Her eyes met mine over Scarven’s head, then shifted to Devora and narrowed.
A shiver crept down my spine. She was still my little sister, but those years in captivity had changed her. And that furious look in her eyes, the one that said she would scorch everyone who stood in her way…part of me wondered how much of the girl I’d once known was left.
And if she would take Devora down to get her revenge.
Scarven chuckled and shook his head. “What’s the problem, phoenix? Have I finally burned that fire out?”
Vera shoved her shadow blade forward, holding the tip to his throat. I sucked in a breath.
“You havenothing, Scarven,” my sister snarled in a voice I didn’t recognize. “No magic, no power. No hold over me. Mortep is gone. Your men are being slaughtered.” She brandished her lightning sword to the battlefield at the front of the manor. “You’refinished.”
“Then why am I still alive?” A slow grin unfurled across his features, smooth and oily. “Ah, yes. Because your brother couldn’tdreamof losing his precious pet. Just another thing he gets to have while you get nothing. Isn’t that right, my phoenix? All those years he lived in freedom, traveling the empire, sleeping in his own bed. He left you behind faster than you can say ‘family.’”
The words were a blow to my chest. I locked eyes with Vera. Was that what she thought of me? Was that the lie he’d been feeding her all these years?
It’s the truth, a dark voice in the back of my mind leered.You did leave her.
I left to ensure her safety. I left to obey his every command, with the threat of her death hanging over my head to keep me in line. I would have taken her place amilliontimes over if it meant she could be the one to get away.
“You know that’s not true.” I stepped forward. “Everything I did was to prot?—”
“To protect her, yes, yes, we’ve all heard that before.” Scarven scoffed. “But who are you protectingnow,brother? It certainly isn’t your sister.”
Fear and anger poured over me. He was trying to pit us against each other. Trying to claim one final pound of flesh before losing it all.
“It’s not going to work, Scarven,” I snapped. “It’sover. Whatever future you think you’ve created for yourself, whatever life you imagined, it’s not going to happen.” I shook my head as I thought back to the lives he’d ruined in the last two decades, then to the brave souls who risked it all just to bring justice to a dark land. “You’ve taken everything from our people to grow your own power, but you willneverbe stronger than all of us united.”
“How beautiful,” Scarven mocked. “Such a noble start to your quest of redemption, truly. I hope all those who have died because of you would feel the same.”
I flinched as if I’d beenstruck. A smile shadowed Scarven’s sweat-slicked features. His expression grew hungrier, like a lion readying to pounce on its prey.
“That’s always been your problem, Nox. So worried about how others perceive you, holding on to the hope that they’ll see ashredof something good to salvage in you, all while battling for everyone’s loyalty. I have always known exactlywhoandwhatI was loyal to.” He leaned in closer, dark eyes glinting. “Myself. Perhaps that’s something we both inherited, as you seem rather intent on your own self-interest over your sister.”
I turned to Vera. “Don’t listen to him. You know this is what he does. He?—”
“Yes, shedoesknow, doesn’t she?” Scarven hummed. “Becauseshewas the one by my side all these years. Oh, how I made her sing. My sweet phoenix.” He was practically crooning at her, a wild look in his eyes that was more frightening than any of his cold, calculated ones.
Hewantedher to kill him. He knew this was over, and he wanted this one last victory. To takeonemore thing from me.
Lose my sister’s trust, or lose the woman I loved.
A ripple of fury crossed over my sister’s face. The wind picked up, stirring the ends of her hair.
“Did you enjoy being the little bird in my gilded cage?” Scarven looked up at her from his knees, the harsh wrinkles around his eyes more pronounced. “I almost forget that we share the same wretched father too. You looked so pretty on my mantel. So pretty in my?—”
“Enough!” Vera bellowed, heat rising from her in waves as she lashed out and punched him across the cheek.
At my side, Devora gasped and fell to the ground. A bruise quickly formed on her pale face.
I reached for her. “Vera, please?—”
Scarven’s low laughter cut me off. “You see where his loyalty lies? Where his heart belongs?” His cheek turned bright red as a trickle of blood oozed from between his lips. He spat it at Vera’s feet.
“Do you even know who you are, phoenix?” he taunted. “You’ve been denied your freedom, youridentity, for your entire life. And now he’s denying youthis. The one thing you dreamed of every night you spent in that cold, dark cell.”
“I told you his life was yours, Vera,” I rushed out. “I just need to make sure Devora’s safe, and then Ipromise?—”
“Hepromises,” Scarven mocked. “Just as hepromisedto rescue you. You don’t need his promises, sweet phoenix. I didn’t raise you to need anything fromanyone.”
