“Everything that I know, you know. I haven’t figured out what I’m meant to unite. But if Kakias knows anything of this, I’m running out of time.”
And if they were right, and the queen had employed the use of such dark magic, then I didn’t know how I’d ever defeat her.
Her sharp-toothed smile and lifeless eyes flashed through my mind, and I feared my friends’ suspicion was right. There had been a lack about her—some quality missing that made her less humane. Her ambition heightened, tunnel vision on her goals driving her forward. Her thirst formecontrolling every decision she made.
“But if that’s right, and she truly only wants me,” I thought out loud, remembering what Aird had claimed as he tried to kill me—Kakias wanted my blood shed. “Then I don’t see why she’s waging an entire war.”
I was one person. My blood held power, but what could that mean to her?
There were too many holes in the theories. I had all the pieces but was working in a room too dark to see their shapes.
I needed someone to turn on the light. Looking around at the dejected faces before me, I realized we all did. The hurt and disappointment staring back at me dragged guilt up my throat.
I closed my eyes, inhaling once.
As I exhaled, the doors to the palace opened. Staff walked in, pausing to greet us and share their excitement for the Sunquist Ball in a few hours. The grounds beyond the entryway were dazzling in gold streamers and candles.
Amid the excitement, I shoved all my concerns from my mind. There may be a dark queen hovering over me and a prophecy to untangle, but the people surrounding me did not deserve the worry etched across their faces.
It was with that resolve that I forced a smile to my lips.
“We’ll figure it out,” I promised, dropping my voice so the staff didn’t overhear. “In the meantime, let’s set aside our concerns and enjoy Daminius.”
One last holiday before the battle began. I turned away from the disappointed faces quickly.
There were enemies breathing down our necks at every turn—aqueen, a curse, a war, and an unknown task by the Angels. I wasn’t sure how I’d meet them, but that was my burden to carry. My friends could help me find answers, help me prepare, but as the Chosen Child, as the Revered, I’d face it all.
On Renaiss, I’d presented myself as an image of light and promises, instilling hope in the future for my people. Walking into Daminius, I wouldn’t fail them.
“Alabath, wait.”
I turned at Tol’s voice, my shoulders slumping at the stern set of his lips. “Yes?”
“You knew about this?” he whispered, pointing back toward the foyer. “You knew this entire time that you were at risk and you didn’t tell me?” His jaw ticked as he spoke, heat permeating the air.
Anger.
“Damien warned me not to tell you all. I didn’t know what was happening.” The excuses rushed out of me. “I only had suspicions, and I didn’t want to tell anyone until I knew for sure that nothing would happen to you.”
If I had told Tolek, he would have jumped to my defense, consequences be damned, but we wouldn’t have known what enemy we were facing, which weapons to raise. If we turned our force the wrong way, we could’ve been attacked from behind.
“I don’t care if you didn’t know the whole truth, or what the fucking Angel told you.” His voice cracked with restraint from keeping it quiet. “You should have told me. That threat wasn’t complete, you said he didn’t even finish speaking it. You can trust me with anything, you know that.”
I did know that. And after being fiercely burned by a lack of trust with Malakai, I should never have allowed that to fester between Tolek and me. But I had, and now, he was looking at me with a hurt that pierced my soul.
“Tol, I?—”
“Not right now,” he interrupted. “I…I’ll see you later.”
He left me in the hall, storming away with his hands flexing at his sides.
Chapter Thirty-Nine
Damien
Salvation,that satisfied purr from our master said, bright power swirling about him, begging to break free.
There had been a ripple. A subtle but rattling tremor through us all. There and gone so briefly, it could have been imagined had it not been for the glow of the Angelglass.
