his mother’s age, and strikingly beautiful—but there was a latent savagery in her that unnerved him, regardless of the apologetic furrow between her brows. Kohl lined her lashes, highlighting irises so blue they were almost white, seeming to glow. Her red, red mouth was turned down in a frown, the look tugging at the back of his mind.
That blue… That expression…
Eyes locked, something cosmic settled within the furthest reaches of him. Before him stood the creature responsible for Straelon’s woes—an answer to the Prophecy’s riddles if Luna’svoiceproved true—and heknewher, even as he didn’t.
“What does that mean? What do you want with us? With me? Why?” His mind was working too fast for his mouth, every question inspiring another, including one born of loathsome curiosity he couldn’t resist. “Who the fuckareyou?”
Her head tilted, remorse replaced with something less sure. “You say that every time.” She searched the floor, completely unaware of the panic tearing through him. “Though not quite so aggressively. I’d always thought it the adorable antics of a youngling, but you… truly don’t remember me.”
Brand tried to tame his rapid breaths. To keep her from knowing how deeply this travesty of a conversation was affecting him.
Her eyes snapped back to his, a brutal sort of disappointment in the look. “All those years…” she whispered. “I’d thought wewere building something untouchable. Unshakeable. I watched and guided and waited, and you don’t even know who I am.”
She seemed genuinely shocked, which only rattled Brand further.
“Why should I? I’ve never seen you before in my life.”
The words almost didn’t come, part of him knowing them for the lie they were. But why?Whydid it feel like he was betraying her somehow?
The thought sickened him. Twisted him up in ways he couldn’t untangle.
Luna. Luna was the only thing that mattered.
“We’ll have to remedy your poor memory, my darling boy. I hadn’t accounted for it, but no matter—I’ve waited this long.” She waved a dismissive hand, as if it made all the sense in the world and didn’t bear stating.
“What the bloody fuck do you mean?” he growled, alarm sending goosebumps racing over his flesh. “Waited for what?”
He fucking hated how intensely he wanted to know. That there was a spark of something other than absolute rage at the possibility of having some answers.
“Oh, Brandir.” She sidled up to him, cupping his jaw in her frigid hand. “It’s time for you to help me, my love.”
That last word shoved the sight of Luna—bleeding, crying, mouthing such precious words in her pain—to the forefront, raw fury with it.
Brand tried to wrench himself away, but she only gripped harder. “There’s only one creature in this world with the right to call me that,” he hissed, “and it isn’t you. Get your fucking hand off me.”
Her eyes went wide as she jerked away, a sneer working its way up from her lips to distort her pert nose. “Forget about the Sorcerit. I allowed you the gift of bonding with her so you mightreach your full power, but she’s no good to you anymore. Be grateful I rid you of the distraction, and was kind about it.”
Brand was almost too appalled, too bewildered, to speak.“Kind? You fucking mutilated her, you fucking bitch.”
Without warning, her clawed hand shot out again and snagged his throat as she bent close, her nose only inches from his own. “You were supposed to be different from the others. I made sure you were different!” The last was shrieked, spittle flying from her mouth to land on his face.
Wrapped in her burning, floral scent, Brand lay there dumbfounded as the air heaved in and out of her lungs. He hadn’t a single inkling of what she meant, and he couldn’t even begin to wrap his mind around that last bit.
He didn’t bloody care. He just wanted his mate. His home.
She pushed herself upright, calm once more. “I should’ve grabbed you in that cursed field when I had the chance. Even though you were lying in the blood of my beloveds, I still forgave you. Still loved you, my perfect boy. I didn’t realize you’d already been broken, needed fixing, else I’d have never let you go that night.”
With a wave of her hand, torches embedded in the walls sprang to life, lighting his prison with a fiery glow.
Burning fucking Solyrian, he knew this place. Knew exactly where?—
“Brand!”
No.
