As more cheers erupted, an eerie sensation slivered down my spine.
“I will not sit back and watch this kingdom be walked all over like we are NOTHING!” he boomed. “We WILL have power! Even if I must take it from those who stand against us with my own bare hands!”
Okay, this was new.
I finally risked a glance up at Jessiah, only to find he was already watching me, an eyebrow raised.
When I turned my attention back to Cornelius, his eyes were locked on mine.
Under his scrutiny, I fought the urge to take another step away from Jessiah.
“Today, people of Pericius, I bring you a gift.” Chin high, he waved an arm toward the ballroom doors, which were opened by two guards. “Bring them in,” he ordered.
I couldn’t have moved if I wanted to. Every inch of my body stood frozen as I watched a single-file line of fae be corralledinto the ballroom. An iron chain bound each of their wrists, connecting each fae to the fae in front of them in the line.
“Hells,” Jes whispered.
I didn’t dare react.
“Each of these fae have a gift. A special gift that they will be offering today for the good of the kingdom.”
This was all so terribly wrong. These fae did not look like citizens. They looked like prisoners. Their clothes were tattered and filthy, and some did not even have shoes to cover their feet. Some looked around my age, while others had aged with white hair and fine lines etched into their skin.
I remembered what Cornelius had told me the other night. He was searching forchaos.
Had he found it? Did these people wield the gift of death and destruction?
My stomach dropped, but nobody else seemed to share my hesitation. The fae around us cheered again as the chain of gifted were forced to a halt just before the king.
“You.” Cornelius pointed to the first fae in the line, an older female with pale skin and sharp features. Her hair was streaked with gray and braided over her shoulder. I could only see the side of her face as she glared up at her king, but I saw enough to know she was not a fan of his. “The gift of controlling air. Your sacrifice to the kingdom is welcomed, and all of Pericius will thank you for it.”
Cornelius began to chant, mumbling quickly in a language I didn’t recognize. He closed his eyes and held his hands out before him as if he were waiting for something to appear from thin air.
But then the fae screamed and clutched her chest.
He was doing something to her.
No—he wasstealingsomething from her.
The chanting grew louder and just a few moments felt like hours. She fell to her knees, gasping for breath, as the rest of the fae in chains were forced to watch. I could hardly look, though I was just beginning to understand exactly what we were witnessing.
He was taking their magic. This was what he did to this kingdom, going town to town and ripping their magic away from them. This was his power. How he remained in control.
I couldn’t stand here and watch this happen, but I couldn’t move, either. Every piece of this felt wrong. Vile.
My senses tingled, my body on alert, just seconds before fire erupted in the back of the ballroom, lighting up the room with a bright blast.
Screams erupted, ricocheting off the high ceiling.
Jessiah immediately covered my body with his, sliding an arm around my waist and hauling me toward the back of the ballroom.
Chaos flooded the place.
“They’re here!!” a male nearby screamed. “The rebels are attacking!!”
Chapter 22
Jessiah
