“I've always known someday they'd find you,” he said as he set me back and clasped my shoulder. “I feared it. I thought your gift was a curse. That it was better to live a quiet life. But this is the life you were born to live. So live it well. Don't be quiet. Be loud. Rage and roar. If you can, destroy the Corrupter. If you can't, flee until you're strong enough. But act now, my boy!” He squeezed my shoulder hard. “Act now!”
Suddenly, a dark mist swept up from the floor, swirling around my parents.
“No!” my mother cried out and reached for me. “Not yet!”
I reached for them both, but my hands fell through them as if they weren't there.
My father put his arm around my mother's waist and comforted her as the mist rose. “Live loud, Ember. Remember who you are.”
“We love you!” my mother cried just as the mist enveloped them.
“Mom! Dad!” I shouted, but they were gone.
And then the dark rose to take me too.
Chapter Forty-Six
I woke up in that massive bed, the Corrupter bent over me.
“Agh!” I jerked away from him, backed up like a crab, and sat up.
The Corrupter scowled as he sat back. “You foolish boy!”
“What the fuck were you doing? Just sitting there, watching me sleep like a creep?”
“Do you remember nothing?” the Corrupter hissed. “You disobeyed me and wandered into Death's arms.”
“I did what?” I frowned at him. Then I remembered. “Holy shit. I saw my parents.”
“Did you?” He blinked, his fury vanishing. “How interesting.”
“What was that place?”
“What did you see? Describe it to me.”
“A room that seemed to have no end. I couldn't even see the ceilings. And there were these enormous pillars everywhere. Everything was black.”
“Death's domain,” he whispered reverently. “You idiot.”
“I didn't do anything wrong! You're holding me captive. Did you really think I wouldn't try to escape?Thatwould make me an idiot!”
“I thought you were wise enough to know that it'sunwise to roam the bowels of my castle alone. Especially after I warned you about it!”
“How did I end up in Death's domain?” I whispered, horrified enough that I didn't react to the wordbowels.
“Death Magic infuses everything here. It's attracted to me, it's master. And you have a little of me inside you.”
“So it's attracted to me too?”
“Yes, it appears so.”
“This is why you want me to join you, isn't it? You think I'll make you even more powerful.”
“As you've done for your lovers?” The Corrupter lifted a brow, then laughed at my horrified expression. “Yes, I know about that. Why do you think I allowed your blows to land?”
“The Emperor said you had a spell that could taste magic.”
“Yes, I do. But it tells me far more than he thinks.” He leaned forward and grinned. “I know all about you now, Ember. And I know that together, we could rule this world. You are the key to ending the war.”
