“I’m going to have to dip out, Slate,” Onyx declared. “For good. I can’t risk them finding out I helped Chrome.”
I pushed past the knot in my throat. “Where are you going to go?”
“I don’t know.” Onyx shrugged. “But I’ll try to find him.”
Hazel sobbed into my side at his words.
“So will I,” I said. “I’ll figure out how to regroup with the insurgency and continue with another plan.”
“There is no other plan, Slate,” Onyx said. “Chrome was our only chance. I guess there’s the princess, but what are the odds we can recruit her to our side without the king finding out?”
I refused to believe that everything we’d done was for nothing. That it was over. There had to be another way…
Several ideas began to circulate in my mind. But one thing was for certain: the insurgency as we knew it needed to die out. It was too risky to keep going as it was. Perhaps it was time to do the unexpected.
Itapped my knuckles against the white wooden door to Amethyst’s office, keeping my senses open for any potential witnesses. I hadn’t seen my aunt since the ‘attack’ yesterday, so I could only hope she’d be holed up in here.
My heart bolted at the thud that sounded on the other side of the door, but the lock held the doorknob firmly in place, barringmy entrance. I didn’t want to draw attention to the situation, knowing the sensitivity of this visit, so I did what I’d promised my mother years ago that I would only do in an emergency: I used the code to Amethyst’s office.
No one knew this code except for Grim and my mother. I didn’t doubt Peri had known it as well. My breath caught in my chest at the thought of my cousin. The news of her death had sent tremors throughout the Royal Domain. The reality that I would never have another secret night out on the rooftop with Chrome or our sisters made the tightness return to my throat that I once again had to stuff down.
I couldn’t believe they were both gone, and not knowing the truth of what happened nearly drove me to do something stupid in search of answers.
Which brought me to Amethyst’s office…
The electronic lock clicked, and I pushed the door open, finding a sight I never thought I’d see in all my days.
In the center of the office, Amethyst sat collapsed on her knees on the cold and shiny floor. Her hands covered her face as her shoulders wracked with full-body sobs. Her sleek braid was pulled loose at the roots as if she had been running her fingers through it, tugging the strands free.
Amethyst’s heels lay scattered on opposite sides of the room like she’d kicked them off recklessly. The curtains were pulled taut, not allowing any light to filter through, leaving her in near darkness.
Chill bumps rose to the surface from the colder-than-necessary temperature in the room. I stood in the doorway with my mouth open, trying to process the sight of my cold and cunning aunt so emotionally distressed. The two just didn’t go together. Finally, after several long seconds, I realized the open door left us exposed to anyone passing by. I shut it softly before cautiously tiptoeing in Aunt Amethyst’s direction.
I squatted at her side, resting my palm gently on her shoulder.
Amethyst didn’t react, as if she’d discarded the steely persona that she’d crafted so carefully over the years. Raw cries scraped up her throat and streams of tears soaked her face, ruining her perfect makeup. She’d lost not one but both of her children yesterday. Even if she had never been a loving parent, I couldn’t imagine what she must have been experiencing.
Leaning into her ear, I whispered, “Is he truly dead?” After my conversation with Onyx, I knew the answer, but I needed to see how she’d react.
Amethyst hiccupped on a breath at my question, sliding her hands from her face slowly. She sniffled, wiping her splotchy cheeks in a demure fashion. “What do you mean?” Amethyst’s voice sounded as if her vocal cords had been shredded.
“He’s not, is he?” My words were so soft that if I hadn’t been right beside her, I doubted she would’ve heard me, even through our heightened hearing.
Amethyst’s shoulders slumped forward, her chin against her chest. “No. But he might as well be.” Her jaw trembled, shaking her head. “I tried…” Her voice broke, moisture filling her lids once again. “I tried to protect him without being discovered by Forest, but…” Her sobs took over again, even as she tried to muffle them through her palms.
I angled my head, my brows wrinkling in confusion. “What do you mean?”
My aunt sat back, straightening her spine. “I tried to protect him from Forest. In secret. For all these years…” She sucked in a harsh breath. “But I failed.”
The room began to spin, and I started to feel lightheaded at what she was implying. “Aunt Amethyst, what are you talking about?”
As if she could finally reveal her truth, she exhaled a harsh breath. She rose to her feet, gesturing for me to follow her to herdesk. “Sit. And by the gods, if you breathe a word of anything I’m about to tell you, I’ll kill you. Family or not.”
I nodded. “Of course. I’m good with secrets. Especially when it comes to Chrome.”
Amethyst narrowed her eyes. “What do you…”
“He’s a hybrid. I know. He’s the son of the deceased king of the Elementals and…you,” I emphasized the last word with accusation, knowing she had forced the king to impregnate her.
