He continues, “Her strength isn’t waning. It’s simplyhungry. If she doesn’t replenish her spent fey, then she’ll spiral further out of control until her earthquakes bring the entire kingdom to the ground.”
At my feet, Sabine whimpers. I drop to my knees, hugging her close as she moans through the pain. By the gods, I want to tell Vale to fuck off straight to the underworld.
But for Sabine, I rein in my temper.
I ask warily, “Hungry for what?”
“Offerings,” Vale spits, rising impatience rushing his words. “From her altar. So, surrender my daughter to me, and I will get her the sustenance she requires.”
He stretches out a claw-like hand. I pin Sabine tighter to my chest, a growl ripping from my throat, as I bite out, “Like hell.I’lltake her.”
I hoist Sabine in my arms. Her eyelids flutter up at me as her pupils swim back and forth, disoriented. A groan rumbles from deep within her chest.
In the distance, a rumble of thunder answers her in a preternatural echo.
“Basten,” she whispers. “I’mhungry.”
There’s a feral snarl to the way she says the word that sends a lick of unease crawling up my spine. Just for a moment, I’m not sure who I hold in my arms—if it’s Sabine, or something ancient wearing her skin.
But just as fast, that worry disappears.
What am I thinking? She’ll always be my violet.
“I’ve got you,” I murmur against her sweat-soaked temple. “Always. Through any storm.”
More thunder rumbles, closer this time.
Even ones of your own making, I think with a twist in my gut.
“Open the gods-damn doors,” I bark at Captain Tatarin, who stands closest to the exit.
The door hinges are broken, but the captain manages to push one side open. As I head into the hall, my heart bucks. Sabine feels dangerously light in my arms. The tang of her spilled blood clogs my nose and mouth, turning my stomach. Her heartbeat is sluggish. Faint. Not like the other fae, whose hearts clap strong as iron bells.
A headache throbs behind my right eye as I stride down the maze-like hallways. At least these passages are undamaged; Sabine’s ire was limited to the throne room.
A creeping daze hits me with every step. I’ve always been cool-headed in a crisis. Hell, I can’t count how many battles I’ve been in. But this time, I don’t know what I’m facing.
I don’t know who my opponent is—if I should fear her as well as protect her.
Wide-eyed servants hurry out of my way. I can hear each of their breathless whispers to one another, threaded through with fearful awe.
The rumors are true,a lady’s maid says.It’s Immortal Solene!
She raised the very Ramvik River from its bed,a sentry answers.Three people were swept out the window—they’re lucky to still be alive.
A half dozen more are with the castle healers from falling debris.
There are always sacrifices with the fae. It will be worth it in the end, you’ll see. The sixth fae has awakened from slumber—only four more still sleep!
I tuck their gossip into a pocket of my mind to process later, focused only on the weakened girl in my arms. With every step, it’s like she’s evaporating before my eyes.
I clutch her harder, speeding my steps.
“Hold on, Sabine. Hold on, sweetheart.”
The servants, wary and frightened, are hesitant to open the exterior door, so I kick it the rest of the way open, slamming it back against the wall, and stride across the pathway to the Garden of Ten Gods.
From this angle, the ten gods’ statues seem to loom higher than the Vallen Mountains in the distance. Townspeople who have come to present their offerings cower, gasping as they partto make room for me to pass. A million scents assault me from gifts spread on the altars. Sticky bowls of wildflower honey. Over-ripe pomegranates. Scented rosewood beads. A raw lamb haunch. Spiced wine by the barrel.
