She chose him, over you. Would you choose her over the rest of the world, if she was fated to end it? Even if she wasn’t yours?
Oro banished the insidious voice. He would never do anything to hurt Isla because of the choice she made. He remembered what he saw in the pool—he was never happier than when he had been with her, even if it was only ever temporary. He would not hold her decision against her, no matter what.
But then he thought about Azul’s question again and just how many people were at risk. Not only his friends, but all of his people. The children. Could he really let them die? Could he put an end to everything that he and his line had sworn to protect?
Was he being selfish by even considering it?
He dropped Azul’s gaze. He couldn’t think about this. Not right now...and perhaps not ever. But what if Azul was right, and this was a choice he would have to face? Who was he, if he had an entire world’s blood on his hands?
If he chose one woman over thousands?
“One more thing,” Azul added, as if he hadn’t already said enough. “My husband said there were often slightly different interpretations of prophecies, since fate is fluid. Multiple outcomes. Only one of the three frozen oracle sisters ever thawed with Isla. She only heard one version...but I think it’s possible her prophecy could be about someone else.”
Oro frowned. “The oracle told both Isla and Cleo that Isla would determine the fate of the world. That she would plunge a blade through either my or Grim’s heart. That she would either save this world...or end it. She is the heart divided. She was specifically told so.”
“Yes.” Azul looked at Oro meaningfully. “Butyourheart is also torn in two—between her and your duty.Youare also a ruler divided. She went to another world. Her actions could have altered fate. Maybe the prophecy does come true...but maybe now it’s about you.”
Oro’s mind was reeling. He was positive the prophecy was still about Isla. But he couldn’t help but remember what the silver woman said—that he would make a choice, soon.
“This all ends with a blade through a heart,” Azul said. “As far as I’m concerned, it could be yours, Grim’s...or hers.”
ISLA
Isla didn’t say a word during the rest of the meal. She didn’t even look up from her plate. Before the first course, attendants came through to sweep away the pile of dust that used to be Lark, and a thin layer of ash remained on the floor. Beneath Cronan’s boots.
Isla wasn’t worried about her wicked ancestor—she knew she’d be back in their cell in no time—but she couldn’t stop turning Cronan’s words over. He had imprisoned Lark for millennia. He had tortured her.Destroyedher. And still...she loved him.
Isla wondered if she was as foolish as her ancestor, destined to repeat that cycle.
Grim’s gaze kept drifting over to her, but she didn’t meet it. She was lost in her mind. Lost in what she had just witnessed.
After the meal, Grim escorted her back to the cell in silence. When they reached the dungeons, she heard a faint ripping sound. “Here,” he said, shoving a small piece of fabric at her.
She blinked, not knowing what she was supposed to do with it. He glanced meaningfully at her shoulder, and she looked down. A streak of blood was splattered there. Some of Lark’s must have gotten on her. She wiped it away with the cloth.
“Thank you,” she said quietly, turning to him, and that was when she realized he had sliced a piece of hisshirtwith his shadows to give to her. The side of his stomach was now visible, a line of muscle she knew very well.
He huffed with faint amusement. “Finally, some manners.”
“Don’t get used to it,” she said, as she continued down the hall toward her cell.
The next afternoon, Isla was doing her best to ignore the sinewy, crackling sounds of Lark’s body reforming when someone appeared at her cell door.
It was Grim.
Her brows came together. There were still hours left before dinner. “What—”
“Cronan is invading our world early,” Grim said, cutting her off. His voice was hurried. His shadows filled the hall, cloaking them.
She stood and approached the bars. “What?”
She could hardly see his face through the growing darkness, just the gleaming of his eyes. “I heard him planning with the other lords.” He looked at her. “He knows you’re not going to join him. He knows you’ve been speaking to someone in your cell.”
Oro. Cronan knew about her conversations with him.
“Why are you telling me this?” she asked.
His eyes didn’t meet hers. It was like he was afraid to. He touched the shademade door and it gave.
