“Sometimes it means letting go.”
Turning away from the king, Roa plunged the knife into her sister’s corrupted heart.
Thirty-Six
The breath hushed out of Essie’s lungs. She looked down to the hilt of the Skyweaver’s knife, embedded in her chest. Her silver eyes widened. Her legs weakened.
Roa caught her before she fell, sinking down to the ground, pulling her into her arms.
The hum flared up, loud and fierce between them. The silver bled out of Essie’s eyes, leaving those ebony irises. Essie held Roa’s gaze, unwavering.
“I’m sorry,” Roa whispered.
Essie reached to touch her sister’s face. “No,” she whispered back.“Thank you.”She smiled faintly, as grateful tears shone on her cheeks. “Thank you for setting me free.”
There was a sound like a sigh as Essie closed her eyes... and dissolved into silver-bright mist.
The mist swarmed Roa, kissing her hands, her face, her hair. And in it Roa heard her sister’s laugh, light and happy andfree.
Just for a moment, the mist fastened itself into the shape of a hawk, soaring high, circling Roa once.
And then it was gone.
Forever.
Grief clawed its way through Roa. A soul-splitting sound erupted out of her. Dax stared, not quite understanding what just happened, only hearing that it had broken Roa’s heart.
He fell to his knees before her.
Dax was so concerned about Roa, he forgot the men at their backs. Forgot who’d brought them here.
Steel flashed behind him.
Roa looked up to see Rebekah gripping the executioner’s sword in both hands, raising it above the king, about to deal a killing blow.
Roa let out a warning cry, but it was too late.
The sword came down.
Roa pushed Dax out of the way, putting herself in its path instead.
But someone stepped between. Steel clashed against steel. Roa looked up to find... Theo. Intercepting the blow.
The heir to the House of Sky drew his second blade, defending Roa and Dax.
Beyond him, more members of Sky came out of the crowd, drawing their weapons against Rebekah’s men. With them came Safire, her crest of a namsara flower blazing bright, and at her back were a myriad of soldats.
A roar rumbled from above—like thunder from the sky—as a huge black dragon with wings spread wide descended. Theearth shook under the weight of him, and Rebekah’s men cowered beneath the gaze of his one slitted eye.
Kozu.
On the First Dragon’s back sat Asha, with Torwin behind her. As one, they dismounted. The former Iskari drew her twin slayers from their sheaths at her back, her gaze deadly as Kozu snapped his needle-sharp teeth and slammed the closest of Rebekah’s men into the trees with his tail. Armed with a bow, Torwin nocked an arrow just as Lirabel stepped up to his side, drawing her own. Together, they kept their aim trained on Rebekah.
As the First Dragon prowled, they all formed a protective circle around the king and queen. Beyond them, Safire’s soldats and the House of Sky kept Rebekah’s men at bay.
The next time Roa looked, Theo had Rebekah disarmed and was forcing her to her knees.
The commandant sheathed her weapons and came forward to where Rebekah knelt with Theo’s steel at her throat. Safire crouched low, forcing the baron’s daughter to meet her gaze, and though she spoke quietly, Roa heard the words she said.
