“How?” I breathed. I didn’t remember bringing them that night. I didn’t remember him ever asking. Ineverwould have agreed to help him, to sneak him theirblood, of all things.
“Blood is a powerful weapon,” was all he said.
It was never a straight answer with him. Always leading, always guiding. He wanted me to figure it out on my own. He reveled in seeing others realize how cunning he was, how he was multiple steps ahead at every turn.
I looked down at my friends, thinking of how he had taken over their minds and controlled their actions without them remembering a single moment. Had he done the same to me? Was that how I’d collected Rissa and Leo’s blood for him?
My eyes traveled back to Gayl, narrowing as my thoughts sped up. I was under the impression he needed someone’s blood before he could control them. He had access to these three now, of course, but when had he first gotten intomyhead? It must have been when the challengers had their physical exams, or when?—
I remembered. Our very first lesson after the second trial, when I cut my hand to cast a fire spell. He’d given me a handkerchief to stop the bleeding.
“You were using me from the beginning,” I whispered, hurt seeping into my voice. I didn’twantto feel hurt by this man. He was a monster, a power-hungry, selfish tyrant.
But for a moment, he had been my uncle.
His gaze flickered across my face, his wrinkled features softening a fraction. “That does not change anything I said. Youcouldbe great. And I was proud of you. This magic is our birthright, and I only desired to share that with you.”
“If that were true, you wouldn’t be doing any of this!” I cried. Perhaps there was still a remnant of that sentimental man, the one who told me of adventures with my father, who felt remorse for what he’d done. Some small part of him that could be reached.
Edging forward, I let the rest of the room fall away, hoping, praying,pleadingthat he would see reason. I didn’t need him to renounce his magic. I didn’t need him to hand the empire over to Rissa. Right now, in this moment, I only needed him to let us go. The rest would come—the Sentinels would regroup and Gayl would get what he deserved. I would do anything to get myself and the ones I loved out of this, even if it meant the world would suffer a bit longer.
“I remember when you told me you weren’t the monster I’d always believed. Please, uncle. If even a fraction of that is true, if my father or even I still meananythingto you, you’ll let the rebels go. Let Leo come back. We want the same thing—for him to stay alive.” I stepped closer. “I care about these people. I know they’ve betrayed you, but even you said you ask for your citizens to prove themselves. To take what’s theirs. Isn’t that what they’ve done? Punish them, banish them if you need to, but let them live.”
I could feel Rissa’s eyes shooting daggers at my back. I was practically handing over their surrender. But she would understand. If this got her brother back, she would forgive me.
Gayl blinked and I thought, for a moment, I had made him pause.
“I have no quarrel with your friends, nor your lover,” he said slowly. “But I cannot allow the one person with the ability to take what I have worked for to live.”
His right arm shot out to the side, and invisible strings dragged Rissa toward him. Without touching her, she rose straight into the air, flailing and cursing as his hold over her tightened.
A second later, her body went slack.
“No!” I shouted, flinging myself at them. “Please, uncle. I—I’ll stay with you,” I cried frantically. “I’ll be your heir. I’ll do whatever you want, but if you care about me at all, pleasedon’t hurt her.”
His gaze drilled into mine. My heart stuttered as I waited, my promise dragging out between us.
“I do care about you, niece,” he said. “But the key to power is knowing what you’re willing to leave behind.”
His hand squeezed, and a terrifying gurgle escaped from Rissa’s throat.
“Now!” Lark yelled. Suddenly, shadows rippled from her in waves, her magic unlocked after Gayl had removed the cuffs earlier. Billowing darkness filled the room. Momentarily distracted, Gayl’s head whipped around. His other arm came out to restrain Lark when a flash of silver glinted through the air.
With a strangled cry, Gayl dropped his arms, and Rissa went crashing to the ground. He clutched at his wrist.
A small dagger was embedded in his left hand.
I watched in horror as slowly, painstakingly slowly, the dagger lifted itself from his flesh, controlled entirely by Gayl’s magic. Blood rolled down the blade as it rose.
Before I could blink, it twisted midair and fired back the way it came.
Straight into Horace’s eye.
75
Rose
Time froze.
