The smoke cracked like a whip, swept toward the ceiling, then changed. Isla saw herself again. But this time, she was plunging that very same blade into Oro’s heart. She watched the light fade in his amber eyes.
Bile crawled up her throat, and she nearly choked on it.
“Unless she joins us. Unless she throws away all loyalties to her previous life and helps us reshape the universe...together.”
At once, the illusion broke, and she was forced to her feet.
Cronan turned to address her now. “Your world will fall. I’ve already decided it. Everyone will die.” He said it lightly, casually even, but Isla didn’t miss the almost imperceivable fold that formed between Grim’s brows.
He didn’t know. He thought Cronan would spare his people.
Her gaze flicked back to Cronan’s. “My council and I will travel through to the next galaxy, where endless power and more planets await. You have a chance at joining us at greatness, at being part of an unprecedented legacy...and being with the man you love.” He said the word like it was a joke. “But only if you surrender yourself to me.” He motioned toward his crown, and in a moment, it shifted into a halo of bones. As if it was made up of dozens of skeletal pieces.
“Offer me a bone...and you agree to serve me for eternity,” he said. It wasn’t an offer he had made before, when he had tried to simply melt down her mind.
He seriously believed she would actually consider joining him.
Cronan had invaded every crevice of her brain. He had to have known how unlikely it was that she would align with him. In a flash, his shadows shot through her head, sinking through her skull. He spoke directly into her mind as he said,This is the only way you’ll be able to stay with your husband. He’s here now, with me. Forever. If you truly loved him the way you said...this choice should be easy.
He was out of her head a moment later, the sockets of her eyes burning with the momentary invasion.
“You have three weeks to make your decision. That’s when I take your world, and everything in it,” Cronan said, and his crown became metal once more. His shadows swept toward her again, and she braced for the now familiar burst of pain. But instead, they slid down the curve of her skull, caressing her hair in a mocking reminder of what he could do with little thought. “I’ll know what you’ve decided.”
Deception was impossible, with him. If she planned against him during this time, he would know.
He released her from his hold, and she fell roughly to her knees. She heard Cronan leaving the room as the metal-plated arms of two knights hauled her up. They dragged her toward the doors.
She fought to catch her husband’s gaze before she left, but he was turned away from her, facing the remnants of that vision, as if he was frozen.
“Grim—” she said. The doors slammed between them, smothering her explanation.
GRIM
Even long after the Wildling was dragged from the room, Grim couldn’t bring himself to move. There were still wisps of smoke in the air, tatters of the futures that charm had displayed. Only the blade that stabbed through his heart was still whole...
The fact that the charm had held the future was fascinating, but clearly the bracelet meant something to the Wildling beyond its power. Her aura had practically extinguished with sadness as it had been ripped away. It must have had sentimental value.
Just more evidence of the woman’s foolishness.
“Taking away your memories was a gift,” Cronan said as he reentered the room. Grim blinked, wondering how long he had been standing there, watching. Attendants scurried in, their eyes blank as they began setting up for what looked like a dinner.
Cronan joined his side. “I’ve done you a favor. Mistakes in your past are why that future is even a possibility.” He felt the weight of Cronan’s hand settle on his shoulder. Grim clenched his jaw. He didn’t like to be touched.
“I’ve given you a second chance at life.” He looked down at the Threads of Time in his hands. “Just like you’ve given me a second chance. Because of this, we can both correct the mistakes of our pasts.”
Ourpasts. Grim wondered what mistake Cronan had made. Why he was doing all of this.
He also remembered what Cronan had said. He was going to destroy their world, and everyone in it. Even Nightshade.
Grim wouldn’t sit around and let that happen. But it was clear his ancestor was powerful. He had only three weeks to figure out a way to stop him.
Cronan was oblivious to Grim’s thoughts, when he wasn’t piercing his mind with shadows. He didn’t feel a whisper of suspicion from his ancestor. Only a flicker of satisfaction and...hope. “While you were hunting her down, did you happen across a silver pool?” Cronan asked.
He didn’t wait for a response. In a flash, his shadows surged, and Grim felt them pierce his mind. His own darkness lashed out in defense, forcing Cronan’s shadows from his skull. Grim bared his teeth at his ancestor in fury.
Cronan only pursed his lips, seeming unbothered. “No, you didn’t...” Cronan started pacing. “I want you to search for it. The pool has purposefully hidden itself from me, but perhaps, it will reveal itself to you.”
Grim forced himself to nod. It was all he could do not to wrap his shadows around his ancestor’s throat. But to gather all the information he could, Cronan needed to believe him deferential—willing to enact all his plans, the same way Grim had for his father.
