“Why didn’t you tell the emperor who I was?”
Another explosion in the distance. Bran ignores it. “At first, it was because I wanted to enjoy Tiernon’s suffering. I hadn’t expected the emperor to have his own son tortured—that was a nice surprise. But the true enjoyment came from watching Tiernon pine for you. I’d planned to eventually turn you in to the emperor so I could watch him fully break. And then I realized I could use you for something far more important.”
Sharp, undeniable clarity suddenly grips me. “You never would have kept your side of the bargain. You would have made sure I was caught. How were you planning to get around the bond?”
A vicious smirk. “The bond is irrelevant as soon as one of us is dead.”
“And you’d make sure I was caught the moment I killed the emperor? You would have gone down with me, Bran.”
He raises one eyebrow. “Not if you were immediately executed. Then, everyone would learn how you worked with that little bitch Calena to organize this attack. Something that’s only too easy to believe after the way you saved her life during your third challenge. Thank you for that truly unexpected gift.”
A numb realization slides over me. Bran may be wrestling with madness, but he’s backed me neatly into this corner.
I’m going to die.
Bran smiles. “I see you’re understanding how this will work. And as soon as everyone learns that Tiernon was your lover? When they learnRorrikgave you a spot on the imperius? It’s truly disturbing how the brothers worked together to get you close to the emperor so you could kill him. One by one, my witnesses will speak of the brothers’ strange obsession with the novice from the Thorn, and how the three of you collaborated to remove the emperor from his throne.”
And with both the emperor’s sons accused of his murder, Bran will seize power during the confusion.
“Tiernon and Rorrik will never let that happen.”
“They’ll turn on each other the moment you’re dead. Rorrik still hates his brother with everything in him. After all, it was Rorrik who saw you first all those years ago in the Thorn.”
My mouth goes dry.
What? How—
His smile widens. “Vampires are nothing if not possessive. And sometimes we break our toys so no one else can have them.”
“Why tell me this now?”
“Sadly, no one else will be able to appreciate my brilliance. And there’s something infinitely satisfying about watching you come to terms with your death. I thought about this moment each time you looked at me with such disdain. Each time you rebelled against my wishes. As soon as I realized you’d somehow taken your brothers back, I agreed to allow the rebels to strike. By now, Vallius Corvus is either dead or dying. How truly fortunate that I was able to kill you during your escape—directly after you arranged for his death.”
Bran squeezes the crossbow in his unsteady, spasming hands. My heart leaps into my throat. Will I feel the explosion? Or will my death be too quick?
His eyes widen, and he shifts his gaze over my shoulder, firingpastme.
I whirl. My pulse stumbles, and then careens, as my instincts scream at me to freeze.
A wyvern hovers behind me, its colossal form blocking the star-strewn sky. It shifts, and the aether bomb from Bran’s crossbow flies beneath it, slamming into the arena behind us. Obsidian scales absorb all light as its membranous wings beat lazily, sending dust and sandswirling through the air to mix with the smoke. It opens its mouth, revealing serrated teeth, and I wait for my demise.
Merciless, yellow-gold eyes glitter with rage as it lets out a roar. The entire arena shudders, and the wyvern turns its angular head. Rorrik’s eyes meet mine from where he lounges elegantly across the creature’s back.
Shifting to the side, I give the wyvern a clear shot at Bran. But it doesn’t take it. Instead, Rorrik leaps from its back, turning to murmur something too low for me to hear.
The wyvern disappears and I jolt. It somehow managed to hide itself completely, turning invisible.
Rorrik prowls toward us. Relief rushes through me, dizzying in its intensity. He’s not Tiernon, but …
“Disappointed, darling?” Rorrik purrs.
I swallow, knees weak with relief. “Thatismy prevailing emotion when I’m in your presence.”
But not this time.
He snaps his teeth at me with a savage grin. Then he’s strolling toward Bran, an intent look in his eyes.
He could have killed him immediately. He wants something.
